George Bush's Resume- Also known as use your mind

In recent weeks I have received another 15 copies of an email circulating through cyberspace in which Dubya's "credentials" are reviewed. I am not a huge supporter of Bush, but I am someone who believes that one of the challenges we face is living in a society in which critical reasoning and logical thought are often neglected and or meaning.

This email contains about 25 points that are all designed to try and make Bush look bad. And if you turn off your brain and read them without any consideration for context, validity or significance then it just might work.

I hate this list because to me it is demonstrative of just how limited so many people are in their ability to really understand what is happening. The list does not provide any factual support for the allegations it makes. The information may be accurate, but they leave it to the reader to verify the veracity of the charges. And on top of that there are the issues of context and significance.

* I appointed cabinet members that are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleeza Rice, has a Chevron oil tanker
named after her.

Let's assume that this is a true and valid statement. Why is this important? Is it bad to be rich? Does this mean that rich people are stupid/mean/corrupt? Should rich people be punished for being rich?

None of this discusses the qualifications of any of the cabinet member versus the requirements of the position. For that matter the case can be made that if you did not inherit your money but earned through your own blood, sweat and tears you are smart, innovative, industrious and someone with a good work ethic. Or maybe you are just lucky. In any case the point is made, unless you can illustrate significance none of these comments are meaningful.

This resume discusses Bush's DUI. Clearly that is not something to be proud of, but again we need to ask a few questions. Can a person change, can they be rehabilitated. If you are a recovering alcoholic or drug user are you forever forbidden from holding office. I might be concerned about your ability to run a bar/pharmacy, but even then I couldn't say that you automatically do not have the right to hold a certain position.

And for that matter let's spend a moment discussing intelligence. The reality is that a person who is considered to be a genius is not automatically going to be a better candidate for public office over someone who is of lesser intelligence. It is not how smart you are, but what you do with the intelligence you have that matters.

I could easily spend more time ranting about this, but why. So let us sum it up. When you read these types of notes I ask that you consider the source, validity and significance of what is being said. Are the comments accurate and if so, are they meaningful. I can't sing worth a damn, but my job really doesn't require me to do so. So who gives a damn about whether I can hit High C or Vitamin D. My apologies to Groucho Marx whose line I just mangled.