Feelings of helplessness tonight have turned to frustration and anger as I watch the news channels and see the failings of our corrupted political system. While Congress waits to approve money for aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, people are starving on the rooftops of New Orleans. While President Bush strolls back from a lengthy and undeserved vacation, children are being born in the filth and sewage of a flooding city. As oil executives giddily see their yearly profits engorge from ever-increasing gasoline prices, desperate people are shooting at each other to protect what little they have left. And as the entire governmental system from the local to the national level sits on its collective hands, America sits by and wrings her hands and sends electronic donations to their favorite charities.
The meteorological catastrophe that was Hurricane Katrina ended 4 days ago and counting, and our brothers and sisters are clinging to life, abandoned by the very system that kept them too poor to get out of town. Hundreds of thousands have lost everything they had. Tens of thousands are lacking water as you read this. Thousands are already dead. America- our government will not help these people. We must step up to the plate.
This disaster was preventable, and our government must be held accountable for its massive breakdown and failure. Our businesses must be held accountable for their creed of profit over people. They share as much blame for this nightmare as Nature does. But the time for pointing fingers is not now. We can change our government, and in the aftermath of this disaster, I think we must, but that must wait for now. Politics must be put aside and Americans of all lines of thought need to really step up. Donating money is well and good, but the charities move slowly and these people are running out of time. We must act now.
The greatest need is for food and water to those people who are stranded in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities. So let’s get it there. In every city in every state, a local trucking company or public moving van rental company should donate the use of their trucks to deliver necessities to the affected areas. In every city in every state, we need retailers (like Wal-Mart, the richest company on the planet) to donate food, water, diapers, medicine and the like until the trucks are full. In every city in every state we need gas companies to donate the fuel to drive these and other rescue vehicles to the Gulf Coast. Employers in every city in every state need to release some employees to load trucks, drive trucks, and offer aid. These employees should not have to worry about losing their jobs, and if possible not lose their pay either. And we need people, everyday people who will drive and load and help. Above all, we need for businesses to forget about their profit margins for a few weeks or months because people are dying. If it will help loosen the purse strings, all levels of government should allow for tax credits for all donated time and goods, but any company who cheats the deal should be fully prosecuted. (So keep accurate records please!) We need people with boats to tow them to New Orleans and help evacuate stranded people. And of course, continue to raise funds and give to the charities. They will need the help once the emergency of death has been resolved.
Americans pride themselves on being generous to those in need of help, and the monetary donations so far bear truth to that claim. BUT OUR GOVERNMENT IS FAILING THESE PEOPLE AND LEAVING THEM TO DIE! America’s citizens must help each other out. I know everyone can’t just drop everything and go, but we can all do something. Business and Industry likes to tell us in their ads “It’s About the Family” or “People Come First.” Well, it’s time to put their money where their mouths are. One truck from each town in this country is all it would take. If we start loading today, we could have people there by tonight. And if the businesses won’t help, start a collection in our neighborhoods and pay for it ourselves, and when this is all over, we’ll remember who really cared about America and her people.
For many, we will already be too late. But there are thousands more who need our help. We can’t continue to sit and watch from our living rooms as people slowly dehydrate and die. Because no matter where you live in this great country, the next disaster could happen to you or your friends and family. And we obviously can’t count on this government to help us out. We must act now!
You can begin organizing these efforts on your own in your town. There is no need for a national umbrella group to spearhead this effort. Send this letter to your local paper, or radio station, or TV station. Take it to work and to businesses that have the supplies needed right now. Even if you can’t physically go to the Gulf Coast to help, you can help get the ball rolling. Our brothers and sisters are crying for our help. Let’s not fail them like our government has.
This entry was posted on Friday, September 2nd, 2005 at 7:26 am and is filed under Common Sense, General.
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September 2nd, 2005 at 11:40 am
Wonderful job Ken.. as always my brother, you make a great LOT of COMMON SENSE!
Soooo.. to work then, how can we get this circulated and fast enough…
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:52 pm
copy and paste the text of the letter and send this letter to everyone you can, including local media. Ask businesses in your town to help out. Call on citizens to make the trip. Mobilize and get moving. Even though the gevernment is moving, is moves slowly. Try to get a truck loaded up and on the road as soon as you can.
It’s time for the hand wringing to stop and for action to start.
Thanks Nariel!
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:03 am
Bush can’t do anything untill the local Governments ask for it.
But you liberals love bashing Bush!
September 3rd, 2005 at 6:12 am
Anonymous- That is the biggest cop-out of all. The man is the president. In times of severe crisis, leaders step up and do what needs to be done. Sidestepping political protocol in the face of disaster would not be condemned. Waiting for the “i’s” to be dotted means people will die.
And for the record, I don’t see the Democrats doing a damn thing either. There is nothing but silence from the politicians of this country. The should all be ashamed.
But go ahead and continue to stick up for your favorite pol’s o-nameless one. I’d still try to help you in a disaster too.
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:55 am
Ken, you do show a lot of common sense and compassion. No political party has a lock on compassion.
One word of advice though.
There is right now more than enough food, water and personal items on route or already at the needed places. It is a logistical nightmare, and behind the scenes are an army of concerned citizens.
I want to remind you that after 9/11, so much blood was given by citizens, the Red Cross had to dispose of more than they used.
