In their recent groveling 'person of the year' piece, Time magazine has awarded George W. Bush this now dubious honor. Their claim is that 'For sticking to his guns (literally and figuratively), for reshaping the rules of politics to fit his ten-gallon-hat leadership style and for persuading a majority of voters that he deserved to be in the White House for another four years,' he deserves the award. We at Political Affairs absolutely reject this fabricated version of the White House occupant.

While Time sucks up to the most far right administration in 75 years, we think Bush ran the most racist, divisive, deceitful, and belligerent campaign since the days of Jim Crow. This is nothing to celebrate.

His blatant imperialist defense of his war in Iraq despite the collapse of the various justifications he offered for war is unfitting for a leader of a democratic country. His apparent lack of concern for the estimated 100,000 people killed in Iraq since March 2003 is more worthy of a petty tyrant. His attacks on workers, their right to organize, wage protections such as for overtime, safety and health protections, and his funding cuts for job training and re-training and displacement programs make him more suitable for 'person of the year' in a Pinochet-style government. His opposition to civil rights, reproductive rights, and environmental protections is a throwback to the 19th century. His obvious hatred of gay people and the use of homophobia to divide voters are more akin to Jerry Falwell or Khomeini than a secular leader. Is this what Time is celebrating?

We think there are individuals and groups of people more deserving of such a title as 'person of the year.' Here is a list of possible alternatives (not in any particular order):

Michael Moore for his work as a filmmaker in exposing the real agenda behind Bush’s wars and for his work in campaigning to stop Bush.

President Yassir Arafat for his courage in the unrelenting fight for a Palestinian state.

P. Diddy (Sean Combs) both for his huge effort to support the youth of New York City, and for his 'Vote or Die' campaign that helped bring millions of new voters into the democratic process.

Cynthia McKinney for her unflinching opposition to the administration’s war drive, and for her courage to return to a political body that fought so hard to get rid of her.

The Dixie Chicks for sticking to their guns after a vicious right-wing campaign to label them as traitors.

Some groups that could be in contention for 'people of the year' include:

The grocery workers (UFCW) in California who fought to save their health care benefits in northern California and who struck in southern California to protect their rights.

The over 1,300 US military men and women killed and 10,000 wounded since Bush launched his war based on a lie.

100,000 Iraqis killed.

Tens of thousands of steelworker retirees who continue to battle to protect their pensions and benefits since the wave of bankruptcies that have plagued US steel manufacturing.

3 million manufacturing workers who have lost their jobs since Bush took office.

The several million people who took to the streets this year around the world to oppose Bush’s war on Iraq (with special notice for the hundreds of international, national, and local peace organizations that made it happen).

6 million people who are losing their overtime pay due to Bush’s policy of making sure hard working people aren’t adequately compensated.

The tens of millions of working people who have faced some of the worst setbacks since Bush took office but who continue to fight to survive.

The hundreds of gay couples who braved the nasty hypocrisy of the far right’s anti-gay agenda by getting married.

The over 1 million people who marched in April 2004 to protect women’s reproductive rights.

The organizations such as the ACLU, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and others that have challenged the attacks on civil rights and liberties perpetrated by the administration under the guise of fighting terrorism.

The 225,000 union volunteers who campaigned vigorously to end Bush’s presidency.

But in the end we chose the largest group, and the most deserving. This group of people was the broadest section of the US population in this country's history that was committed to the same thing at the same time and that wasn’t motivated by fear or prejudice. The world will continue to rely on this group of people to blunt the Bush agenda and to turn the tide against war and misery – here and abroad.

Political Affairs’ alternative people of the year award goes to the 57 million people who united for democracy and against war and voted to replace George W. Bush last November. We salute you.



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