Today was the last straw. New Orleans is among the poorest of America's "great cities," with more than half of its citizens living at or below poverty levels, some who continue to re-elect, time and again, civic and state leaders who for decades have encouraged the perpetuation of a welfare state that allows people to continue to live without insurance, jobs or decent homes. Add to this the fact that an astounding 70 percent of New Orleans is African-American, well, it magnifies what we see on TV in ways that far-too-politically correct newscasters dare not mention. The people of New Orleans are honest, God-fearing, decent. They have been thrust into extraordinary and heart-wrenching circumstances.
And their leaders -- at every level -- have let them down. The blame for this disaster falls at the feet of unprepared civic and state officials -- New Orleans' first line of defense -- and then at the feet of the United States government for failing to respond to this disaster decisively and boldly when it quickly became clear that Louisiana's leaders could not cope without help beyond its invisible borders. While I grow sick of mainstream media and hard leftists "Monday morning quarterbacking" the lack of clairvoyance associated with an "act of God," a once-in-a-generation disaster -- and while I detest the awfully predictable attempts to politicize this event by drawing an angry link between a lack of manpower at home -- to a controversial war designed to spread democracy in Iraq...I will say this.... ....As much any person who is a naturalized citizen who staunchly supports this President -- actually anyone who occupies the Oval Office -- I am bitterly disappointed with this president's horrifically delayed response to this titanic disaster. While leaders during such calamities occupy a largely ceremonial and symbolic role -- they must in fact, lead decisively, with emotion, with optimism and hope, and with concrete action. The juxtaposition of footage of daring rescues and dead bodies -- against footage of clean smelling bureaucrats in suits and ties using politically correct language to minimize what our own eyes have seen -- is disgusting. Despite good intentions, and everyone seems to have them by the truckload -- the lack of accountability for this disaster at the state and local levels is shocking. And then to watch the same "disconnect" between federal bureaucrats reporting to a president who's responsible for mobilizing relief and leading America's response to this disaster -- is beyond unforgivable. Politicizing a natural disaster remains inexcusable. I hate it. My criticism of elected leaders in Louisiana and our own President -- comes without regard of their political affiliations (Louisiana's leaders are Democrats, its electorate votes "red" in national elections, and our president is a Republican). The disaster of Katrina must not be transformed into a left vs. right, Republican vs. Democrat, liberal vs. conservative fight. We must unite in ways that renders affiliations irrelevant. This is what leaders are supposed to do. Local and state leaders have failed, so the president should and must step in. He has not, or he has done so, far too late in the game. Managing crisis by committee does NOT work. Negotiating political compromises during emergencies does not work. Teamwork directed by a leader does work. Leaders must lead. And they all, including the president -- have failed. I criticize the President I support not because of his lack of clairvoyance -- he would've been in a "no-win" situation anyway, had he flown to Louisiana on Tuesday, accused of milking a disaster for political gain. I criticize him because his penchant for not caring what detractors think -- instinctively tells me he should've flown in anyway, as symbolic leader of a nation that mourns for a region in crisis. This is what his supporters expected him to do. Now, nearly five days after Katrina, he's to visit a battered Louisiana tomorrow (today, Friday) -- and he may likely look like the fool he is. His leadership from October to December 2001 -- failed him miserably this week for Katrina, a disaster equal in scope. His speech this week was weak and uninspiring, devoid of the raw, plain-speaking, unscripted emotion that endears him to supporters. His woeful lack of urgency -- his disconnect to things happening on the ground, combined with increasingly horrific details about the devastation -- have taken the war and Cindy Sheehan and Judge Roberts and Natalie Holloway off the front pages. We execute rescue missions to tsunami-wracked regions thousands of miles away but can't take care of our own? Finally, looters don't represent the greater whole of those who are suffering. Stop showing them. Shoot looters in the kneecaps, but save lives, bury the dead, heal the sick, get those who are able -- back to work. Our tax dollars can handle this -- and should -- even if it takes years. I'm not for socialistic measures, but this is a disaster for which tax dollars are intended. This is why we're able to rebuild faster than other nations. Restore self-esteem by preventing