Spending a few days this week in Madison -- the Berkeley of the Midwest -- prompted encounters with Naderites handing out leaflets. I admire the kids' passion and idealism, but I wish I'd had a printout of this to hand them in exchange.
I also had dinner with some soon-to-be-former colleagues who, I was stunned to learn, have appallingly reactionary views of the election. I never would have taken these people for Republicans, but there they were, telling me they plan to vote for Bush again, though offering no defense (as if there were one) for his policies. Their reason for voting GOP? Taxes. Any idea how many people's lives could have been improved with the hundreds of billions we'll eventually spend before leaving Iraq? Annual budget of the National Science Foundation: $8 billion. Department of State: $11 billion, of which less than $4 billion goes to foreign aid (aka "actually fighting terrorism"). More fun comparisons at the White House budget pages.
He'll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain:
Only a pawn in their game
You anti-Bushites might enjoy an interview of Gary Trudeau (Doonesbury) in the latest Rolling Stone. Apparently Trudeau was at Yale with Bush and did not like him very much.
Posted by: TOF at August 2, 2004 06:19 PMIn these times, it's dangerous visiting old friends and family. We too just returned from an extended tour of the old haunts back east. Kids I grew up with, who used to throw the peace sign up, doing no harm, are now completely brainwashed. Terrorized into allegiance, by the right-wing fear campaign. Empty Sky justifiably still weighs heavy on some NY psychees (bad spelling). But come on kids - snap out of it. They will - and do - still lie to you. Oh well, it's good to be back in Baghdad by the Bay.
Posted by: deano at July 19, 2004 08:47 AM