George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 366

The Great America of George W. Bush – Episode 365

Bush’s decision to push for the metric system hit those who expected him to consolidate his power, like a drumbeat to the back of their heads.

Since taking office, he had always focused on external affairs rather than internal matters. Specifically, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, his attention to domestic issues was primarily to maintain the status quo or address corruption. Any internal changes were ultimately aimed at ‘strengthening presidential power.’

Indeed, Bush’s domestic policies largely served to enhance his authority. Crackdowns on corruption in local police forces led to federal control, and strengthening the federal police also centralized power.

As Bush continued to succeed, neoconservatives gained influence in Congress. Nearly half of Congress believed that Bush’s actions were acceptable, largely because he had been successful. Crucially, he had generally satisfied America’s desire for global dominance. As the United States effectively controlled much of the world, they increasingly supported Bush.

Furthermore, after receiving a firm commitment that he would not seek a third term, their view of him shifted to that of a respected veteran [병장 – Byeongjang, a Korean term for a high-ranking enlisted soldier] who had performed well. In essence, as long as he didn’t cause trouble, and given his past successes, there was no need to interfere at this late stage. This sentiment was shared by both Republicans and Democrats.

His recommendation of shale gas drilling, his encouragement of major oil companies to invest in it, and his generous bailouts during the oil war ultimately brought oil-related companies to their knees before Bush. Companies that complied received state subsidies and barely survived, while those that resisted faced bankruptcy.

The judiciary was filled with his appointees, creating a sense of obligation. While many of these individuals held negative views of Bush, they owed their positions to the president’s favor. This created a conflict of interest, leading most of them to be lenient towards Bush. This ambitious man eventually gained control over the judiciary, the last bastion of the separation of powers.

Originally, the democratic government system was criticized as 삼권교합(三權交合) [Samgwon Gyohap – a Korean term meaning the blending or merging of the three powers, rather than their separation], but in the United States, it was the truth without distortion or falsehood. Everyone knew the saying that nothing is eternal in the world, but this power seemed immortal.

Unless George W. Bush, who held that power, destroyed it himself.

In other words, the metric system introduction he was pushing for would not strengthen his power; instead, it was the second stage of dismantling it. The first stage had occurred earlier in his tenure, but its measures were not very effective. Bush was aware of this, which is why he was taking such drastic steps.

As the situation escalated, even those who had dismissed Bush’s promises not to run for a third term as mere lip service began to realize his sincerity. Furthermore, they understood the need to take the upcoming presidential election more seriously.

As expected, Bush’s statement to his chief of staff that ‘it will pass through Congress without much conflict’ proved accurate. Whether they liked it or not, Congress needed to curb the power of the presidency once Bush left office.

Of course, they had to put on a show for the public, so they voiced their concerns, but ultimately, only formal, insubstantial debates took place. As if by agreement, the ‘Mandatory Introduction of SI Units Act’ was passed 은근슬쩍 [eungeun seuljjeok – a Korean term meaning subtly or stealthily].

Originally, the American system of units was based on the metric system. This means that since the 19th century, the American system of units has been the metric system, but the yard-pound system is being used ‘customarily.’

The reason why the American system of units is still the yard-pound system is that the laws promoting the metric system generally 권유 [kwonyu – recommend] or 권장 [gwonjang – encourage] it, but do not 강제 [gangje – force] it. But this time it was 강제 [gangje – forced].

The commonly used yard-pound system was no longer common. All companies complied, and pounds and inches disappeared from all products that day. The news that day lamented the 비통함 [bitongham – sorrow] of the abolition of the common notation of the yard-pound system in the first half, and in the final weather report, they broadcasted the news using Celsius instead of Fahrenheit.

Only factories producing inch parts were 권고 [kwongo – advised] to gradually eliminate inch unit parts. If the machines cannot be operated immediately because there are no parts, that is also a problem in its own way. Problems coming from the factory would be better off not changing the unit system. That’s why they gave a grace period.

The next day, the prices of new or used products with common notation soared. They were sold at prices close to 10 times higher, not to mention 2 to 3 times higher. Because the original price itself was not very high, it was literally whatever you could get.

The reaction of the citizens who heard this news was like this.

“What the hell is this?”

There were 거창한 [geochanghan – grand, pompous] words going back and forth on TV, but in the end, the point was that ‘the yard-pound system has been banned and completely replaced by the metric system.’

