A prime example of the cataclysmic damage George W. Bush has done to the nation’s image, as perceived by the rest of the world can be seen in this article:

Britons have never had such a low opinion of the leadership of the United States, a YouGov poll shows.

As Americans prepare to celebrate the 230th anniversary of their independence tomorrow, the poll found that only 12 per cent of Britons trust them to act wisely on the global stage. This is half the number who had faith in the Vietnam-scarred White House of 1975.

Most Britons see America as a cruel, vulgar, arrogant society, riven by class and racism, crime-ridden, obsessed with money and led by an incompetent hypocrite.

American troops are failing either to win “hearts and minds” in Iraq or bring democracy to that country.

More than two-thirds who offered an opinion said America is essentially an imperial power seeking world domination. And 81 per cent of those who took a view said President George W Bush hypocritically championed democracy as a cover for the pursuit of American self-interests.

I can not even begin to emphasize how bad this is for our country. Blair is expected to be out of office by the end of this year and a run by someone who shares these same views will have a greater chance at winning. Bush’s dangerous foreign policy combined with his continuous rhetoric and abuse of power is playing their parts in destroying the image of our nation.

Ironic that this comes out a day before we celebrate our nation’s independence from the very country we succeeded from. Even more ironic is the fact that we once had to flee from the death grip of a King George and only 230 years later we are under the dangerous control of another “King” George.