Blowing money

I wish Canada wasn’t so cold, because it’s looking pretty good right now. Think about it – free health care for everyone, and above all, no Bush. I’m just kidding about Canada; believe it or not, I love America. Plus, hearing “aboot” and “eh” all the time would become really annoying, really quickly. Still, Bush made a compelling case for an exodus to the north Tuesday. While on his way to our glorious state of Indiana, Bush vetoed yet another bill that would benefit Americans. The bill would have provided $606 billion to healthcare and education programs, and fell only three votes short of being Bush-proof. Damn. To add insult to injury (which Bush does very well, I might add), on top of money that is already going to the military to build some kind of fighter jet, a navy destroyer and an attack submarine, Bush is asking for an additional defense appropriation: $200 billion for Iraq. With all this spending on army toys, one might think we’re at war ... with a real country.\nAccording to The Associated Press, even with adjustments for inflation, the military’s budget exceeds the average Cold War year. Take a step back to admire the sheer, unadulterated absurdity of that concept. The Cold War was a nose-to-nose standoff with another superpower. Military spending was high for a good reason: The United States needed to be prepared for a third world war, which was a very real possibility. Also, keep in mind that the technology for jets and nuclear submarines was much newer in 1957 than in 2007, and therefore, theoretically, more expensive.\nBush has taken irresponsibility to an unprecedented level and I think he should be held accountable. A decade ago, in the waning years of the Clinton administration, the nation’s beloved conservatives impeached Bill for lying about extramarital nookie – not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Clinton was impeached, then acquitted by the Senate, and he served out the remainder of his term. The lingering memories of his administration are of cigars and stained dresses, not the peace and boundless prosperity he helped facilitate. \nAs we all know, Bush lied to us, as most politicians do. However, like so many bumper stickers around Bloomington contend, “When Clinton lied, nobody died.” I realize this argument is as stale as day-old beer, but Bush’s recent actions have dredged it right back into relevance. Let’s face it: The U.S. launched the Iraq war from a platform built out of elaborate lies, but that was four years ago. Clearly, the general public was not dissatisfied enough with Bush to go to the polls in 2004 and prevent America’s hicks and fundamentalists from re-electing him.\nAt this point, however, Americans need to step up and say “no more.” We don’t need more fighter jets; we need quality healthcare and education programs that are accessible to everyone. It is the government’s job to provide these services, and to prevent funding from reaching them is simply criminal – much more so than getting a blow job, anyway.