As I watched President Bush's address to the nation on Tuesday night, one thought that kept passing through my mind was, how many Americans may not know certain facts that keeps them from seeing the truth.

It is a given that the more knowledge and facts that one has concerning any subject, wisdom can then guide one to see the truth as it is.

In today's politicals, it is seldom one gets the truth, much less the facts to make a wise decision.

So, in this column, I will simply be bringing to light many facts that Americans may not know about what has occurred in this country over the last three years.

Nearly 2.4 million American jobs have been lost since President Bush took office. Why? Because american corporations decided to close down facilities in the U.S. and open up shop in countries such as India, Pakistan, China, the Phillipines and others. Why? Cheaper wages. Why pay someone in the U.S. $10-$11 an hour when they can go over there and hire cheap labor for $1.00 an hour.

During December, 2003, there was only a net gain of 1,000 jobs across the country. But then you hear, " the economy is strong and is coming around. I would like to know who is making this statement and do they really know what they are talking about?

Since President Bush took office, there has been only 221,00 jobs added to the economy, while losing nearly 2.4 million jobs. To replace these 2.4 million lost jobs, the economy will have to generate at least 130,000 jobs a month over the next two years. Ask yourself, do you really see this happening with this present administration? Bush is going to be the first U.S. President since Herbert Hoover in 1929 to have an overall job loss while in office. 9 million Americans were without jobs in September, 2003, and nearly half had given up looking for most had been without a job for nearly a year.

By the way, the average wealth of President Bush's cabinet ministers is a shocking $10.6 million each, while the median average income for an American family is $42,288.00. 88% of American citizens will save less than $100 on their 2006 federal taxes as a result of 2003 cut in capital gains and dividends taxes, while the average large U.S. corporation will save millions. Those in the upper income brackets will save hundreds of thousands. Vice President Cheney is expected to save approximately $116,000 on his taxes due to the tax cuts Bush pushed through. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?

There are 6% more Americans living in poverty than at the beginning of 2000. An increase of 18 million. $300 million has been cut from the budget by the Bush Administration that helps the poor and those in poverty.

When President Bush took office, the U.S. had a $127 billion SURPLUS. The deficit at the end of 2004 will be nearly $1.4 trillion dollars and yet President Bush wants tax cuts to be permanent while spending $1.5 billion going to Mars and another $45 to $ 60 billion will be spent on operations in Iraq in 2004. In addition, defense spending is increasing another 20%. And don't forget the cutbacks that Veterans have had to endure regarding their health care cutbacks.

As of December 2003, the American taxpayer has footed the bill of being in Iraq to the tune of nearly $120 billion while only $13 billion has been shared by others nations helping to fight the War Against Terrorism, including England. Hello America...does it appear that someone can't add in the White House? Where is all the money going to come from to pay for all this, especially if tax cuts are made permanent which mainly benefit the rich and corporations.

The national debt is increasing $1.58 billion daily. By the end of 2004, every American would have to pay $23,609 dollars to get the U.S. out of debt. President Bush has bankrupt this country. There is no way that the deficit can be cut in half by 2005 while keeping the tax cuts. Whoever said that is a complete idiot.

Did you know that Japan and Germany hold 30% of the debt of the U.S. in U.S. Treasury Notes? Another 15% is held by other nations and you don't want to know which nations because it will would only make you more angry. Basically what this means is that only 55% of America is actually owned by Americans, the other 45% by other countries. Doesn't this make you angry?

1.57 million bankruptcies were filed by Americans in 2003, the largest in U.S. history.

The war in Iraq is now the second war that the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate did not issue a formal Declaration of War, even though we were attacked. The first war where a Declaration of War was not issued was Viet Nam. Are we repeating the same steps again. God I hope not.

232 Americans have lost their lives in combat in Iraq since May, 2003. 501 total Americans have lost their lives during this same time period. This is an average of 1.6 American soldiers dieing daily in Iraq. Will it be your son, daughter or grandchild be next to die? There has been a 36% increase in desertions in the military services since 1999. Why is this?

During the Viet Nam war, journalists were allowed to photograph coffins of our dead returning from Viet Nam. The Bush Administration forbids any photographs of returning coffins from Iraq. Why is this? To reduce public outcry because they do not want the American public to see our dead soldiers returning.

