Why Bush?

WE are the first to admit that the world is in a volatile state of flux. Indeed, after eight years of the Reagan Administration, it is not surprising that democracy is emerging throughout the world, and that the superpowers are steadily decreasing their arms.

It is hard to overlook the foreign policy achievements of the new President. The proposed arms reductions, aptly timed for the NATO summit, are critical indicators of the new President's approach to international security. It calls for Moscow to cut in half its troop presence in Eastern Europe--attaining a ceiling of 275,000 soldiers. Accordingly, NATO allies will reduce troops by 30,000 to meet the ceiling.

Along with the foreign debt plan, actions such as these seem more indicative of a confident and directed leader, and hardly support the misconceived notion of Bush as weak and reactive.

It is ironic to hear that Bush has been an ineffectual President on the domestic level. Recent economic indicators would astound even the most skeptical. Since Bush has entered office, the unemployment has dropped to 5.1 percent; the trade deficit has fallen, exports exceeding imports by $1.8 billion during the last quarter; the stock market recently hit a post-crash high--2517.83.

Bush ran as the "Education President" and has not let down the public. The most striking figure is in the Bush budget, which allocates $441 million in new spending for education programs--$250 million "merit schools" program, aimed at reducing dropout rates, a $8 million program to award outstanding teaching, and $3 million in outlays for education of homeless children. Another program receiving significant praise has been one providing $60 million in matching grants for the endowments of Black colleges.

An additional part of Bush's education program ties in quite nicely to another priority on the Bush agenda--drugs. The Bush proposal includes $25 million to assist schools plagued by illicit narcotics. However, this is not enough to satisfy the administration's commitment to combat drugs. Additional plans include an end to federal plea bargains with dealers using assault rifles and an increase in mandatory sentences for drug dealers.

Some have criticized Bush for wavering on a ban of semni-automatic weapons. Bush indeed banned the imports of semi-automatic weapons, and, while he has not followed suit on domestic production, his action set a standard which the rest of the nation has begun to follow. The California legislature has since passed a bill banning such weapons; 22 states have established waiting periods and background checks for potential gun buyers Soft on guns? Hardly, and certainly better than furloughs.

People will differ on their assessment of the first four months of the Bush administration, yet no past President could hope to meet the standards set out in the alternative opinion. It is ludicruous to expect a newly elected President to solve the world's problems in five months. Preoccupied with ethics violations, as the staff opinion acknowledges, the Congress is equally culpable for not answering every domestic policy concern. Rather than trying to find a quick scapegoat for our problems, we should attempt to build a consensus, working together with these higher goals in mind, praising each other during the successes and helping, not criticizing, during defeats.