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January 23, 2004
GEORGE W. BUSH BY THE NUMBERS
With full acknowledgement to Independent Digital (UK) Ltd, who originated this list, and to Common Dreams, which posted it... Here's some of George W. Bush by the numbers, for those of you still deciding for whom you will cast your vote in November.
There have been 366 American combat deaths in Iraq between May 2003 (when Bush declared the war over) and January 2004 (a total of 505 American servicemen have died since the beginning of the war). By comparison, there were 0 American combat deaths in Germany after the Nazi surrender to the Allies in May 1945.
Speaking of zero, that's precisely the number of coffins of dead soldiers returning home from Iraq that the Bush administration has allowed to be photographed. Zero is also the number of funerals or memorials that President Bush has attended for soldiers killed in Iraq. Perhaps he's been too busy. After all, 100 is the number of fund-raisers attended by George Bush or Vice-President Dick Cheney in 2003.
As you can see by the countdown clock below the tagboard, $100 billion is the estimated cost of the war in Iraq to American citizens by the end of January 2004.
When George Bush was installed as President in January 2001, the US budget surplus was $127 billion. In fiscal year 2003, the US budget deficit was $374 billion -- the biggest deficit in United States history, and a reversal of more than half a trillion dollars in only three years. The US national debt increases by $1.58 billion each day; for some perspective as to what that means to you, here's another number: $23,920, which is the amount of each US citizen's share of the national debt as of January 19, 2004.
For some perspective on where the priorities lie for this administration, $113 million total was raised by the Bush-Cheney 2000 campaign, setting a record in American electoral history; $130 million is the amount raised for Bush's re-election campaign so far, and $200 million is the amount that the Bush-Cheney campaign expects to raise in 2004.
2.4 million is the number of Americans who have lost their jobs during the three years of the Bush administration; this administration is on its way to becoming the first since 1929 (Herbert Hoover) to preside over an overall loss of jobs during its complete term in office. 9 million US workers were unemployed in September 2003. 43.6 million Americans had no health insurance in 2002; that's more than 15% of the population. But don't you worry about our leaders... they're just fine. The average net wealth of Bush's original 16 person Cabinet was $10.9 million.
88% of American citizens will save less than $100 on their 2006 federal taxes as a result of the 2003 cut in capital gains and dividends taxes; by comparison, $42,000 is the amount of the average savings that members of Bush's cabinet are expected to enjoy this year as a result in the cuts in capital gains and dividends taxes. By the way, $42,228 was the median household income in the US in 2001... in case you're wondering. $116,000 is the amount Vice-President Cheney is expected to save each year from the Bush tax cuts. Meanwhile, +6% is the percentage increase since 2001 in the number of US families in poverty.
Looking at the numbers... not rhetoric, and not impassioned politicizing... just the pure, unspinnable numbers... the Bush Admininstration is the single greatest failure in American history. Furthermore, their obsession with retaining the power that they assumed under shady circumstances three years ago - even as they make millions of Americans poorer while enriching themselves - is a disgrace. 100 fund-raisers in 2003, but not one funeral... and this is the party that claims to support our troops?
In the words of the bumper sticker that's soon to be on my car: "If you're not completely appalled, you haven't been paying attention."
