The Bush Administration: Give Us Money, We Give You Help

Ever since George W. Bush became President of the United States, we have seen how his failed leadership has proven to be detrimental to the well being of all Americans, and at times, often fatal. A clear example of this is what happened recently at a suburban mall. Robert Bonelli, a 24-year-old man with a fascination about the school shootings in Columbine, walked into the mall and began firing randomly. One thing about this incident, however, that is of interest, is the fact that the weapon he used in the shooting was an AK-47 assault rifle.

In the post- 9/11 world, we all understand how important it is that the government establish sensible reforms to prevent terrorism in the United States. Part of that agenda is making sure that weapons do not get into the hands of would be terrorists. Even before 9/11, the United States had a ban on all assault weapons. The simple reason for that was that assault weapons can only be used to kill many people in a short span of time. There was never any doubt that assault weapons had any practical use outside of murdering many people in an instant. There was never any thought that it could be used for hunting as well, since hunting requires a precision weapon capable of firing a shot, that would be above all, a surprise to the animal getting killed. An assault weapon lacks that element of surprise, since it bursts so many shells at once, and cannot be used to hit an animal right away without frightening it first.

Now, after 9/11, with the specter of terror, there is even more reason to support extending the assault weapons ban. However, the ban expired during the 2004 presidential campaign. When it came time to vote for the ban’s extension again, President Bush failed to extend any political capital to support the ban. He never made any move, nor did he put any White House support whatsoever, behind the ban’s extension. As a result, terrorists are having a much easier time buying those assault weapons, and are now all the more capable of wreaking tremendous havoc on innocent Americans everywhere. All because George W. Bush failed to make even a feeble attempt in passing the ban on assault weapons.

I can understand why Bush would oppose the ban. The National Rifle Association, the nation’s biggest pro-gun lobby, gave over 10 million dollars to the Republicans in the last election cycle, and over $700,000 in donations to Bush’s campaign. Once again, we can see the way money has influenced the Republicans to support or oppose legislation that can only help those who support their campaigns, and not those who don’t. It seems that a majority of Americans have no voice whatsoever in government, because their “representation” in Congress is utterly corrupt, and owned by the corporations and white collared in this country. After all, maybe it’s no surprise that Bush has repeatedly acted on behalf of those who donated to his campaign, it’s just that I have this vague feeling that United States government is actually supposed to represent the people’s interest.