What The Hell Is Going On?

Really, what the HELL IS GOING ON? I’m stunned, amazed and hopping mad. Hopefully, everyone else is also paying attention to the complete and utter failure of the billion-dollar industries named FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in initiating rescue and aid to the victims along our Southern coastline. Then again, how could you miss it?

But let’s cut to the bone here, does anyone actually think if this disaster took place in another town with a higher socio-economic population that the last few days would have unfolded in the same way? From the President down to those in ‘charge’ of the above named agencies, we have heard several times this week how they have no comprehension of what poverty truly means.

This morning, Michael Jerkoff, excuse me, Chertoff (Head of DHS) said on NBC's Today Show that, "The critical thing was to get people out of there before the disaster. Some people chose not to obey that order. That was a mistake on their part." Wow…what a dickhead. People like him have insulated their lives so much from the reality of what poverty really means that they are just at a loss to even sound caring.

I saw a report today showing that there were well over 100,000 residences in New Orleans that didn’t own cars. And even if they did, statistically speaking those that grow up in impoverished homes generally don’t move more than 20 miles away from their core families. So, a majority of these victims had no outside families to serve as a safe escape…they’re in the thick of it with them as well. And even if they had someplace to go, when you live paycheck-to-paycheck you frankly just don't have the spare cash to uproot like that. You're lucky just to pay the bills and put food on the table. Traveling to someplace else is more of a daydream than a luxury. But these are concepts upper-echelon individuals like Chertoff can’t seem to wrap his head around.

Before I leave the subject of Mr. Chertoff, I’ve must say if someone put a ratty jacket on him, along with a stick over his shoulder holding a bandana of bundled goods, he’d look like a fucking hobo from the ‘50s. Really, it’s embarrassing to see someone in charge of an agency that eats as many tax dollars as it does look like that in front of the cameras. I understand that as the head of the DHS he has a natural aversion to exacto-blades, razors and other pointy-things, but this is the 21^st Century; he can use an electric device for shaving now. Chertoff might not be able to act respectable, but he can at least look the part…

All that now said, I’ll just go ahead and verbalize it as I don’t see many others stepping up to the plate…our government is dragging its ass here simply because the majority of those in need are African-American and poor. That’s also why we haven’t helped the millions of victims of violent African dictatorships over the past few decades (beside the fact that there are few resources for us to plunder in African nations). I’m Caucasian, but I’m not stupid. If this had happened anywhere that the majority of victims were Caucasian, particularly if they were of the middle-income to wealthy brackets, the full-blown rescue efforts and aid would already be in place. If you don’t want to believe that, then you need to study our country’s history a bit more carefully…it’s a process that's been repeated over and over again throughout the centuries.

I guess the only good thing that will come out of this (and that’s a difficult thing to see at this stage) is that members of our society, regardless of their political affinity, will realize that we have an administration in place that’s great at serving their own needs, whether domestically or foreign, but not too swift on taking care of those who elected them when they are in need. And never before in my forty years of being a citizen have I ever seen more people in this dire of need.

Here’s a good link to get a gauge on how people from both sides of the political fence are starting to see the light, now that this tragedy is lifting the veil of bullshit from their eyes. You should read it and get mad if you’re not already.

Also, my wife and I don’t have much money to spare, but this weekend we’re buying a stack of supplies and donating them to the Clear Channel aid effort going on in our city. So what if we have to tighten our belts until our next paycheck? At this point, too many lives are in the balance for the rest of the nation to watch this horror in total comfort. If you haven’t yet donated water/food, money, blood or whatever, do so. Even just a little will help a lot. And go through a local non-governmental organization...at this point, the private sector’s efforts have got to be better than the federal agencies that are supposed to be doing this… Jage