Bush and ´Whistler´s Mother´
Rizwan Ghani
May 26, 2008
When Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Roosevelt posed next to the portrait of Whistler´s mother´s, the first lady sent two messages to America: 1) She stands with America as it braved Great Depression of 1930´s. 2) She wanted America to adopt simplicity and austerity that iconic portrait represented. In 1933 her husband introduced New Deal; a wide-ranging collection of services, regulations and subsidies to reduce unemployment and restore prosperity. The central legacy of the program was increased government involvement in lives of the people.
The Republicans supporting unrestricted growth of free market challenged the deal in US Supreme Court in 1936. The Supreme Court, upheld the New Deal and passed judgments that individual citizens must be protected against overpowering economic groups and from disasters they have not brought on themselves. Legislative enactments provided for old-age and survivors insurance, unemployment insurance, federal control of various financial interests, minimum wages, supervision of agricultural production, and the right of labor unions to organize and bargain collectively. Liberals agree that New Deal is essential for enlargement of the individual's opportunity to realize (its) full potentialities.
Bush´s rejection of New Deal and reviving unchecked free market practices including resisting high taxes, no control on banking system and centralizing control of federal spending at national level and national institutions has resulted in: 1) Crashing of Social Security (pension) Services. 2) Destroying National Health Care system leaving some 100 million Americans struggling for comprehensive health insurance coverage to cope with soaring medical treatment and medicine costs. 3) Deteriorating education standards (24th of 44 advance states in UN OECD 2004 Report issued every four year). 4) Banks exploiting public in every possible way including abusive and excessive charges on credit card debt and duping hapless homeowners into signing shady mortgage deals leaving millions of Americans in mortgage mess. 5) Pushed America into economic recession with global implications.
Bush´s persistent support for free market policy has adversely affected an average American. Washington´s resistance to policy of checks and balances has allowed Wall Street to reap unparallel economic benefits but left trail of destruction on Main Street. The growing oil price is case in point. In addition, reportedly it has: 1) Pushed 45 million American´s below national poverty line of 22,000 dollars annual income. 2) According to ABC poll in 2007 only one out of seventeen children will be able to attend college from the families whose annual earnings are 35,000 dollars or less and one out of two children from the families whose earnings are 80,000 dollars or less. 3) Persistent neglect of country´s energy and agri-sector has led to increase in fuel, electricity and food prices. 4) Private sector is using infrastructure built by tax dollars but pocketing the profits. The energy sector´s 123 billion dollar profit for year 2007 and zero investment in refineries in last 30 years and up gradation of rusted aging oil and electricity infrastructure are cases in point. Reportedly, Congress´ failure to lift 30 year old moratorium on oil exploration in America and authorize funding for alternate energy in 2007 has also compounded average American´s energy challenges.
It can be argued that Republicans as proponent of free market under bilateral, regional and WTO agreements have forced third world countries lacking requisite infrastructure and institutions to adopt free market policies including American style consumerism. It has resulted in following crises for the developing world: 1) food crisis as a result of unchecked privatization of national industry; diverting investment in stock exchanges from agri, manufacturing and energy sectors; discouraging expansion/investment in agri-sector and its advancement; freezing agri-produce/ dairy product prices, resisting agri-subsidies in developing world despite giving some 16 billion dollars in agri-subsidies in USA alone. 2) Discouraging agri-reforms including land reforms, expansion of manufacturing sector and industrialization to generate jobs and manage/control demographics thereby turning independent economies into US/EU aid dependent economies that adds to taxes in advance world including America mostly for achieving vested stakes.
In view of historic Conservative support for free market it can be argued that Bush´s WEF speech left two clear messages for global community: 1) Support for free trade will determine nations relations. 2) Warned global community including third world and ME (look East policy) to stay away from adopting successful emerging economic and state owned efficient and cheap energy models in Asia, Latin America and ME. The continuation of sanctions against communist Cuba and Columbian socialists are stark reminders to rest of the world.
The fact of the matter is Russia has transformed Gazprom to serve its domestic and international energy needs. China in step with most Latin American oil rich states has nationalized energy sector and reduced oil prices by cutting deal with Pakistan and Iran to reduce distance and transport costs. Gulf States instead of earning revenue from taxing oil sales on pumps have reduced oil prices to facilitate the public. The 2000-2004 report showed that G7 States earned 1630 billion dollars from taxing oil sales on the pump against OPEC states that earned 1300 billion from oil sale to the world.
