Art Refice – 2/20/06

This page was last updated on February 22, 2006.

Let’s talk about bad days; Art Refice; Beaver County Times; February 20, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Vice President Dick Cheney may have had the worst day of his life when he shot his friend, but President Bush and his administration’s aim are by far worse than his was and millions are going to have many bad days for years.

“He has the Republicans scrambling over his ideas of cutting our Social Security benefits and eliminating a $255 lump sum death benefit that has been in effect for more than 50 years. The GOP chairman of the Senate Finance committee said he has no plans of pursuing these proposals.”

[RWC] In case Mr. Refice hasn’t been paying attention, the primary Bush administration proposals have nothing to do with cutting benefits.

I don’t turn my nose up at any money, but let’s face it; a $255 death benefit is next to worthless. I’d be willing to bet it costs more to administer this benefit than it’s worth.

“Among the savings that Bush is seeking are $36 billion in Medicare and $4.9 billion that supports poor children’s health care.”

[RWC] I discussed the $36 billion Medicare lie in a previous critique.

“Better yet, the administration requested $120 billion more to bring the total to nearly $500 billion for Bush’s unnecessary war.

“We shouldn’t have Americans crippled, lives sacrificed and billions spent by trying to bring a democracy to Iraq. The landslide victory by the Hamas in the Palestinian election is proof that many countries in the Middle East don’t want our form of government.”

[RWC] Bringing democracy to Iraq was not the primary goal. Removing a potential threat was. It’s amazing that Mr. Refice blames us instead of the terrorists who have been killing us for nearly 30 years.

Mr. Refice’s logic is amazing. An “election” in a country run by terrorists with only terrorist organizations as candidates overrules the multiple elections that have taken place in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Bring the troops home to their families and let them enjoy the peace and freedom here.”

[RWC] More illogic. Given that terrorists have hit us at home and abroad for nearly 30 years, does Mr. Refice really believe terrorists will suddenly stop killing us?