A Rubber Door

So in the middle of the night, FEMA corrected Michael Brown’s bio. As if no one would know. It was a “clerical typing error”. Of course. Some poor, per hour laborer lost their job over this for sure.

My friend Grace sent this to me. Love Letter to Condi.

Funny as freakin’ hell.

P.S. She scares me.

I was just watching ABC’s World News Tonight and in it there was a interesting interview with the head of the FEMA employee union. In it he described how the President and Congress were warned of the impending doom because dollars and focus have been shifted away from natural disasters.

That’s when I realized the last week has played out like every script for pretty much every natural disaster movie ever. Idiot leader warned. Idiot leader ignores or doesn’t pay enough attention to warning. Disaster and mayhem ensue.

Think about it - Day After Tomorrow: Dennis Quaid warns a very Cheney like Vice President about the changing world climate, to be ignored - everyone dies. Volcano: Anne Heche warns city officials that their city is about to be decimated by a volcano - again, the scientists win. Dante’s Peak, you get the idea.

So next time you’re watching a disaster movie and you say to yourselves “Our leaders aren’t that stupid”…

Here is a great article from Salon titled Why FEMA Failed. It describes how FEMA has been changed by the Bush Administration in light of 9/11.

One has to wonder if the terrorists have won? Because of 9/11 we have reduced our preparedness for natural disasters even though they are guaranteed to happen. More people will probably die from Hurricane Katrina than from the Twin Towers attack and a lot of those deaths may have been avoidable.

I’ve finally seen the entire video of Kanye West’s rant on Friday night’s charity concert. I wish West’s statement had been a bit more eloquent, well thought out, and less emotional than he was because for the most part, I agree with it.

It is universally accepted that the United States, state of Lousiana, and city of New Orleans were not prepared for Katrina. While West put the blamed racism, I think that his assessment puts too much focus on race and not enough on class. I don’t think that the govermnet let people die intentionally. I do think that the lack of preparation is because a poorer area like New Orleans does not get the attention or dollars needed to solve the problems that ail them. We knew this would happen some day but no one did a thing. Don’t tell me there wasn’t money. The government decided to spend its money elsewhere. Elsewhere means places like Alaska where $941 million in pet highway projects such as a mile- long bridge serving 50 residents and costing $223 million. What would that money have done forthe Levee situation in Lousiana?

The rich can pick up the phone and demand that something be done. They can actually reach their congressmen and senators and get a response; poor people can’t do this and therefore rely on their local representatives to demand their fare share.

Part of the problem are the assumptions that were made prior to the hurricane. The city was evacuated; every man and woman for themselves, but if you’re poor and don’t own a car how do you leave? And once you leave, where do you go? How do you afford it? There have been stories of price gouging by hotels as well as the gas prices doing what they’ve done. How can the poor afford it? Those of us that make a living wage don’t concern ourselves with these types of issues.

My point is that every government dollar we waste in this country on fabulous sports stadiums, keeping military bases open that aren’t needed, raising politician salaries is a dollar that is taken away from the people that need the money the most.

Kanye West sounded like a madman. Because of this, I fear that the point he was trying to make will be dismissed. It shouldn’t be lost. We as a country failed these people. They were forgotten and we could have done better. We had a choice and the question is why didn’t we make the correct one?

Those displaced by Hurrican Katarina need your help. Donate now.

The American Red Cross

So a few complicated points I have to make in regards to Hurricane Katrina and the reaction and coverage of it.

How come every local news report has to have the local spin of the hurricane? “How will it affect our weather?” or local people trapped type of coverage. Are we so self-absorbed that we cannot comprehend human tragedy and suffering without it directly relating to ourselves? This is why I can’t stand the local news in the United States (I’m assuming that elsewhere it’s better, but who cares - here it stinks). They are not worried about the news just the ratings, and all their stories are designed to grab ratings.

If you do decide to watch the local news - you will surely see stories about the gas prices and the spike. (Again, we must do stories on how it affects everyone else). I am disgusted with speculation and profiteering. The stories say that the oil companies are “worried”; this is corporate speak for “time to make more money”. Nothing sells like crisis and fear especially in corporate America. The cost of gas that is currently at your gas station shouldn’t cost anymore than it did yesterday but yet the cost did go up drastically overnight as if it is pumped directly from New Orleans . I’m sure there is a relationship, but for gas that will get to our pumps in a month. Of course this is true about all of gas prices ever since 9/11. The oil companies have found the best marketing tool ever.

All this takes away though from what everyone in the affected area is experiencing. The man to the left is not upset at the loss of life in the south - no he’s angry at the loss of dollars in his account. (I love seeing the pictures of the angry stock traders in their $1,000 suits until I realize that their only recourse to replace the money lost this week is to screw the normal person).

How about this? If the extra money that is being charged this week finds its way to the people that have lost their lives, homes, possessions, or jobs - I won’t complain. Something tells me that isn’t going to happen.

Went to the Eagles Charity Carnival and we noticed something interesting in Terrell Owens locker.Strong enough for a man, used for a winy-assed millionaire.