Stronger at Home and Respected in the World

by Sam Toles

It was not that long ago that George W. Bush received the best approval ratings of any politician in our nation's history, higher than those of Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, Franklin Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln. He had an amazing opportunity to open a new chapter in America -- where we worked together to achieve a common goal, protecting our citizens while maintaining the fundamental tenets of our free society and continuing to set an example to all the nations of the world.

We were not alone as Americans then. Both our friends in the world and many nations with whom America had shared a more troubled past expressed their support for our country and sorrow for our loss. We were globally united in an effort to preserve and protect freedom and liberty from those forces that wished to harm them.

Today America is divided. The man, who once claimed to be a "uniter," has made terrible choices, and those choices have had resounding consequences. America is now more divided than at any time since the civil war. Regardless of the results on November 2nd, almost one half of the electorate will feel bitterness towards the result.

George Bush has had ample opportunities to keep us united, and to be re-elected with a resounding majority (electoral AND popular vote). He didn't have to rush to war in Iraq, when inspectors were on the ground searching for what turned out to be nonexistent WMDs. He could have waited to gather a coalition of our friends, like his father did 12 years earlier in Kuwait. In that (1991) war, Americans shouldered less than 20% of the overall monetary cost and considerably less lives were lost. Today we share the overwhelming majority of casualties and 95% of the financial obligations.

I assert that the Iraq war was timed to maximize the mid-term elections for the GOP. By announcing his intention to go to war with Saddam in September of 2002 (and then using the war to attack the patriotism of veterans like Senator Cleeland of Georgia during that campaign season), Bush was successful in winning back control of the United States Senate. But by delaying the decision to act until September, there was no time to gain the international backing his father did in 1990 -- and thus, political motivations have resulted in a most undesirable position for America.

In fact, at every turn Bush has chosen to make the most divisive choices. From his first appointment of John Ashcroft to the Justice Department, to his choice of radical right-wing judges. From his "with us or against us" attitude toward the world to his multibillion dollar "no bid" contracts for Halliburton. From his insistence on drilling our pristine wilderness and his directive towards scientists in the National Weather Service to ignore overwhelming research on global warming to his position on stem cell research. He keeps us divided.

It is my fervent hope that our country chooses John Kerry to lead us in these most divided times. And it is my hope that as president, John Kerry reaches out to Republicans and Democrats alike -- to find the things that unite us and heal the wounds of the last four years.

We need moderate judges and sensible environmental policy that works with industry to find innovative solutions instead of closed door meetings to plot the destruction of our planet for profit. We need the support of all the countries in the world to end the threat of terrorism, because terrorism is a global problem that cannot be waged by cynical wars timed for political gain and massive oil profits. We need more police officers in places like New York and Los Angeles, more port security, better intelligence and cooperation with our friends in the world. These should be the priorities of our future!

This is the most important election of our lifetime. The politics of secrecy, fear and division are not what I consider American values. I will vote for John Kerry with the sincere belief that he will take the necessary steps to unite our nation again and make me proud to stand as an American, wherever I go in the world.

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