by James Glaser
March 22, 2004

You have to admit that it was a brilliant ploy using the word "Compassionate" in a political slogan. People all over the nation ate that up. "Now really can't we be more compassionate?"

It worked, because during the last election a lot of people thought George Bush was not only a Christian, but they thought he was honest too. Really, before George Bush came along many Americans thought Republicans were mean and that they didn't look out for the "little Guy" in America. George changed that image with two words and he called himself a Compassionate Conservative.

This little Button Slogan worked so well that many of the people in this country that actually have some compassion, fell for it and voted for Bush. Today they are wondering what the heck happened? Where is the compassion that George Bush professed?

Let's face it, George Bush had no compassion for the thousands of innocent people we have killed and maimed in Afghanistan and Iraq. In fact his administration has stated that it was "unfortunate" that those people had to get killed and hurt. Now is that compassion or what? Don't worry though, when we have to, we do throw the loved ones of those we kill some money. Maybe that is Republican Compassion?

Over seven hundred brave young Americans have died in George Bush's wars so far and never once has he had enough compassion for the loved ones of the fallen to attend even one funeral. It is now illegal for the American News Media to even photograph one of the flag draped coffins as it returns to our country. Compassion?

It is not like there are no opportunities to show real compassion right here at home. Over two million Americans have lost their jobs and it would be compassionate to extend unemployment benefits for these people, but the Republicans say, no way. Compassion?

How about help for the hundreds of thousands of homeless people and their children. That's right, here in the land of the brave and the home of the free we don't have enough compassion to get the thousands of infants and children out from under the bridges and tents where they sleep. Compassion?

What about the tens of thousands of senior citizens that are choosing between food or rent and the prescription drugs they need. Read over the Medicare Bill that George Bush and his party passed and see if you can find the compassion in it. There is compassion for the people owning stock in the drug companies, because they have made it illegal for the government to negotiate for lower prices. On top of that any States that try to get lower prices for their citizens by facilitating the buying of drugs in Canada are threatened by Washington.

What about the over one million American citizens that have fallen below the poverty line since George Bush became President? Those people need our compassion and jobs too.

Over forty million Americans are without medical insurance at the same time the new Constitution we helped develop for the people in Iraq, guarantees their citizens the Right to Health Care. These Iraqi people have some compassion.

Compassion is having pity for the suffering of another, with the desire to help. All over the world and right here at home too, there is a real need for some compassion from all of us.