Another recent show of the true mettle of Americans. Remember last fall when the flu vaccine was contaminated in a Lab in Ireland? The president went on a rare TV appearance and ask the Young and healthy to pass on the flu shots this one time, so that the sick and elderly could get the vaccinations. What Happened? So many people felt compassion, there was millions of doses left unused. I didn’t get one, and I usually do. I am no spring chicken, I’m 60 years old, but I felt good in passing on the flushot, to help others. I didn’t get the flu either.
There is no compassion like the compassion of America.
I am looking long term into what I can do for these citizens of my country who are suffering. Trust me, there is more help being given than is really needed. This will go down in history as the worst natural disaster in Americas history. And the monumental amount of compassion is only what we expect…if it was us that was suffering.
Thanks for your common sense look at this.
I’ll keep visiting here, it is a good blog.
September 3rd, 2005 at 1:37 pm
Hi Ken, great comment as always :)I can’t go a day without reading your stuff!
DH and me have donated to the Red Cross and Tuesday when I go back to work I will be encouraging our faculty,staff and students to do the same!
You said the disaster was preventable. Well yes and no. I don’t think anyone could have predicted it would be this bad however before we blame Bush which has become so common we must realize that the Mayor and Governor of the State hold the most responsibility (besides the persons who refused to evacuate). I say this because while the feds could have sent in emergency vehicles to evacuate people beforehand, it has to be requested by the Governor and the Mayor has to let the Governor know he needs this. NO one did this, so please let’s not blame “the government” for this.
I think the blame process is really hindering efforts. Now is a time to pull together. The damage is more widespread and devastating than you and I can imagine, it is beyond comprehension. I remember my hometown in Miami was devastaed by Andrew and the pictures on tv didn’t prepare me. When I traveled down there shortly afterward, I was shocked beyond words. There’s no way for you and I to know how bad it is. And it has been very very difficult to get aid in there.
I’m a veteran of the Coast Guard, and am very proud of what my fellow Coasties are doing, they are the ONLY agency so far that was prepared. FEMA, Red Cross, EVERYONE take a lesson from the Coast Guard. Being prepared is our motto, we were always ready for any disaster. If the CG or National Guard had been in charge you would not see the chaos you see right now. THe civilian sector needs to take a cue from the military that’s for sure.
As to the politics—Jesse Jackson, Elijah Cummings, the NAACP, Urban League, and Congressional Black Caucus need to contribute to this in positive ways instead of bringing down the efforts by spewing negativity.
Thanks everyone for supporting all thse fine folks and please let’s remember the Coast Guard who have put their lives on the line to save so many. They themselves have had little food, drink and sleep and have been working 24.7 and burning up aircraft parts as fast as I write this. Next time you hear Congress wanting to cut funding for the Coast Guard remember Hurricane Katrina.
September 4th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
Great Post EXCEPT, let’s not place blame without the facts on FEMA and the U.S Government!
The real facts are that the Mayor of New Orleans had NO plan of action other than the evacuation order. Although it was predicted to hit New Orleans as early as 5 days in advance, was predicted to be a category 5…the mayor took no action other than an evacutation order.
President Bush gave him the means and money by declaring the area a disaster zone BEFORE the storm. He took no action but to call for evacuation and get himself and his family out. He knew full well that most of the poor would have no way out of the city, yet even though he had the ability, made no effort to get them transportation. The Superdome was only activated as a shelter after it was too late to do anything else. Yet he now sits in safety blaming everyone else.
The Governor of Louisian had the means to not only call in 7000 LA National Guard, but also active duty military. She had this available to her BEFORE THE Storm! Even AFTER the storm, it was not until TUESDAY that she activated the Local National Guard and not until WEDNESDAY that she called on the Government for help!
Both of these “politicians” had NO plan in place, and NO CLUE what to do in the aftermath. If they want to place blame…they need to start with themselves!
September 5th, 2005 at 8:39 am
(responses)
Web Loafer- Yes, I suppose that the logistical aspects of massive aid from all over can be troubling, but only if various agencies are competing in some sort of power strugle. Drop-off locations could be established and highly publicized, for citizen doantions while the aid organizations handle disbursal in the effected areas. The need will be greater than in past disasters simply due to the sheer number of people who lost literally everything.
Thanks for anything you can do to help.
Jessica- Thanks for pitching in as so many others have done.
In many ways, this disaster (or more appropriately, the aftermath) could have been rpevented and was foreseen by several studies in the recent past. I squarely place the blame on all levels of the government, especially those who represent unaffected areas. True leadership demands that you stand up and take action in emergency situations. For nearly a week, politicians of every region and every party were nearly silent. The total lack of confidence and caring displayed by this silence will live long in the memories of all of us.
Anon- Bush could have- no, should have, immediately nationalized thr national guard as soon as he noticed that the governors seemed paralyzed. Such action is known as leadership, and despite the fact that protocol and law says the governors are responsible, the president has a duty to be more aware of these kinds of situations instead of making speeches and playing the guitar.
Leadership failed across the board, from the local to the national level, but when push comes to shove, we should at least expect our president to take charge as soon as possible. Mistakes made in a quick attempt to save lives are better than delays created by reading the fine print before getting people out of danger. A real leader acts to save lives and lets the chips fall where they may at the end of the day.