| New Orleans…This is a defining moment in the Bush Administration…the Bush Administration was slow to react to this catastrophe…even though there was more than a week's advance notice…The reaction was too little...once there was "A Reaction"…and as one who Hates to Play the Race Card… There is a hint of Racism….a poor and minority- dominated community got lip service at best…Yes, now because of overwhelming pubic opinion there is finally aid coming in, but still not enough…while 9-11 was a horrible, terrible, and shocking attack…New York was still standing…and there was immediate and swift action… There is no longer a New Orleans as we knew it… While people in New York were stunned and shocked… they did go back to their homes that night and have life's comforts… The Majority of people will never have their homes again…The infrastructure of New York City remained in tact… New Orleans no longer has an infrastructure… New York had no warning but the response time was quick… Two new agencies were formed…The Office of Homeland Security…and the TSA…Revenue was still coming into New York…even though tourism was down for a little less than a year…it is now booming again…along with the site of 9-11…There will be far more deaths in New Orleans physically and mentally than in the 9-11 travesty….Florida also falls into the category of New York… Even though they’re still rebuilding…there’s still federal and state revenue…after a week or so people had basic comforts…not so in New Orleans…The good people in New Orleans may not have basic comforts(running water, toiletries, etc. , etc.) months…they’ll never have their homes again…The economic effects of New Orleans are severe and far-reaching… The much-talked about looting is something that has to be looked at as survival… Most Americans have never been in a position of losing everything overnight…imagine...by no fault of your own...not being able to feed yourself or your family… And, no help anywhere in sight… The “Looting” is and was an act of survival…The oil rigs in the Gulf may not be up and running at full strength for months…the pipe lines are just a trickle of what they were… Politics…some people are saying New York which had a Republican Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, and as well as, a Republican Governor, George Pataki didn’t hurt…New Orleans, on the other hand, has a Democratic Senator, Mary Landrieu…a new Democratic Governor, Kathleen Blanco…and a Democratic Mayor, Ray Nagin… The actions of the Government cause many to think politics had something to do with this…The first priority is to put people into some kind of comfort zone again…with basic comforts … Then to restore the infrastructure…but then you realize… Hey, wait a minute…isn’t that what the U.S. is doing in Iraq… restoring their infrastructure…and not succeeding…shouldn’t we being trying to restore intfrastructure to our own first...The Bush Administration is so afraid of offending the Iraqis…court martialing our soldiers…and so they are sending billions of dollars in aid to Iraq…telling the people of New Orleans to pray and believe in the relief agencies that are working on it… This is why I believe the Bush Administration has been handed a "Get Outta Jail Free" card…no matter how you feel about the Iraqi war, now would be the time to declare Victory….claiming to have removed a dictator, established a constitution and have free elections for the first time in years …and bring our Troops home…to help rebuild the infrastructure in our "Own" country…three states primarily… Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi…George Bush should spend as much time as possible in the affected areas …spend time with the people and show good faith…To allow Americans to suffer more than foreigners who hate America more then life itself and treat the people of New Orleans as second-class citizens is an Outrage…The people of New Orleans aren’t slackers…they are tax paying “Americans” who have contributed to their communities all their lives…We must take care of Americans First…otherwise what do we stand for…? |
