The Legacy of the George W. Bush Administration

The following list regarding the Legacy of the George W. Bush Administration was sent to us by Richard G. Smith, which we've edited, reorganized, and added a little bit to:

Economy

Average Gasoline Price in 2000 = $1.10 US; In 2008 = $3.65 US.

In 1999 the annual unemployment rate was 4.2%; In 2008 it rose to 5.7%.

In 2000 $0.95 US bought 1 Euro; In 2008 $1.48 US buys 1 Euro.

In 2007 the Cost of Living rose to its highest level in 17 years.

In 2007 the housing market burst, causing the subprime mortgage fiasco, which in turn caused numerous banks and financial organizations to go bankrupt. The American government was forced to issue a huge financial bailout via US mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In 2007 the average American owed more on their mortgage than their house was worth (the last time that happened was in 1945).

The number of Americans living under the poverty line rose by 5.7 million between 2000 and 2008.

In 2000 there was 17 million Americans on food stamps; The forecast for 2009 is 28 million.

In 2007 the United States went into a Recession, according to Warren Buffett, Alan Greenspan and numerous other economists/businessmen.

Environment

Continued failure to recognize Global Warming as a threat.

Hurricane Katrina.

Oil wells being drilled in National Parks.

Federal Finances

The US National Debt in 2001 was $5.6 trillion, today is $9.1 trillion.

Bill Clinton left the White House with a budget surplus, George W. Bush will leave it with a record breaking budget deficit.

Health Care

The number of Americans without health insurance rose by 7.2 million between 2000 and 2008.

The United States is the only country left in America or Europe that does not have free guaranteed health care.

Politics

Forced resignation of the U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Forced resignation of the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Forced resignation of the U.S. Housing Secretary Alphonso Jackson.

Reputation

Abu Ghraib Prison (Democracy and Values on display).

Guantanamo Prison (A new low in American jurisprudence).

Extraordinary Rendition (new and improved synonym for torture).

Spying on Americans without warrants, and torture justified and legalized.

Failure to find Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, the whole reason for going to war.

Terrorism

September 11th 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre, which could have been prevented.

American troops are still in Afghanistan.

American troops are still in Iraq.

Osama bin Laden still hasn't been captured.