In the past eight years, former President George W. Bush has been under more scrutiny than any other president since Herbert Hoover — and the media has let us know he has become one of the most hated people in the world. What the media has failed to show us is he has also been one of the most loved. For some, Bush leaves a legacy of lies and deceit and what some call war crimes. However, Bush’s presidency has been historic in terms of do’s and don’ts of the economy and foreign policy. The decisions he has had to make for this country are some no leader ever wants to be faced with.

Sure, Bush had his missteps: his No Child Left Behind legislation is filled with issues and needs revision, the tax rebates of 2001 failed to actually stimulate the economy, poor intelligence led up to the war in Iraq, he failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and the “Mission Accomplished” banner on the aircraft carrier gave many a false sense of finality in Iraq. Also, under Bush, national debt increased to $3 trillion.

However, we are quick to forget his accomplishments.

Thanks to the media, some are completely unaware of them.

When Bush entered office in 2001, some felt he “stole” the election, and he inherited an economic recession much like President Obama. Bush’s answers were tax rebates in which the government handed out $600 checks. Sept. 11 didn’t help this, yet he kept the economy from falling too far. In 2003 he found the answer to boost our economy with his tax rate cuts which lowered dividend, income and capital gains tax rates. The results: 4.1 percent GDP growth and 32 percent increase in the S&P 500 in the following six quarters, as well as the creation of 5.3 million jobs in the following 13 quarters. He presided over the seven years of economic growth and declining unemployment rates from 2003 at 6 percent through 2007 at 4.6 percent. That economy seems irrelevant to the recession we face now caused by the mortgage crises. However, Bush made eight attempts to put regulations on banks handing out loans to people who couldn’t pay them back. Each time he was rejected by both a Republican Congress and a Democratic Congress.

Bush also saved lives around the world — 10 million to be specific. In 2003, he led the world in the fight against AIDS, committing $15 billion. His efforts didn’t stop there, as another $1.2 billion went to combat malaria. U.S. Development aid to Africa went from $1.3 to $5 billion. His vision of a healthier world didn’t just stop abroad — it was felt here at home too. His prescription drug initiative came under fire by both Republicans and Democrats, but ended up providing affordable access to prescription drugs for 43 million American seniors through Medicare.

Perhaps his greatest and most overlooked accomplishment was his effort in keeping America safe. After Sept. 11 it seemed inevitable that we would face another attack, but Bush took the right steps to prevent such a catastrophe. Many of the steps he took in protecting this country have even been embraced by President Obama, who is still unsure of what to do with the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Despite the controversial decision to go into Iraq, he has freed millions of Iraqis from the harsh rule of Saddam Hussein and put democracy in the Middle East.

So, before you go about bashing our former leader and pointing out where he slipped up, be sure to recognize his accomplishments and contributions to the nation and to the world. A truly controversial figure, he is one of the most hated, loved and underestimated men of all time. He may not have been the most popular president, but he was a man who made unpopular decisions to keep this country the safest and greatest country in the world. He was the president we needed.

William Curvin Larson

Junior

Political science and psychology