Bush´s Knesset speech was also soaked in Conservatism. His ´appeasement´ remarks echoed presumptuous superiority of 19th century Republican American nationalism that claimed to have a "manifest destiny" to guide and educate "lesser" peoples in the world. Bush therefore used his speech and Knesset for three purposes: 1) Give the world in general and ME in particular a message of ´status quo´. Bush´s 60 year down the line picture of state of Israel and Palestine was more about ´Promised Land´ than two state solution. 2) He used Knesset to rebuff Iran and in turn cautioned rest of the world that only America had the right to determine status of other countries. 3) Bush´s use of ´delusion´ was an attempt to undermine liberal democrats including Obama who support dialogue to engage countries including Iran and Syria. It is again reminiscent of 19th century colonial mindset presuming superiority over liberal Democrats when it comes to issues of national security. It explains McCain joining Bush because his presidential campaign centers on national security. 4) Bush´s message of Democracy to the world reinforces the superiority assertion.
It can be argued that Bush WEF and Knesset speeches clearly show his conservative disdain for global laws, policies and sovereignties of the states. The speeches clearly show that Republicans will continue protecting elitist free market policies under one pretext or the other. The current foreign policy supporting war against terrorism and use of force is very much part of same Republican agenda. It therefore leaves a huge challenge for liberal Democrats to end wars and uphold New Deal to provide economic relief at grassroots in America and rest of the world.
It is therefore hoped that Democratic Party leadership and Obama will help retrieve the portrait of Whistler´s mother from obscurity to help America adopt saving habit and end prevalent culture of consumerism. Reportedly, saving statistics show an average American saves -2 percent of his or her income against an average Chinese who saves 50 percent. Similarly, Democrats need to implement New Deal to cap oil price according to its real value. Reportedly, Sen. Hillary Clinton during one of her speeches/interviews opined that barrel of oil should cost around 55-60 dollars. Democrats as part of general welfare also need to freeze prices of staple food items. These steps will provide immediate relief to some three billion people worldwide struggling to survive due to inflation, high oil and food prices. It will help end adverse affects of free economy, speculators feeding on the misery of an average person and improve party´s image across the globe.
Finally, the bottom line is that Democrats have to stand up to neo-cons Republicans who are protecting super rich under the guise of free economy with adverse affects for the average American and if realized two wars are mere excuses.
The Republicans supporting unrestricted growth of free market challenged the deal in US Supreme Court in 1936. The Supreme Court, upheld the New Deal and passed judgments that individual citizens must be protected against overpowering economic groups and from disasters they have not brought on themselves. Legislative enactments provided for old-age and survivors insurance, unemployment insurance, federal control of various financial interests, minimum wages, supervision of agricultural production, and the right of labor unions to organize and bargain collectively. Liberals agree that New Deal is essential for enlargement of the individual's opportunity to realize (its) full potentialities.
Bush´s rejection of New Deal and reviving unchecked free market practices including resisting high taxes, no control on banking system and centralizing control of federal spending at national level and national institutions has resulted in: 1) Crashing of Social Security (pension) Services. 2) Destroying National Health Care system leaving some 100 million Americans struggling for comprehensive health insurance coverage to cope with soaring medical treatment and medicine costs. 3) Deteriorating education standards (24th of 44 advance states in UN OECD 2004 Report issued every four year). 4) Banks exploiting public in every possible way including abusive and excessive charges on credit card debt and duping hapless homeowners into signing shady mortgage deals leaving millions of Americans in mortgage mess. 5) Pushed America into economic recession with global implications.
Bush´s persistent support for free market policy has adversely affected an average American. Washington´s resistance to policy of checks and balances has allowed Wall Street to reap unparallel economic benefits but left trail of destruction on Main Street. The growing oil price is case in point. In addition, reportedly it has: 1) Pushed 45 million American´s below national poverty line of 22,000 dollars annual income. 2) According to ABC poll in 2007 only one out of seventeen children will be able to attend college from the families whose annual earnings are 35,000 dollars or less and one out of two children from the families whose earnings are 80,000 dollars or less. 3) Persistent neglect of country´s energy and agri-sector has led to increase in fuel, electricity and food prices. 4) Private sector is using infrastructure built by tax dollars but pocketing the profits. The energy sector´s 123 billion dollar profit for year 2007 and zero investment in refineries in last 30 years and up gradation of rusted aging oil and electricity infrastructure are cases in point. Reportedly, Congress´ failure to lift 30 year old moratorium on oil exploration in America and authorize funding for alternate energy in 2007 has also compounded average American´s energy challenges.
