People of Compassion

Bush's greatest test came when Iraqi President Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, then threatened to move into Saudi Arabia. Vowing to free Kuwait, Bush rallied the United Nations, the U. S. people, and Congress and sent 425,000 American troops. They were joined by 118,000 troops from allied nations. After weeks of air and missile bombardment, the 100-hour land battle dubbed Desert Storm routed Iraq's million-man army.

Despite unprecedented popularity from this military and diplomatic triumph, Bush was unable to withstand discontent at home from a faltering economy, rising violence in inner cities, and continued high deficit spending. In 1992 he lost his bid for reelection to Democrat William Clinton.

The constitution's preamble states that government's role is to "promote the general welfare". not provide it.

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The constitution's preamble states that government's role is to "promote the general welfare". not provide it.

That says it all.

The problem is, that conservatives traditionally believe in small government, with the the government staying out of people's provate business.

How does that relate to Bush's stand on gay rights, stem cells, and reproductive choice? A person who believed in smaller government would not even become involved in those issues; IMO, they should not even be addressed by the government.

Problem is, we have two factions attempting to infantilize the American people. The left, with it's economic and social policies; the right with it's social policies.

Compassion is defined as consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

I think both parties are compassionate in that regard.

What we disagree on is the best way to alleviate the distress we see.

The constitution's preamble states that government's role is to "promote the general welfare". not provide it.

Republicans believe government's role should be limited to the constitutional defined role of promoting policies that help everyone provide for themselves.

By promoting the private sector to provide these services, the recipients of such service or charity are put in proper contact with the representatives of those who are paying for the charity or providing the service. Under such a system of welfare (welfare in the broad sense of what is good for all), politicians are positioned in their proper role of promoting the general welfare and are removed from their propensity to provide the public largess to special interests in return for a long and prosperous political career.

So you think that we can continue to spend spend spend with no consequences to the future generations? If we don't pay it down the interest payments will become so steep that an increase in government revenue will be the only way to keep up with the payments.

No au, the government should stay the course in promoting the general welfare.

Bush did not win the popular vote in 2000. The Supreme Court put him in office after the Florida fiasco.

Larry wrote

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No au, the government should stay the course in promoting the general welfare.

What exactly is the course additional tax cuts for the wealthy and industry. That has become the Bush theme. Stay the course, how by continuing to ignore the needs of American's?

During the 2000 election the theme was I am a uniter . We all know how that lie was exposed. In my long lifetime I have never seen the nation more divided. Lincoln said not an exact quote. A nation divided cannot stand.

FreeDuck wrote:

So you think that we can continue to spend spend spend with no consequences to the future generations? If we don't pay it down the interest payments will become so steep that an increase in government revenue will be the only way to keep up with the payments.

You could have said the same in 1900.

Remember, those interest payments go to the Treasury or primarily U.S. citizens who purchase Treasury securities.

The gross national debt is over $7 trillion and will rise by $700 billion this year alone. The national debt is comprised of money borrowed from and owed to: (1) various government trust funds, including Social Security, and (2) the public, including individuals, corporations, state, local and foreign governments, and the Federal Reserve, typically in the form of bonds or other types of securities.

The National Debt represents a numerical history of the United States, showing when wars and other crises occurred, and underscoring the ascendancy of one political party or another. In 1900, the Debt was $2.1 billion - a small amount, even if adjusted to constant 2003-dollars (i.e., perhaps $40 billion). It meant that in the first 110 years of our history, the government accumulated a debt of only $21 per citizen - about $400 in constant 2003-dollars. (This included the Civil War.) Today, the Debt is $22,244 per citizen.