To the People of New Orleans

A friend forwarded me a thought-provoking, although politically-incorrect, email entitled "To the People of New Orleans" It's basically a list of "hurricane rules." While it takes a decidely Right Wing slant on the Katrina tragedy, I found that I agreed with some of what it said, which surprised me since I think of myself as a liberal. Here are some of "the hurricane rules" (in blue) and my comments:

1. A mandatory evacuation means just that. Get the f---k out. Don't blame the Government after they tell you to go. If they hadn't said anything, I could see the argument. But they said get out. If you didn't, it's your fault, not theirs. I have to agree with this one. The government failed to do its job, but so did some citizens fail to do theirs.

2. If there is an emergency, stock up on water and non-perishables. If you didn't do this, it's not the government's fault that you're starving. This one makes sense, too. People need to take some individual responsibility.

3. If you run out of food and water, find a store that has some. Remember, shoes, TV's, DVDs and CD's are not edible, so leave them alone. Finding that store might not be so easy, especially if you waited till the last minute. But yes, the looting in New Orleans upset me, too. I heard of no looting after the Tsunami, or even in German or Japanese cities as they were being bombed. In both cases there was a community solidarity that too often is missing in our culture. On the other hand, when you consider the greed, selfishness and dishonesty of some of our corporations and executives, it's easier to understand a young black man saying: "Fuck it; they do it." I don't have the answer. Do you?

4. If someone comes in to help you, don't shoot at them and then complain no one is helping you. I'm not getting shot to help save some dumbass who didn't leave when told to do so. Fair enough, except the writer makes it sound far more commonplace than it really was.

5. If you are in your house and it's completely under water, and your belongings are too far-gone for anyone to want them . . . if someone does want them, let them have them and hopefully they'll die in the filth. Just leave! I agree, but who the hell would want your wet, soggy shit!

6. My tax money should not pay to rebuild a two million dollar house, a sports stadium or a floating casino. Also, my tax money shouldn't go to rebuild a city that is under sea level. You wouldn't build your house on quicksand would you? You want to live below sea level, do your country some good and join the Navy. While I don't like the sarcastic tone, I pretty much agree. And so what! It will be rebuilt, I'm sure. There are too many politcal careers riding on it.

6. Regardless what the Poverty Pimps Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton want you to believe, the US Government didn't create the Hurricane as a way to eradicate the black people of New Orleans. The US Government didn't cause global warming that caused the hurricane (We've been coming out of an ice age for over a million years). Now we're getting Right Wing nasty! Certainly no one said the government "created" the hurricane, although some have said that the goverment didn't try as hard because most of the victims were black. I deplore that sort of ridiculous accusation as much as any right wing Republican, although there's no question that black poverty is proportionately higher, but that's a whole new issue. And Global Warming? No one I know ever said "the US Goverment" caused it, but almost all reputable scientists agree that humans are affecting it. I wish the Right Wing would stop being "in denial" on this one.

7. The government isn't responsible for giving you anything. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but you gotta work for what you want. McDonalds and Wal-Mart are always hiring, get a **** job and stop spooning off the people who are actually working for a living. President Kennedy said it best. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I love Kennedy's quote, but whoever wrote these "rules" seems a bit "me-first" to be looking for ways to do anything for his country. I think we need more of a sense of community in this country, more a sense of shared burden, not less. (And please, knock off the "home of the brave" stuff). You say the government "isn't responsible for giving you anything"? I disagree. yes, people need to take indivdual responsibility, there are some things goverment can do best. Healthcare is one of them (combined with taking responsbility for your own health: "Smoke cigarettes and you're out the program"). Remember, too: The growing numbers of "rich" in this country did NOT do it all by themselves. They had the benefit of our long-established legal and educational systems, our economic and communciations infrastructures; a stable government; they even owe a debt to those who died in past wars. So they didn't do it all by themselves. And when it comes to taxes, they should pay a higher percentage! By the way, I do agree with one point: if you don't have money, you should get a job, any job, which is why I'm generally polite to annoying telemarketers. At least they're out there working!

Worst president in U.S. history?

The cover story in the 9/26 issue of Time magazine is a sad commentary on the mess we've got ourselves into in Iraq. And why I think George Bush will go down as "the worst" president in U.S. history.

Okay, okay. It's becoming apparent that I was "right" about this silly adventure all along. I always said it was not in our best interests to invade Iraq. So how do I feel about that now?

To tell you the truth, I wish I had not been "right." Even though I don't like being "wrong" (who does?), I wish the administration in this case had been right. I wish we had found WMD. I wish we had uncovered an Al Qaeda - 9/11 connection. I wish Iraq was on the road to success and our soldiers were mostly home. I wish I could say now: "You were right and I was wrong."

(By the way, do you ever expect Bush to say "I was wrong to invade Iraq"? Never. No matter what happens. No matter how it turns out. He will always be right).

To begin with, what lousy judgment, the fact that they thought this was a good idea in the first place. Then the perfidy of bullshitting us (and/or themselves) to justify doing it. Then what do they do? They fuck it up, as the Time article makes clear, in case anyone needs convincing.

And Iraq is only part of it.