It can be argued that Republicans as proponent of free market under bilateral, regional and WTO agreements have forced third world countries lacking requisite infrastructure and institutions to adopt free market policies including American style consumerism. It has resulted in following crises for the developing world: 1) food crisis as a result of unchecked privatization of national industry; diverting investment in stock exchanges from agri, manufacturing and energy sectors; discouraging expansion/investment in agri-sector and its advancement; freezing agri-produce/ dairy product prices, resisting agri-subsidies in developing world despite giving some 16 billion dollars in agri-subsidies in USA alone. 2) Discouraging agri-reforms including land reforms, expansion of manufacturing sector and industrialization to generate jobs and manage/control demographics thereby turning independent economies into US/EU aid dependent economies that adds to taxes in advance world including America mostly for achieving vested stakes.
In view of historic Conservative support for free market it can be argued that Bush´s WEF speech left two clear messages for global community: 1) Support for free trade will determine nations relations. 2) Warned global community including third world and ME (look East policy) to stay away from adopting successful emerging economic and state owned efficient and cheap energy models in Asia, Latin America and ME. The continuation of sanctions against communist Cuba and Columbian socialists are stark reminders to rest of the world.
The fact of the matter is Russia has transformed Gazprom to serve its domestic and international energy needs. China in step with most Latin American oil rich states has nationalized energy sector and reduced oil prices by cutting deal with Pakistan and Iran to reduce distance and transport costs. Gulf States instead of earning revenue from taxing oil sales on pumps have reduced oil prices to facilitate the public. The 2000-2004 report showed that G7 States earned 1630 billion dollars from taxing oil sales on the pump against OPEC states that earned 1300 billion from oil sale to the world.
Bush´s Knesset speech was also soaked in Conservatism. His ´appeasement´ remarks echoed presumptuous superiority of 19th century Republican American nationalism that claimed to have a "manifest destiny" to guide and educate "lesser" peoples in the world. Bush therefore used his speech and Knesset for three purposes: 1) Give the world in general and ME in particular a message of ´status quo´. Bush´s 60 year down the line picture of state of Israel and Palestine was more about ´Promised Land´ than two state solution. 2) He used Knesset to rebuff Iran and in turn cautioned rest of the world that only America had the right to determine status of other countries. 3) Bush´s use of ´delusion´ was an attempt to undermine liberal democrats including Obama who support dialogue to engage countries including Iran and Syria. It is again reminiscent of 19th century colonial mindset presuming superiority over liberal Democrats when it comes to issues of national security. It explains McCain joining Bush because his presidential campaign centers on national security. 4) Bush´s message of Democracy to the world reinforces the superiority assertion.
It can be argued that Bush WEF and Knesset speeches clearly show his conservative disdain for global laws, policies and sovereignties of the states. The speeches clearly show that Republicans will continue protecting elitist free market policies under one pretext or the other. The current foreign policy supporting war against terrorism and use of force is very much part of same Republican agenda. It therefore leaves a huge challenge for liberal Democrats to end wars and uphold New Deal to provide economic relief at grassroots in America and rest of the world.
It is therefore hoped that Democratic Party leadership and Obama will help retrieve the portrait of Whistler´s mother from obscurity to help America adopt saving habit and end prevalent culture of consumerism. Reportedly, saving statistics show an average American saves -2 percent of his or her income against an average Chinese who saves 50 percent. Similarly, Democrats need to implement New Deal to cap oil price according to its real value. Reportedly, Sen. Hillary Clinton during one of her speeches/interviews opined that barrel of oil should cost around 55-60 dollars. Democrats as part of general welfare also need to freeze prices of staple food items. These steps will provide immediate relief to some three billion people worldwide struggling to survive due to inflation, high oil and food prices. It will help end adverse affects of free economy, speculators feeding on the misery of an average person and improve party´s image across the globe.
Finally, the bottom line is that Democrats have to stand up to neo-cons Republicans who are protecting super rich under the guise of free economy with adverse affects for the average American and if realized two wars are mere excuses.
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