Other Campuses: Bush excused from jury duty, too busy

(U-WIRE) LONG BEACH, Calif. – Jury duty is one of the many civic responsibilities entrusted to the citizens of the United States. It is designed to promote equal and fair judgment for those accused of a crime.

But what if the jurors lack the decision-making skills our justice system has presupposed necessary in order for them to vote? Nearly everyone over 18 can register to vote and the process used to choose possible jurors is a random selection of registered voters in the area where the trial will be held.

Recently our commander in chief, President George W. Bush, was selected as a candidate to serve on a jury near his ranch in McLennan County, Texas. It is fortunate for the accused the president has said he cannot serve because he is too busy. Busy doing what, we may never know all the juicy details.

However, we do know the repercussions of the Texan juror’s many bad decisions lately. His decision-making track record has been tarnished by scandal and misguided political ventures.

The war in Iraq was the first of many serious political slip-ups that have led many Americans to believe our president lacks the necessary intellect, and even morality, in making sound decisions. The incorrect intelligence supporting the presence of WMDs in Iraq, the disrespect and humiliation toward many prisoners in Abu Ghraib, the use of torturous chemical agents against Iraqi insurgents and the bribing of Iraqi press to release favorable editorials supporting the U.S. mission of spreading democracy are just a few of a plethora of problems the president is held responsible for.

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The true nail in the coffin for most Americans is the president’s inability to provide aid for those suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The first crucial mistake Bush made began before the infamous hurricane ever struck land.

Faced with a lack of enlistment to fight the war abroad, many members of the Louisiana National Guard were sent to serve in Iraq, leaving residents in Louisiana without essential aid and leadership those serving in the National Guard would have provided had they remained in their state posts.

Also, the delayed response from FEMA resulted in many unnecessary deaths and the eruption of chaos among the dehydrated, hungry Louisiana residents. Because Bush appointed a fellow buffoon, Michael Brown, to head one of the nation’s most crucial governmental services, thousands of families have been given inadequate support.

Many families suffering from the effects of the hurricane lost loved ones, homes, jobs and many of their possessions.

Most people living in areas affected by Katrina were already suffering from extreme poverty, where a savings account is a foreign, distant concept reserved mainly for those not living paycheck to paycheck. It is ridiculous for FEMA to assume people can find lodging, jobs and cope with the emotional havoc the disaster wrought upon their lives in a short three months. Many continue to blame Bush for the inadequacies of FEMA.

Luckily, Bush has been spared the burden of making yet another tough decision and has been eliminated from the pool of potential jurors.

Staff Editorial