Wednesday, September 7, 2005

It just gets worse and worse... Thanks, Mieke for finding the link to this L.A. Times article. It describes in brutal and compelling detail exactly why the Katrina response (or lack thereof) is a direct result of the philosophical and ideological underpinnings of the current Republican administration. These people genuinely believe that federal disaster assistance is, as Joe Allbaugh, former FEMA head under W, said "an oversized entitlement program". In other words--it's just not their job. Then what the hell is the job of the federal government? Apparently, it's to limit our civil rights and allow corporations to take over education, journalism, nutrition and every other aspect of society, so that they and their small minority of majority shareholders can continue to line their pockets. Goddamn, this makes me angry. My America is not a place where tens of thousands of people are left to drown, dehydrate, suffer violation at the hands of detoxing drug addicts and armed thugs simply because they lack the gas money--or, for many, the car--to get them the hell out of dodge. Or because they are old, or blind, or otherwise disabled, and are abandoned--ABANDONED--by the people charged with their care. Or, God forbid--this is my worst nightmare made real--they are children, either separated from their parents, or despite being with their parents, denied food or water to ensure their survival. Red state, blue state, whatever we call ourselves--is this the kind of country we want? Please say it's not. Please say that whatever our differences, and despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, we have not abandoned our essential humanity. 8:46:58 PM     comment [] trackback []