Rev Left Radio The Bush Years: 9/11, War Crimes, and Economic Collapse
Apr 8, 2026
Gianni Paul, a public high school social studies teacher and founder of The People's Classroom, traces how the Bush years reshaped U.S. politics and economy. He covers the contested 2000 election and its fallout. He discusses neoliberal policy, No Child Left Behind, 9/11 and its domestic impact, the lead-up to the Iraq War, the 2008 crash, and the costs borne by working-class communities.
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Turning Classroom Lessons Into Public Lectures
- Gianni Paul describes launching The People's Classroom to teach buried histories like Palestine and anti-imperialist movements.
- He turned 15 years of classroom material into public lectures and YouTube recordings to reach wider audiences.
How The 2000 Election Was Stolen
- The 2000 election was effectively stolen through coordinated state-level manipulation and a Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore.
- Jeb Bush, Florida officials, and contested ballot rules produced a 36-day recount that the Court ended 5–4 in favor of George W. Bush.
Bush Expanded Neoliberalism And Fueled Debt
- Bush expanded Reaganite neoliberalism with massive tax cuts, deregulation, and higher military spending that deepened inequality and debt.
- The 2001 Bush tax cuts, payroll reductions, and defense budget nearly doubled deficits and helped set conditions for the 2008 crash.