This policy was so radical that it was 파쇄적 [paseo jeok – destructive]. It was a policy that 파쇄 [paseo – destroyed] all existing common sense. It was not a metaphor, but it was actually destroying the yard-pound system, which had 자리 잡은 [jari jabeun – established] as one of the pillars of the American people, and 분쇄 [bunswae – pulverized] even its remnants, so that expression was appropriate.

For the first few days, they had to adapt to the changed news, but after that, they had to adapt to household goods. However, unlike the former, the latter was not a big problem. Only the notation was erased, but the appearance was not changed. So they could 직관적으로 [jikwanjeogeuro – intuitively] know approximately how much weight it was.

Fortunately, the traffic laws were still following the yard-pound system. It took time because they had to 갈아엎어야 [garaeopeoya – overturn] the traffic laws in earnest. Above all, changing the measuring equipment nationwide was not an easy task.

Conversely, the moment the yard-pound system, 마일 [mail – mile], disappeared from the traffic laws was the beginning of a full-scale period of social chaos. Those with licenses would have to receive retraining, and it would take a huge amount of time to adapt. Specifically, it would take at least a generation 교체 [gyoche – replacement].

It may be said that a generation is a short time to 뽑는 [ppopneun – extract] one of the pillars of the world’s only 극초강대국 [geukchogangdaeguk – ultra-superpower] nation, but at least that time was a time of hardship. Equally for citizens and the government.

From outside the country, the American political situation looked as 호의적 [hoeijeok – favorable] as it had been hard to find since Bush took office. Until then, he had been focusing on gathering the power of the whole world in the United States. Based on a strong economy and military power that could fight and win against the whole world, he projected influence around the world, and he also 가져온 [gajyeoon – brought] a considerable amount of this and that.

In Africa, he imported huge amounts of natural resources and rare earth elements at low prices. The rare earth elements purchased in this way were all used for the technological development of the United States. As technology developed, the market expanded, and Silicon Valley’s semiconductor market began to 막 나가기 [mak nagagi – go wild] to the point where other countries could not catch up.

In South Korea, he received 명분 [myeongbun – justification]. He 극한으로 끌어냈다 [geukan euro kkeureonaetda – maximized] the 명분 [myeongbun – justification] and collaborators who could 바로 타격 [baro tagyeok – directly strike] Russia’s Far East. Originally, this was aimed at China, but as long as China came under American influence even 어중간하게나마 [eojungganhage nama – even somewhat], Russia would be 고립될 [goripdoel – isolated] if the United States 마음만 먹으면 [maeumman meogeumyeon – if it set its mind to it].

The only place that lost out was China. They supplied F-16s while almost 아슬아슬하게 넘나들면서 [aseulaseulhage neomnadeulmyeonseo – teetering] the line between deficit and surplus. However, it was not 딱히 [ttakhi – particularly] a loss because they had been 반쯤 억지로 밀어붙여서 [banjjeum eokjiro mireobuteoseo – half-forced] receiving bonds, so it was not 썩 틀린 말 [sseok teullin mal – entirely wrong] to say that they had 찾아갔 [chajagat – found] their value.

He won and won and went all the way up. He 확고하게 만들어 냈다 [hwakgohage mandeureo naetda – firmly created] an absolutely 범접할 수 없는 [beomjeop halsu eomneun – unapproachable] position. In 막말로 [makmallo – bluntly speaking], even if he 공공연하게 [gonggoyeonhage – openly] violated international law, that is, developed the Arctic or Antarctic, only 민간 여론 [mingan yeoron – public opinion] would be able to criticize the United States. In the end, each country’s government will 침묵 [chimmuk – remain silent]. Even if criticism comes from the government level, it will probably come from a 소국 [soguk – small country] in South Africa that is 생소한 [saengsohan – unfamiliar] even its name.

That’s because South Africa was the only place in the world that was 그나마 [geunama – somewhat] less touched by the United States. The EU cannot 대항 [daehang – oppose]. There is also the problem of being an 우방국 [ubangguk – ally], but decisively, the EU has become too weak while 무리하게 증진하면서 [murihage jeungjinhamyeonseo – excessively promoting] its defense capabilities.

And in the Greek government, they are 간신히 덮어 두고 [gansinhi deopeo dugo – barely covering up], but stories of an economic crisis are 스멀스멀 올라오고 [seumeolseumeol ollaogo – slowly rising] in Greece. It was 눈 가리고 아웅 [nun garigo aung – covering the eyes and saying ‘aung,’ a Korean idiom for a futile attempt to hide something] to cover up the country’s debts, but in the end, one man 양심적으로 실토하여 [yangsimjeogeuro siltohayeo – conscientiously confessed] and it was 발각된 [balgakdoen – discovered].

