Day 4

Well, things can sure change quickly. And yet, somethings never change. Four days after Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast of the US, we are now FINALLY seeing the national guard bringing in some food and water supplies to those trapped in the flooded city of New Orleans.

Like most Americans, I'm not impressed by this emergency response.

It's ironic that Homeland Security and FEMA have been so focused on terrorism abroad that we have ignored our own vital needs here at home. Ironic that an event less tragic than a biological weapon attack, or even strategically placed bombs on levees, is being so horribly handled by officials. Ironic that we are so unprepared for urban disaster, even after the warning of 9/11. Ironic that our own dependence on oil is creating a deadly cycle of increased and stronger hurricanes, as greenhouse gases from our vehicle emmissions increase global warming, which in turn increases weather pattern instability. The hurricanes are a stabilizing effect... the more we throw off the balance, the worst they will be.

It took a teenager to have the foresight to hijack an empty schoolbus and pick up survivors to take to shelters. Why weren't local/state/federal government officials thinking along these lines? Why are they so concerned with LOOTING? Property rights do not trump the survival of thousands of victims! The violence makes complete sense, given the circumstances. If you were stranded without food or water, and somehow had access to weapons, what do you think you would do as you grew more desparate? Would you perhaps use your weapon to gain something to keep you alive, like water? Would you band together in groups to ambush emergency vehicles or rescue teams to take their water--if you knew they weren't going to help you? I don't think these are unreasonable responses to someone who is DYING. Sad yes, but what does the government expect these people to do, just die quietly? It's ridiculous. But no, apparently the top priority for the national guard that just returned from deployment (in Iraq, I presume) is to "establish order" and prevent violence. WTF?!?! Why aren't they distributing vital supplies as a first step?!? That is the only answer to ending the violence and chaos. How stupid can these people be?

It just makes me sick. The stupidity is sickening. I really hope this wakes America up and they vote out these people who don't have the proper priorities. If we don't change our leadership and how we live and plan our lives, we're going to crash and burn big time. I'm talking mass poverty, no middle class, no jobs or resources... within a short amount of time. New Orleans could be the entire country, in some ways, in a few years. We have to get our heads out of our asses and start living smarter, spending our money and resources in efficient ways for our top priorities. If it's not already too late. :(