President Bush has not attended any funerals or memorials for soldiers that have been killed in Iraq. However, President Bush and Vice President Cheney have managed to attend over 100 fund raisers in 2003 raising over $130 million from special interests groups and corporations. It is estimated they will raise another $200 million from these sources in 2004. This is the largest contribution from special interest groups and corporations to any President, even allowing for inflation through the years. There have been 13 meetings between Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush, mostly social events, yet he can't find the time to attend even one funeral of a soldier.

Nine members of President Bush's defense board, each sit on the boards of at least one major defense contractor to the defense department.

Did you know that our present Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, gave Saddam Hussein a pair of golden spurs in 1983 when the U.S. was supplying military arms to Iraq? Rumsfeld was in the elder Bush's cabinet then. Did you know that the U.S. military government gave Saddam Hussein chemical and biological weapons to use in their war against IRAN?

In early March of 2003, 45% of Americans believed that Saddam Hussein was involved in the September 11th attacks on the U.S. based on the lies the Bush Administration was putting out that Saddam was behind the attacks. With recent developments, we now know the Hussein was not behind the 911 attacks, nor had any part of it.

Now that the truth has come out that President Bush, on his first day of office ordered a complete military plan for the invasion of Iraq, I would like to know how the Bush Administration is going to explain/lie this one away. What is your feeling about this? Now that the truth has come out, why was this lie told? Each and everyone of us should be asking this question. I wrote back in 2000, "Don't be surprised if Bush doesn't go after Saddam Hussein to get him for trying to kill his father in 1990."

The Bush Administration has ignored the global warming problem. The U.S. now ranks 1st in greenhouse emissions. The air you are breathing today contains more carbon dioxide prior to President Bush taking office, despite the fact that one of his campaign promises was that carbon dixiode emissions would be reduced in U.S. when he took office. However, shortly after taking office, the rules were suddenly rewritten so that companies did not have to adhere to the new carbon dioxide emissions rules that were to become in effect in 2000. In addition, Bush appointed the very same lawyers and executives from energy companies, the very same polluters that had been charged with pollution crimes, to run the EPA. What's wrong with this picture? Bush again has not lived up to his promises and this is just one example.

The Bush Administration has trampled all over the U.S. Constitution and civil liberties by forcing the passing of the Patriot Act. How many civil liberties are going to be taken away before Americans wake up. The Bush Administration has run their campaigns under strict secrecy. Congress is still legally battling to get records from Vice President Cheney's meetings with energy executives from oil/gas and special interest groups concerning energy policy. Bush has held only 10 solo press conferences since taking office, the lowest of any President. The reason? Because he does not want to have to answer the specific questions being asked by the press. He doesn't want to be put in a position where he really has to explain himself. Instead we get this Orwellian double speak talk skirting around issues when he does speak.

Many of the reconstruction contracts in Iraq are going to Halliburton. Vice President Cheney was once the CEO of Halliburton.

President Bush took 28 days off as holidays in August, the second longest holiday of any president in U.S. history. The record holder is Richard Nixon. Yet, Bush finds the time to attend over 100 fund raisers in 2003. I wonder who is really running the country? The average number that an American workers get off in a year is 13. Nearly one third of Americans get only 5 days and another 25% can take off but without pay.

Three children were executed in the U.S. in 2002 for capital offenses. The U.S. is the only country in the world that still executes children for crimes. Are we still that barbaric to execute children, regardless of their crime? President Bush as governor of Texas executed 152 prisoners, more than any governor in U.S. history.

There are 47.5 millions Americans without health insurance. An increase of nearly 3 million since 2002. Healthcare costs have increased by as much as 30% in some parts of the country.

The U.S. has a military presence in 130 countries worldwide. There are only 191 nations that are members of the United Nations. That means the U.S. has a military presence in 68% of the nations in the world. The U.S. is responsible now for 40% of the military spending in these countries. The U.S. has promised Israel $1 billion dollars to offset the cost of their "burden" of us going to war in Iraq. Hello, what's wrong with this picture?

The Bush Adminstration has opened up 58 million acres of public land for logging, oil and gas drilling. Every U.S. President, including both Republicans and Democrats have respected our public lands and have never allowed this sort of assault on our public lands. There has been over 200 public health and environmental EPA laws that the Bush Administration has overturned by executive order, showing no respect for the welfare of Americans, only private corporations have benefited.