In order to 타파 [tapa – break through] the current account deficit, they borrowed money instead of갚기는커녕 [gapgineunkeonyeong – far from repaying] because they had no money right now. Failure again in a state where they could no longer 감당할 수 [gamdanghal su – handle]. The 2006 Olympics, which were held to 채우기 [chaeugi – fill] the national 허영 [heoyeong – vanity] of being the 종주국 [jongjuk – birthplace] of the Olympics, which took place in the midst of repeated failures, 박아 넣었다 a 쐐기 [baga noeatta a ssweagi – hammered in a wedge] into Greece’s already 부실한 [busilhan – weak] economy.

Of course, it was not just 허영 [heoyeong – vanity]. If done well, there is the name of the Olympics and the great sign of the world’s 대회 [daehoe – competition], but in the end, the 본질 [bonjil – essence] is a 축제 [chukje – festival]. No matter what the 시초 [sicho – origin] of the festival was, today’s festivals are a 돈벌이 수단 [donbeori sudan – means of making money]. The Greek government’s purpose for the Olympics was 내수경제 활성화 [naesugyeongje hwalseonghwa – domestic economic revitalization]. You can 구태여 [gutaeyeo – necessarily] know the result without saying it.

Unlike the original history, the forest fire that burned down the national park in 2007 did not occur, so they were still 버티고 [beotigo – holding on] somehow, but that became 독 [dok – poison]. They were able to hold a proper election, and as a result, the 멀쩡한 [meoljjeonghan – decent] government 선전 [seonjeon – promoted] Greece’s 건재함 [geonjaeham – soundness] and was able to borrow more money.

Already at that point, the country of Greece was 빌리고 [billigo – borrowing] an 주체할 수 없을 정도로 [juchehal su eopseul jeongdoro – uncontrollably] amount of money. And this developed into the Greek economic crisis. The economic crisis 필연적으로 동반한다 [pilyeonjeogeuro dongbanhanda – inevitably accompanies] a large-scale 시위 [siwi – protest]. A large-scale 시위 [siwi – protest] in an economic crisis is like 건설하는 a 댐 [geonseolhaneun a daem – building a dam] in an already 정체되어있는 [jeongchedoeeo inneun – stagnant] economy.

However, there is no 잘못 [jalmot – fault] to the people who are 화가 난 [hwaga nan – angry] because they have not been paid their wages and have nothing to eat tomorrow. 애당초 [aedangcho – in the first place], if it comes to this 사태 [satae – situation], there is no 잘못 [jalmot – fault] to the people who 들고일어난 [deulgoireonan – risen up]. Then whose 잘못 [jalmot – fault] is it? Of course, isn’t it the government’s 잘못 [jalmot – fault]?

It was 딱 이맘때쯤 [ttak imamtteujjeum – right around this time] that the United States finally began to 먹기만 달러를 물처럼 [meokgiman dalleoreul mulcheoreom – spend dollars like water]. In order to 벗어던지기 [beoseodeonjigi – throw off] the 족쇄 [jokswae – shackles] of the yard-pound system, they began to 쓰기 [sseugi – use] the wealth they had 벌어들인 [beoreodeurin – earned] for the 내부 [naebu – internal affairs] rather than 국방 [gukbang – national defense]. They also 끌어모으고 채권 [kkeureomoeugo chaekgwon – gathered bonds] and began to 끌어모으기 자금 [kkeureomoeugi jageum – gather funds] for the 단위계 개혁 [danwigye gaehyeok – unit system reform] by even 팔아 버리며 [para beorimyeo – selling off] the 이권 [igwon – vested interests] they had 얻었던 [eodeotteon – obtained] while 들여오면서 [deuryeoomyeonseo – bringing] countries around the world into their 영향권 [yeonghyangkwon – sphere of influence].

While Greece was 잡아끌며 [jabakkeulmyeo – grabbing] the 바짓가랑이 [bajitgarangi – pant leg] of the EU’s Eurozone and 내려가고 밑도 끝도 모르게 [naeryeogago mitdo kkeutdo moreuge – falling endlessly], the United States was preparing for another 발돋움 [baldodum – leap].