Talib Kweli has a comical analogy to describe our country’s executive branch. He said, “The President is Bush, the Vice President’s a Dick. So a whole lot of screwing is what we goin’ get. They don’t wanna raise the babies so the election is fixed.”

Despite evidence of how the election of 2000 was really shady (see the Department of Civil Rights Report on the Florida Election), I try to avoid critiquing our dear Mr. Bush. However, many things recently instigated by Bush have made me take off my gloves.

Unfortunately, Kweli’s statement is starting to hold true of our beloved president. We have a president who has appointed a couple of questionable individuals to federal judgeships (i.e., Charles Pickering), brought the possibility of war on two fronts, introduced a faulty education bill and started an undefinable war on terrorism.

Hopefully, the end of 2002 will bring us a more receptive executive branch. In the tradition of New Year’s resolutions — and to help our government out — I have decided some things our government needs to resolve. Here is a list of things that need to change this year.

Resolution 1

The Bush administration, pushing the “No Child Left Behind” policy into effect. The policy would institute a voucher system in which talented students, who are not receiving the best education in academically lower-standard schools, would receive their education at a private school.

Good idea, but let’s look at the full ramifications of this voucher system. Where is the money coming from to fund these vouchers? That’s right, they are taking money away from the schools these students were removed from. Ultimately, this would keep the sub par academic public schools from improving since it will diminish the funding available to them.

Resolution 2

We really have no reason to be trying to go to war. Plus, there are rumors circulating that the draft may be reinstituted. I know personally I am not going to go fight. The words of the illustrious Chris Rock ring out to me: “I would fight if there was a tank rolling down Flatbush Ave.”

What are we really fighting for in the Middle East? All I see is mo’ money and mo’ oil for the United States.

Why are we even taking on the notion of conflict with North Korea? The United States does not want to have two fronts of conflict. It has been proven over and over again that it is not advised to have two warfronts, no matter what nation you are.

What have Pyongyang and North Korea really done? Mind their own business? Yes. The United States has generally been known, over its history as a country, to view themselves as the “World’s Police State.” It is much like that meddlesome old woman on your block who, when you were a kid, was always in your business.

Resolution 3

We need to change this war on terrorism ideal that makes any Arab-American a suspect for being a terrorist or connected to terrorism. Yes, Sept. 11 was a tragic incident in our history and we should do anything possible to protect or borders, but should it be at the expense of every Arab-American’s given right to live without persecution?

Bush has implemented a legal form of racial profiling. Personally, I know how it feels to be profiled, and I don’t feel that having it happen to me helped the nation “feel more secure.”

Resolution 4

Affirmative action vs. affirmative action at the University of Michigan. The only way to solve it is compromise, neither side should totally get what they want. It is a double-edged sword that Bush pushed out. There are other faulty things within the University of Michigan’s admissions process, besides the race points. Look at the athlete points, male nurse points, etc.

Also, Bush says he isn’t for affirmative action because he wants everything to be fair. I wonder then, how did Bush get into Yale? We all know President Bush isn’t the most intelligent man. Was it because of who his parents are? Was there a bias there?

These are just some questions your intelligent, debonair and dapper weekly columnist feels should be the New Year’s resolution for the government.

Darryl Frierson is a senior in journalism and mass communication from St. Louis, Mo.