a welfare state of perpetual handouts by putting people to work by building shelters and infrastructure for thousands, remove permanent subsidies and entitlements -- and a greater, hardier New Orleans will be reborn. It should start with churches throughout America who brag and pride themselves for care giving -- who must now step up to the plate for Louisiana -- by sheltering those in need and supporting organizations receiving donations still taxed with plenty of money, but w/limited hard resources. For now, I am angry and bitter at local and state leaders, including our President. But I'm not gonna stay in a funk forever. I am confident because America is a nation that has time and again proven it can rebuild. It is a nation, in my view, that encourages entrepreneurship, self-reliance, competitiveness -- and the result, in part, is the ability to boast among the lowest unemployment rates of any advanced nation, less than half of those in quasi-socialistic countries including France, Great Britain and Germany. We take shorter vacations, we are among the hardest working people in the world. Deficits do not bother us, they don't mean anything to the average Joe who wants to keep his job or, failing that, wants to be trained to do another that's more competitive. Our nation's collective self-worth is greater than those who perceive it less from distant shores. I do not believe, as others do, that the woes of Louisiana are reflective of America's ills. However, the woes of Louisiana must and CAN be shared -- in ways that may be an anathema to hard right conservatives -- but are nevertheless reflective of this nation's uniqueness -- and Louisiana's partnership with America. I do not care that America is "juggling too many things at once." We can handle it. If you're doing well, give what you can, not because you have to, not because it's a duty, but because you want to. If you're not doing well, then pray. If you don't pray, then try to stay confident. Sorry for the speechi-fying. But I live here because unlike other nations, this nation refuses to stay "broken" for long. It bitches and complains, but not incessantly. When you ask its people if they're doing well, most say they're doing OK, but they worry about others who aren't. That's America. It's flawed and imperfect, but that it works at all is a miracle. And a big thank you to Houston and the state of Texas for taking in so many "refugees." Yes, it's only a temporary fix, but it's a great start. . . finally. . . -koose. P.S. -- I blame Channing for this long note. I was struck w/how balanced (and brief) his post was. He's sad and angry, but he signs off with optimism. I don't care whether he's on the left or the right, whether he lives in liberal San Francisco or conservative San Diego (like I do). I admire him for being a fair-minded person who can throw a fast ball down the middle of the plate w/o pissing off the batter who's trying to clobber him. He's a great American. ----Original Message Follows---- From: channinglylethomson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: channinglylethomson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: MAJORLY OFF TOPIC -- Thank You Joe Bonelli! Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 23:34:15 -0700 Thursday, September 2, 2005 To The MOPO Community -- I wanted to take a moment and thank Louisianian Joe Bonnelli for his update on the hurricane Katrina aftermath. Yes, the disaster continues and worsens every day. As I mentioned a few days back, I dread the thought of what the recovery teams will discover in those deluged houses once the flood water eventually recedes. What really upsets me is the fact that when the initial evacuation was ordered, there were no provisions for the tens of thousands of people that either were unable or didn't have the means to evacuate. Both the state and Federal government should be ashamed of the way the evacuation was and continues to be handled. Basically, what is left in New Orleans are thousands of poor and sick people who were abandoned by their government and left to their own, extremely limited devices. Now that utter chaos, looting, illness, violence, hunger, thirst and hopelessness have resulted, the primary focus of the Federal government should be to get the people out and secure their safety -- not tomorrow, or the day after that, BUT RIGHT NOW! I'm not going to blame President Bush directly for this woeful mishandling but I have no problem saying that I was disgusted that so much of Wednesday's Oval Office press conference focused on the oil production problems and gasoline prices. There will be time for that a few days or a week from now, but TODAY'S issue is life or death for thousands and I was totally appalled that even one minute of that conference was dedicated to oil industry issues. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by my comments here but I've been feeling physically and emotionally sick about this all day. Channing Thomson in San Francisco -- Goodnight -- and hoping that tomorrow is a better day! 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