Did you? do you?

So, i got back to the states the night that Hurricane Katrina was lining up New Orleans for a direct Cateogry 4 hit. New Orleans is below sea level. This is common knowledge for anyone who knows anything about New Orleans, a disaster waiting to happen. I watched on CNN in the airport as President Bush said before the even storm hit that he was already declaring the entire area a disaster area so that aid could be released quickly. I watched as the talking heads at FEMA said they were preparing relief efforts even before the storm hit.

After the hurricane passed, i was watching a reporter standing in downtown New Orleans in about 2 feet of water steadily rising. He said a protective levee had breeched and the lake was pouring into downtown New Orleans with nothing to stop it. Water was rising about 1 foot an hour and in some places New Orleans was submerged under 25 feet of water.

I then watched in horror as the days passed and our Federal Government did virtually nothing to help the people of New Orleans as a whole. Sure there were sporadic helicopter rescues going on, small boats going around saving people, but where was the "Shock and Awe" military and Federal response everybody knew should be coming? The military keeps some units on constant readiness, packed and ready to go on zero notice. Where were they? They could have been there in hours. I could have gotten to the Superdome faster than the relief effort did. The military has amphibious vehicles which could have easily reached the Superdome. They have huge military transport helicopters that could have easily landed at the superdome. Where were they? It still seems like the Federal government doesnt see this as the complete human disaster that it is. I've seen our government react quicker and with more aid to international disasters than to New Orleans. Why?

All i can figure is that there seems to be a complete detachment from reality between our Government and its people. Did you vote for Bush? Do you regret it yet? I didn't vote for Bush. Next question.... Did you vote at all? If not, Do you regret it yet? If you didn't vote, you really can't complain about our government response. I mean if your so detached that you can't make it to the polls, why should you care that our government is so detached from reality that they can't make it to New Orleans. Seems they have the bigger job. Next election, for God's sakes vote. The current White House administration seems to be able to paint anything in the news like its not their fault. Bush said on Thursday that the Government relief effort was unacceptable. He's right. He could have ordered immediate and massive aid mobilized to the area. He didn't. Your right "W", the government effort was unacceptable.

Kanye West spoke out about it. I don't agree with everything he said, but I'm glad somebody had the guts to stand up and say it. Never did it cross my mind that race or class had anyhing to do with it, but somehow i wonder if Kanye wasn't at least a little bit right. But i personally believe that its simply a completely inept administration once again proving loud and clear that they can't run the country. I mean the Iraq war is getting worse by the day and our President goes on vacation?? WHAT! I'm sorry but most Americans get little vacation time, and i think if my family or my company was in crisis, the last thing on my mind would be to go on vacation. Even if Bush was getting some work done on the ranch, (not nearly the workload that he should be carrying), symbolically speaking, a President that goes on vacation in a terrible time of war, a war that he started, is a complete slap in the face to the nation. Did you vote for him? Do you think he has a grip on reality?
- Ken