Here are the comments I appended to the petition, for an independent commission to investigate the federal response to Katrina, which has been prepared by Democracy for America:

I am less surprised about the disaster in New Orleans than many, because I already work daily with the poor, elderly, and disenfranchised of my own community.  I have seen how their benefits and entitlements are obstructed and diminished time after time, and I know, if there were a major disaster in my home town, that the poor would be the last people on anyone's minds.

I suspect that an independent commission will discover that the president and his advisors were concerned, for the first few days of this event, with the state of the oil drilling and refining facilities that were at risk, and then with the concerns of major New Orleans property owners regarding the criminal activity in the city.  Only after these concerns had been addressed did they turn to the marginal problem of saving the lives of poor people, and even then, their approach was callous and poorly considered--  a P.R. activity instead of a genuine effort to help people.  The actions of this administration over the years have made their real motives transparent to all who take the time to look closely.

Maybe I am too jaded, and maybe you can prove me wrong.  I certainly hope that this is the case.  I fear, however, that our country has long since stopped being commanded by a government which is either for or by the people; I fear that the government's interests coincide with those of the 5% or so of the U.S. population who command the most wealth.  The rest of us will have to continue fending for ourselves as best we can.

At least we are still a place where I can put these ideas into writing and send them to someone.  If we can hold on to at least that right, then accountability may also be a possibility for these criminals who annually orchestrate these mass destructions of poor people in various parts of the world, in MY part of the world, this time.  I wish no ill upon them, but I would like to see them removed from positions in which they can continue to hurt thousands of people yearly.

Go and sign it yourself. 

6:54:03 PM    comments? []  

A quick shout out to John, who tells me my little abandoned blog here always appears in Nashville's lists.  Maybe I should be start doing some more writing, now that I'm through with classes for a little while.

The time to decide is certainly nigh, as my Radio subscription will be up for renewal soon.  Any opinions out there?  Is anyone I know still out there?

Hello?

9:51:41 PM    comments? []  

All righty... Here I am, back with some photos. For a few days, at least, assuming I can still operate this software.

Today, I went to a rally sponsored by NOW, whose national convention

is happening here in Nashville this weekend. This was about working for

a moderate replacement for Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court, of

course. I was recruited to stand in the rear guard, protecting the

speakers for a possible incursion of counter-demonstrators from the

rear. None tried, as it happened, but I was able to get some great

photos from my location.

Carol Moseley Braun was one of the speakers:

This is NOW President, Kim Gandy, being interviewed. In the back you

can see the two counter-protesters who showed up. I just heard the

older one on TV, saying "There are other ways to help women and

children than by having abortions." Feminists agree, but until the

government starts adopting some of those other ways, until every

child is born to a mother who wants her and is fully able to take care

of her, the right to birth control, including abortion, is necessary to

protect the freedom of women.

More pictures soon. Same blog time, same blog channel.

10:33:48 PM    comments? []