Bush Legacy Tour

SALEM, OR- Soni from Salem, OR has every reason to be angry about what has happened to the country over the last eight years. The policies of this administration have touched almost every facet of her life. I met Soni in Salem this morning. She has had an incredibly rough time over the last eight years. Her daughter and son-in-law lost their home to foreclosure and now travel the country in a mobile trailer so that her son-in-law can go where there is work in his field of construction. She never gets to see them and is not physically able to travel to them. Although they have serious misgivings about the Iraq War, both of her grandchildren are either in the military or are planning on going into the military so that they can pay for college. This is a seriously distressful thought for their grandma who fears for their safety and does not support the war. 

Soni also suffers from a number of chronic health problems. She has not been able to see a doctor for six years. Even though she qualifies for Medicare she was unable to get the treatment due to the various entanglements of our broken healthcare system. Unfortunately she is another example of the sick being denied coverage because of the very fact that they are sick and actually need it. She has already lost a job due to her health issues and currently is unable to work. She pointed out that the only types of jobs that she could possibly do, given her health constraints have already been outsourced overseas. 

Soni was incredibly supportive of the bus and thanked us for being there. She was very upset and almost seemed to be still in shock by just how bad this administration is. She kept saying that she never thought she would see the day where things would be this bad and a President would lead us so far astray. 

I met a gentleman who also thanked us profusely for coming. He was disgusted by what this administration and its supporters have done to the country. Having served two tours of duty in Vietnam he knows the incredible sacrifice that soldiers make and is strongly opposed to the Iraq War. He appreciated the focus we give to the war in our exhibits.  He told me several times that he thinks that I should feel really great about what I am doing and should be proud. I certainly am proud to be part of the Bush Legacy Tour but am humbled by the idea of someone who has put their life on the line for their country, twice, telling me that. Although, I have endured many vending machine dinners and the loud snoring of some our crew, I would hardly consider traveling on the bus an act of bravery. Nevertheless, I appreciated his comments greatly. 

The people who came out to see the bus parked in front of the state capital in Salem were amazing and incredibly supportive. Everyone thanked us over and over for being there and started offering up donations before we could even get out our “help us fill the tank” jar. Not everyone was supportive, however. We did have one man that came by and did not care for the bus. He called us communists and wished on us eight flat tires. We just completed a ten hour drive and so far no flat tires. Perhaps that means we are not communists after all!