Americans are going to the polls to vote for a new President. I certainly have some strong feelings about this important event. I think it’s important because this is now a global matter. Now, I don’t think I can sway any votes with this little site. Nor do I intend to influence how people think. I just want to say my mind, what I know, how I feel. I encourage each and everyone of you to find the facts yourself and come to your own conclusion. That’s what living in a democratic world is all about.

First of all, I want to say that Americans are very peculiar people. Anybody that’s ever visited an American City will notice what I’m talking about. They are extremely patriotic to the point which I can say that somewhat of a blind faith. They do not know what they have to be patriotic about, nor do they care to know. They just do. Here’s an example, both George W Bush and Tony Blair were criticized for being the 2 biggest countries to lead the Iraq invasion on the pretence of the exisitence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). When the WMDs were nowhere to be found, the British citizens chastized Tony Blair while George Bush’s approval rating remained solidly strong. Even in the face of facts, the Bush loyalists still chose to ignore the facts and instead diverted their attention to other aspects of the issue.

One of the things Bush is proud of throughout his election campaign is the fact that he never wavered. I do admire a man that stands strong in his beliefs and convictions; but there is a point when it crosses into negative territory like stubborness and ignorance. Believing that the earth is flat when it is round does not mean you are right. Standing by that conviction would prove disasterous. It’s good for a leader to stand by a belief, but the point is what is the basis of that belief? Take example, is racism still accepted now? Would holding strong on an idea like that help a candidate’s cause?

Bush talks about the Americans being safer after what he has accomplished since September 11. How do you define safer? I define it by what the world thinks of the USA. Because it’s what a group of people thought about the USA that prompted the vicious attacks on 9/11. Hatred is a matter of perspective. You never hate yourself, you’d never do harm to yourself. It’s what others think of you and do to you that determines if you’re safe or not in matters of terrorism and war. Bush initially got the backing of many with the invasion of Afghanistan to smoke out the terrorists. He has regressed from that by invading Iraq. If you take a sentiment in all parts of the world except USA. The major sentiment is that Bush has to go. Many parts of the world are spawning Anti-Bush groups; not anti-american mind you, but anti-Bush. I’d go as far to say that people out there like Bush as a leader as much as Americans like Fidel Castro in Cuba. How’d having 4 more Bush years enable the USA to be treated any better by its enemies? How is this making USA safer? Even if the US is not making new enemies, they are definitely losing friends.

Economically, Bush has done well to the business community with the tax cuts. However, the growing concern is the US deficit. It is to the point where it will take decades to bring it back to manageable status. Because of the deficit, the US has become less competitive. Because of the deficit, the US will keep degressing from its prominent position as global economics leader. Countries like China, India are steadily catching up, thanks in part to the US’s inability to manage its own problems. The American dollar’s fall is primarily due to the deficit concerns.

Now, that is not to say I’m a Kerry supporter. But I’ve seen what Bush has brought, and if he does what he says he will do – to “stay the course”, then it’s time for a change. Doesn’t matter who he/she is. Nobody thought Bill Clinton would be a beloved leader when he was first elected. Let the new guy show what he’s capable of because the current guy really cannot stay to do anymore damage. Some people might say that this is a cop-out selection. I think its based on records/fact. I do not think George Bush deserves another mandate, and the next guy will be judged fairly on what he/she can/will accomplish. But it’s up to the American voters to decide. I am not among them.