A small story about the enormous impact of the Bush Administration

[CoffeeCat]

Last winter, ten-year old Eric Nerison was hit by a car and killed in Des Moines. The driver of the car, Donald Anderson, age 19, fled the accident. After turning himself into police, Anderson told police that he was devastated, and that he did not see the boy crossing the street that night.

Police investigated and concluded that Anderson probably didn't see the boy. It turns out that the streetlight, directly above the spot where Erin Nerison crossed the street, was not lit that night.

The street light was not lit because the City of Des Moines shut off many street lights to save money. Federal budget cuts left the city with fewer dollars for local services.

I know this is a small story from a small Midwestern city. However, this story is hugely important because it reveals consequences.

When a President gives millionaires six-figure tax breaks, while cutting federal funding for education, law enforcement and social services--yacht owners benefit, but the rest of America suffers.

While local street lights remain off and America's cities and towns struggle to stretch fewer dollars--the future looks pretty bright for millionaires, billionaires and corporate America.

In my opinion, that's a callous, irresponsible and inhumane, way to run a country.

Link to story: http://www.theiowachannel.com/news/4328461/detail.html

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The man convicted of a deadly hit-and-run accident on a Des Moines street was sentenced Tuesday to three years probation and counseling.

Donald "Hank" Anderson, 19, pleaded guilty to failing to render aid, leaving the scene of an accident, and drug possession.

In November, Anderson hit and killed 10-year-old Eric Nerison on East 29th Street. A streetlight there was one of many the city turned off to save money, but the case prompted the city to turn the lights back on.

[NAO]

1. I shudder to contemplate the "Bush Butterfly Effect"

It comes off as alarmist, but I've been saying it for over 2 years now...

The actions that Bush has taken as President are causing suffering in the lives of millions of people - and I'm not even considering any military/foreign policy actions. Bush's actions will ripple out into the future and continue to degrade the lives of millions of people for multiple generations and cause more and more suffering.

The degradation of the public infrastructure and the accumulation of debt are the two highest level factors, IMHO. But as this anecdote illustrates, there are trillions of consequences of Bush's policies that are going to cause harm in unexpected ways.

[jojo54]

3. You got that right NAO

* is like the trickle of water, undermining the soil that's holding up the bridge abutments. They turn their backs on the problem and let the erosion continue so that when it all collapes, they get the no-bid contract to rebuild which of course, will cost them nothing and us, everything. They're disgusting.

[Nay]

11. It's more like the "Bush Huge Ugly Flying Dragon Effect" since

ya really need the idea of huge leathery wings to get across the true impact of this little asshole's insane policies.

[grace0418]

21. I'd actually say the Bush Tsunami Effect

There's nothing subtle about the effects of his disasterous tenure. So many dead, this country forever shamed in the eyes of the world (and in the eyes of any reasonable American), our economy, infrastructure and environment pushed to the brink (and maybe over it), civil rights trampled, lies, deceit and corruption at all-time highs...

Even if we trounce the asshole out of office before 2008, we may never fully recover.

[ltfranklin]

22. Is it just me...

...or do other people see that this "death of a thousand cuts" is a well-thought-out plan to simultaneously reduce these programs, while placing us in such a deep financial hole that, regardless of who gets power in a few years, it will be IMPOSSIBLE to restore any of these programs? In fact, it may be impossible NOT to continue the process, since more and more of the government's income will be going to paying the debt?

[Tigress DEM]

23. Balance the budget on the backs of the poor and if they die, oh well...

More for the wealthy who can never get enough green to satiate their greed.

I say we need to prosecute those in high places and make them pay back what they have stolen through illegal means the money we taxpayers gave in good faith to have the country run fairly.

[ReadTomPaine]

34. God money's not looking for the cure.

God money's not concerned with the sick amongst the pure.
God money let's go dancing on the backs of the bruised.
God money's not one to choose.

RTP

[Shallah Kali]

27. I have to agree. They will destroy and gut what they can't destroy outrigh

Either way they win and either way the hamstring the opposition.

[Lisa]

33. I really think they're aiming to create a generation which has no concept

... of a time when government was responsible for providing services ranging from street lighting to school buses, museums, and feeding troops in the field -- and did so efficiently and reasonably well.

They want to erase the memory of transfer payments to state and local governments, and of course, the agencies created by FDR and past presidents. They are scared to death of old people who remember what life was like, before and after things like Social Security. When they think of the Victorian era, they want to paint a picture of a tax-free capitalist heaven with no "big government" -- they can't or won't see how harsh and frightening it was like for most people.

I was at a political event on the weekend, and a 90-year-old woman grabbed onto my arm and started telling me about the 1930s. People in her family went hungry, and some got sick and even died because there was no federal assistance. She started crying because her great-grandkids don't believe that things were ever that bad, and she kept insisting, "we mustn't forget!".

[jojo54]

2. You gotta be fucking kidding me???

Your friendly government men, hard at work again.

[BlueEyedSon]

30. Hardly a butterfly, more like a bull in a china shop. nt

[fooj]

4. Put this on the greatest page! It made me cry...

Thanks for sharing this, Sparkles!

Peace.

[Selteri]

5. I've already begun to see his Butterfly affect and can say only one thing.

Beam me up Scotty, there isn't any intelligent life on this planet anymore.

[Clark2008]

6. There is plenty of intelligent life on this planet

Unfortunately, it's not being heard.

[Selteri]

32. Sad but true

You're right, thre are some intelligent people on the planet...

If I were heard for half the ideas I've had over the years that are ahead of anyone else... well... let's just say 'd own a few very successful businesses. Even the ideas I have at my disposal right now that never seem to be able to gain investors in an economy like this.

Oh well, I continue to be patient and ty to work to make a better tommorow in my own way.

