Wednesday, July 07, 2004

History repeats itself

Why do people have such short memories? Every decade or so, during a boom, there's talk of a "new economy." Since it's a new economy, we'll never have a recession again! Is that so? That's exactly what you said ten years ago, before a bust. And twenty years ago, again, before a bust. Surely you remember people saying that during the mid 90's. We all know what happened to the new economy, right?

But maybe I'm being too harsh. After all, a decade is a long time, so maybe it's understandable that people can forget. That doesn't explain what people have forgotten about Bush, though, and what happened only a few years, months, or even weeks ago.

Remember when we went to war with Afghanistan in order to find Osama bin Laden? Where is he, by the way?

Remember when we promised to rebuild Afghanistan? How come the little Afghan children still don't have schools?

Remember when Saddam Hussein was affiliated with Al Qaida? Oh wait, no, he had weapons of mass destruction, right? Or was it just oil? Jeez, I can't keep all the false motives straight.

Remember when the war with Iraq was over, even though handfuls of soldiers were dying every day?

Remember when we weren't in a recession, even though now that we look at the data, it turns out we were?

Remember when the economy was recovering, even though we still haven't replaced half the jobs that were lost?

Remember when the Iraq prison scandal broke, and the talking heads dismissed it as if that's what the Iraqis deserved? Remember when those same assholes were shocked and outraged when Americans started getting beheaded?

Remember when Bush backed an unconstitutional gay marriage ban amendment?

Remember when the Patriot Act was passed and we were supposed to be safer, but all it really did was take away our freedoms?

Remember when Bush didn't get reelected and got hit by a car on his way home from his concession speech? Oh wait, no, that was only a dream of mine.

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