Last, nearly 90% of Americans approved of how Bush was handling the country when asked on September 26, 2001, after 911. On January 16, 2004, only 52% said they approved of how he is handling the country. Thank god that 38% of Americans have seen the truth, and now I hope by me sharing these facts with you, that you will also.

Have we begun to tackle the real problems facing this country? No!

Based on U.S. and world population increases and demand on energy and water:

It is estimated that by 2010, natural gas reserves in the U.S. will be down by 40%. Winters become colder due to global warming, causing the ice caps to melt, causing colder air coming from the poles. How will Americans heat their homes? There are only so many trees that can be cut and burned for heat.

It is estimated that by 2015, world oil reserves will be depleted by 48%. How will Americans get to work and be able to go places? By horseback?

It is estimated that by 2012, 22% of communities in the U.S. will not have viable drinking water. What will Americans do, start having to collect rainfall in outdoor urns? However, water shortages will continue to increase due to population demands. It is estimated that by 2015, 20% of communities in the U.S. will not have ample water supplies.

It is estimated that within 10 to 15 years, major cities in the U.S. will be faced with replacing 100 year plus water pipes, sewer systems. Where is the money going to come from an estimated $600 billion dollars in the U.S. to do this?

It is estimated that by 2015, world global warming will increase global temperatures by as much as 11 degrees. This will have serious impact on the north and south poles, causing major flooding on sea port cities.

I realize that some will think I have been, sarcastic, flippit or attacking the Bush Administration with these comments, but facts are the facts. Is this what we want to leave our children and grandchildren to deal with? A huge mess, not to mention... will they be able to survive?

I could on on and on about more facts. The immigration problem. Environmental health problems, encroachment upon our civil liberties, but I do not think most Americans are that ignorant to see the writing on the wall. That is why I have shared these facts. However, if Americans do not want to take the blinders off and see that politics in Washington must change, and if that means replacing every politician, then, all I can say if Americans do not see this and do something to change it...is this, God Help Us All.

Get out this year and vote so that America can become the country she once was. A country by the people, for the people and of the people. Not what it is today. We are not taking care of our own and looking forward to avert major problems in this country. It is time we did. There are better ways to run this country not only for today, but for its' future survival by the people, for the people and of the people.

Last, but not least, I would like to share this with my readers at this time also. Please try to help the following organization below. Our military families are suffering because of their spouses extended duty in IRAQ.

A sudden and prolonged deployment can throw a family into financial, emotional and spiritual crisis. Besides the emotional toll of being without a deployed mother or father, families must somehow learn to cope on a substantially reduced income when one of the major breadwinners is sent overseas. Utility bills, food emergencies, car repairs, plumbing repairs, baby-sitting, diapers, birthday parties, holidays, pregnancies-it all adds up. And with the recent reduction of $250 a month in many guard members' pay, it's easy to see how quickly a young family can go from stable to desperate.

There is an organization called, Operation Adopt-A-Family. The non-profit organization distributes store vouchers and cash to the families of the deployed who are in greatest need, beginning with families of small children, expectant mothers-to-be, and large families of professionals with a recent drastic cut in income.

Operation Adopt-A-Family also matches volunteers with needy military families. The volunteers provide emotional and spiritual support to the family throughout the soldier's deployment.

Donations can be mailed directly to:
Honor Thy Children Foundation
Operation Adopt-a-Family
P.O. Box 10822
Portland, OR 97296

If you'd like more information about the fund, you can visit the foundation's website at: http://www.supportourtroopsusa.org

One of the supporters of the fund is former Marine, Wayne Standiford of Condon, Oregon.. Having served in Vietnam, Mr. Standiford knows the difficulties faced by soldiers and their families caught in a war as it drags on and on without any clear victory in sight. That's why he's donating $1 to Operation Adopt-A-Family for each copy sold of his book, BURY ME WITH SOLDIERS.

I would also like to share this photo I received from the proud warriors of Baker Company in IRAQ who wanted to do something to pay tribute to their fallen comrades. And I want to personally thank each and every soldier in Iraq. You are enduring much for your fellow Americans. Regardless of how or why are soldiers are in Iraq, or even why they think they are there, which is not because Hussein was behind 911, we still need to thank them. They are only doing what they are being told to do. God Bless each an everyone of you!