Aren't you perplexed (I am) by the idea of giving more tax cuts to the rich at a time when China and Japan hold such a dangerously high percentage of our debt? And after twin disasters like Katrina and Rita?

(God must really be pissed off at those Gulf Coast southerners! I'm surprised I haven't heard more about, "God caused brought this down on us because . . . ").

Isn't it irresponsible to give tax cuts to the rich at a time like this? Please, convince me that it isn't. I can't imagine anything more irresponsible. Is it a mix of Conservative ideology and even religious conviction that drives these people? I have never figured that out. It's certainly an ideology that favors the rich and corporate interests, but in a strange sense seems to favor them NOW, not necessarily over the long run. They say Bush believes in The Rapture. His brother-in-law attested to as much in an interview. Is there a connection? Isn't that a "within my lifetime" type of thing? Aren't certain events in the Middle East prophesized to proceed that?

In addition to fiscal policy, look at the administration's approach to healthcare, energy, environment, and foreign relations. You would conclude the same poor judgment followed by ineptitude in each. Our foreign relations, for example, can be summed up as "We do things that weaken us, not things that make us stronger".

The fact is, we are weaker as a country because of the policies of George W. Bush!!! And we are certainly "less safe."

And again I ask you, Do you think our would-be enemies are pleased (or sorry) to see us preoccupied in Iraq? (Gee, I'm sure even some of our friends are glad to see this arrogant administration taken down a peg).

Now Bush is running around Texas GETTING IN EVERYBODY'S WAY so he can look good on TV. What an asshole!

Best regards,
Jim Fleming

Do we need New Orleans?

I'm attaching an essay sent by a friend of a friend named Julie in response to my posting, "New Orleans is Sinking". It's a great essay. George Friedman acknowledges my central arguments for not rebuilding New Orleans. Then he demolishes them.

For example, I said we should rebuild the city on higher ground. He acknowledges “It is a terrible place for a city to be located," but then he adds with an air of authority, “it is exactly the place where a city must exist.” (Did he mean for "must" to be italicized?)

I’m inclined to say, hey, if George Friedman says so, then that’s good enough for me. The guy is obviously smart, informed, passionate, and he gives a shit.

On the other hand, is George willing to help pay the bill for rebuilding an entire city in a dumb place?

Jim

P.S. Is it possible to just rebuild the physical shipping infrastructure without restoring the city "to its former glory" (as I'm sure some city booster must have put it)?

http://www.stratfor.com/news/archive/050903-geopolitics_katrina.php

New Orleans is sinking

I heard again today on the news that New Orleans is sinking two inches per decade, or almost two feet per century. On top of that, the global sea level has risen eight inches in the past hundred years and shows no signs of slowing. And, according to scientists, we can expect more powerful hurricanes in the years (maybe months) ahead due to global warming. In the face of these forces of nature, does it make any sense to try to rebuild New Orleans to its former self? Seems like a waste of money to me. Okay, leave the French Quarter and and the tourist attractions if we must, but rebuild the rest of the city on higher ground. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was right when he suggested as much right after the disaster. Too bad politics and a weak spine forced him to quickly retract his words.

Everything happens for a reason

I think it's total horseshit when someone says: "Everything happens for a reason." You mean Hurricane Katrina "happened for a reason"? And the Holocaust? And slavery? The list is endless, especially when it includes "everything." It's a silly thing to say. Yet, we hear it all the time, mostly when it suits the user.

Let's face it: There's a good deal of randomness in the Universe and nothing that I've ever observed "happens for a reason." Good things happen and bad things happen because we CREATE them happening, or sometimes they "just happen." And of course some things that happen are good for some and bad for others. Nothing happens for a reason.

The Rev. Rick Warren, author of the best-selling "The Purpose Driven Life", says that "God has a purpose for all of us." I think it's bullshit. If there IS a personal God out there -- and we don't actually know that -- he clearly stays out of our affairs and let's nature (and human nature) run it's course. That should be obvious to all. Yet Warren declares that God has a "purpose" for us. Nice idea, perhaps, but I would like to know what he bases this on. We don't even know who God is! How does Warren know what God thinks? The answer is he doesn't; he just says he does. (Lie?). It's all his fantasy. And all the more power to him. The guy sells millions of books!

The wrong priorities

This administration has the wrong priorities. Last year they CUT $65 million from the Army Corps of Engineers' $105 million request for hurricane and flood programs in New Orleans. Yet, as part of the pork-filled $286 billion highway bill, the Administration agreed to spend $280 million to build a "bridge to nowhere" in Alaska. Congress is to blame, too, but it's the President who sets the tone.

Check out Maureen Dowd's column in the NYTimes. She grew up Irish Catholic in New Jersy and has an amazing way with language, especially when she's pissed off. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/opinion/03dowd.html

God's Will at Work in New Orleans

The other day on the radio a stranded New Orleans flood victim said she was leaving her future "in the hands of the Lord." I don't dispute the existence of God -- frankly, I just don't know. But I am clear on one thing, and this is based purely on historical and contemporary observation: God does not interfere with events here on earth. If he did, we'd have every right to blame him (or her) for the tragedy in New Orleans, wouldn't we? And I haven't heard anyone doing that.