[understandinglife]

7. www.missionnotaccomplished.us -- a day to reflect on Eric and all...

...the lights that have been darkened by Bu$h and his neoconster buddies.


Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[NAO]

8. Project for the Old American Century (link)

A treasure of a website. Many news stories, humor, op-eds, progressive ideology.

Project for the Old American Century
http://oldamericancentury.org/

[leftofthedial]

9. how many deaths

do you think the raygun, george the wimp and george the lesser are responsible for around the world?

[Maraya1969]

10. We can start with all the frogs he blew up as a kid

:nuke: SICK FUCK

[harris8]

12. Utterly devastating

Pardon me while I go hug and cherish my sleeping children.

[Paradise]

13. Oh yeah!

"When a President gives millionaires six-figure tax breaks, while cutting federal funding for education, law enforcement and social services--yacht owners benefit, but the rest of America suffers."

That's where we're at!

[loudsue]

14. It's not JUST bush! It's the REPUBLICAN party! Let that albatross hang

around the necks of the republicans who took over congress during the Clinton years as well, where the dismantling of our infrastructure began.

I want Americans to begin to think of the word "republican" with ALL of the misery they face now, and will face more in the future. Remember, Dems have only had 2 short years, with a VERY slim majority in ONE house of Congress, since 1994. Newt Gingrich and his band of thugs started the big ball rolling with their "Contract on America" way back then.

Since they have subsequently stolen our election system, and our voting machines, let the blame fall in ALL of their laps. Bush is merely their poster boy, and an evil and powerful enabler of their policies.

It's not just bush. It's the REPUBLICAN PARTY. They broke it. Let them pay for it.

:kick::kick::kick:

[cap]

15. why was Laura Bush not similarly charged and brought to trial?

eom

[kiki]

16. And in less 'solid' terms...

...in terms of the American psyche and the culture of hatred and idiocy that currently infects it...

The blame for every racist beating, every redneck who shoots his girlfriend, every military recruit murdered by his trainers, can be laid squarely at the door of the vermin in the White House...

[ProgressiveDepot.com]

17. The average American never connects the dots

Most never think about why there's no money and why the street lights are out -- that's just a local issue that has no significance in their lives. Until people really connect the dots, or suffer themselves, they won't be outraged. (Of course some will suffer and still not be outraged because the GOP has done such a good job convincing them it's all their fault.)

[Shallah Kali]

28. Or they thank their god that the homosexuals can't marry

and figure living a life of preventable squalor and suffering is worth it.

[PATRICK]

18. The system is gone

I was stuck along with hundreds(at least) of others, trucks, cars, going past Erie PA in an ice storm. Fromm10 PM to 7:30AM. Lots of overstressed resources to be sure BUT what we did not have:

adequate warning from the dumb robot emergency radio service you could barely receive. No coordinated information how to avoid entering what turned out to be an all night winter trap. No clearing of exits. No surveying of the trapped for developing personal emergencies. No medians to get us to the freely moving westbound section. No power restoration in key areas around certain ramps. Insufficient and untimely blacking and vague, unmarked rerouting. No local radio service until Mr. Happy Station chimed in at dawn with mollycoddling incompetence to praise the efforts and vaguely describe the local situation. When one of my fellow Siberian Thruway campers called in to ask if anyone knew we were there he was astounded and blamed the total blackout of responsible radio on budget constraints and his one phone call to some agency or other. In my home area the radio was on constantly with all details and call-ins with all agencies in dialog with progress reports and REAL facts. It can be done. No excuses.

Budget constraint. Don't expect much Homeland security response in Erie.

If you are not on the news you don't exist no matter how many or how troubled. If you are not informed you will hit the flypaper. If it gets bad enough no one will be able to help. If it looks like normal occurrence(it is seasonal and inevitable), thank God you survived and stay away from the area.

That is not a civilization in full health or even rational. Neglect of simple resources for terrible reasons is a monumental disgrace. it means your life isn't worth a damn but the money is. Not hard to imagine where civil rights or safety fall on such a list.

[0007]

19. Great story and yes we are living in dark times that hurt

us all sooner or later.

Don't forget your magnetic sticker! which is a badge of ignorance.

[DemBeans]

20. Republican trickle-down economics

We're seeing this everywhere - the states are suffering, the cities are suffering.

The disasterous Bush economy certainly is trickling down.

[despairing optimist]

24. A tragedy for sure, but I hope the parents sued the city as well as the

driver for wrongful death. Cutting corners on safety is not a responsible way to economize, and the city administration should also be held accountable.

[Nikki Stone 1]

25. The "Bush Butterfly Effect" is a fantastic phrase. We need to use it

until it sticks in the head of every American.

[hiley]

26. that's a callous, irresponsible and inhumane, way to run a country

two sparkles you said it all right there.

thank you so for putting this up. Every American should know this story and am thankful the lights are back on, sad to late for little Eric Nerison.







Want real news watch I.N.N.World Report on FreeSpeechTV or on web.
http://innworldreport.net/index.htm
http://www.seo-blog.org/5755_omfg_rageagainstthegop_mac ...

[Shallah Kali]

29. Bush Jr.'s Thousand Points of Darkness continues to expand

Some are big, some are small but they are spreading until we have a global dark age. Ugh. I am so depressed.

[lostnfound]

31. Awesome expression!! nt

[BJN]

35. My stomach sank when Bush was re-elected

I knew the middle class was in big trouble when Bush was re-elected. But all I heard was comments about what a good Christian he was and how he didn't run around on his wife. The problem is there is a part of the middle class that doesn't understand politics and how the system works. They get manipulated and don't even know it. And if you tell them they are being manipulated, they get mad because they feel you have insulted their intelligence. How do you get them to understand what is going on?