America?

I picked up the newspaper this morning and looked at the front page pictures. They were pictures of desolation, of dessperation, of destruction. I thought to myself, "I wonder what poor country this is" I soon discovered that this is our country. These pictures of people huddled in sewage plagued water, starving, without water, are citizens of the most powerful, prosperous nation in the history of the world. I looked at these pictures, read some of the stories, and couldn't believe that these people couldn't get water or food. I realize that perhaps the most devestating natural in our history struck their city....but that was 4 days ago. Why is it that we haven't gotten them food and water yet? I realize that we might not beable to get them all out in such a short period of time, esspecially those scattered throughout the city, but certainly we could supply them. Whenever I saw similar situations in other countries I could always excuse a delay in getting supplies because generally those supplies would have to be shipped from half-way around the world. But certainly there is a Wal-Mart, Safeway, Costco, or someother grocery store within a couple hundred miles of the place. Would it be so difficult for the National Guard, of FEMA, to take helicopters to those stores take all the water and much of the food out, and tell the owners to send the Gov't a bill? I realize this may mean that some people in those cities may have to go without bottled water for a day or two, but certainly that would be better than people dying because all they had to drink was disease ridden water. And if the couldn't find any water in those places, go to someother state. I can't possible understand how it could take 4-5 days to get water to these people in this country. We have planes, they fly very fast, we have helicopters, we have cars, why are people still going hungry? We have a nation of 300,000,000, certainly we could get enough food and water to that region in a few hours without a problem from anywhere in the country.

For this I am actually completely disappointed in our government. I don't think I have ever felt so disappointed. There have been times when I was a little embarassed perhaps at the play at politics of our leaders, but I could always say that at least in emergencies the government worked well. 5 days later I can no longer say that.

Perhaps what disappoints me the most though is not the government but the people. I have been listening to talk radio the last couple of days since I have been working, and the things I am hearing is just heart-breaking. Here we are, in the midst of the greatest national disaster to ever strike our shores, with some estimates that 10,000 people dead, 3-5 hunred thousand without homes, and they are all just talking politics. Those on the left are trashing Bush, saying how he was on vacation, he should have done something, some are even blaming the hurricane on him because he backed out of Kyoto. Some are also saying that the region isn't recieving much help because it is largely poor black people. I heard from people standing in line in front of me that if this had happened in Crawford Bush would have been there in a heart-beat. Those on the right aren't much better. They are of course defending Bush, with some saying that it is the own people's fault since they didn't leave when they were given the warning. They of course are all the time attacking those on the other side for the things they are saying. I sat there listening, wondering how they could even think their pathetic politics could matter right now. Americans, not Republicans, not Democrats, not red staters, not blue staters, not liberals, not conservatives, but Americans, are in need. Shut the hell up about your stupid political squables and do everthing you can to help. Why are you wasting your broadcast time on such things, instead of encouraging your listeners to raise money, to help out these people. There will be an eternity to point fingers and say who messed up where, since suredly things haven't gone as well as they should, but people need help, get off your damn asses and help.

I don't think I have ever been quite so disappointed or disgusted with this country as I am right now.