I feel the need to comment on Katrina, mostly just to air out some thoughts. There been tons of commentary on the governments handling of the tragedy in New Orleans, to many to try and list, and I’ve only digested a few of them. They seem to fall into a few camps: the current administration dropped the ball and our resources as a nation are stretched thin. I personally find that both arguments have some amount of merit to them, though the former one seems to hold more water.
It is shocking how long it has taken for Washington to respond and how long it took Bush to visit. I almost get the impression as if they are just doing their duty and don’t really care. From the news stories I get the impression that the majority of the people who stayed simply could not leave, i.e. they didn’t have the means, i.e, they’re poor. The situation in New Orleans this is one of the worst natural disasters in American history and that it takes time to mobilize a response, but I think that the government could have handled the public opinion a bit better. Maybe they just can’t and don’t want to say. Although it’s very disturbing to see that there is finger point so early in the tragedy, I keep feeling like it’s not unjustified. Michael Moore has even piped up with an open letter to President Bush. There is also some opinion stating that the federal government had been cutting back funding for levy maintenance. Most speculate cutbacks in the Army Core of Engineers budget due to out efforts in Iraq.
With all this occurring I can help but wonder if being an imperial nation-state might have finally cost too much. We are being stretched too thin. The government is heavily in debt and local communities are running out of money. What’s the use of spreading democracy through the world (or at the very least using that as an excuse to make profitable inroads) if we are to suffer here at home. Or maybe out model of a democratic society is not as good as we think it is.
People around the world look to the US as a land of opportunity where anyone can make a mark for themselves. It’s hard to measure how a country handles poverty, but the extent of poverty that were have seen in New Orleans is astounding. The Third World handles this state better then we do. Now we have other nations helping out poor that are stuck down in the delta. Why can’t we take care of our own? When you see thousands of your own countrymen in living in squaller you really have to start to wonder where our priorities are as a nation.
The violence and looting in New Orleans struck me. Why do you fire upon public officials who are trying to help you? On the same note why are people left stranded on a bridge without proper supplies and sanitation? Do you remember this type of thing happening during the tsunami? We have some deep divides and problems in this country and they are being shown now. We can not blame these issues on terrorists or the breakdown of the family. The issue is much more complex and multifaceted then most would like to believe. For my $0.02 I think a good start would a long, hard look on all of our parts at how we conduct ourselves and how we treat others. It been said before, but I’ve seen way too many people just looking out for themselves, with little regard for the needs of others. Maybe it’s just me, just this country just seems to selfish.
Do I have a perfect solution? No. Am I just another person airing their opinion? Yes. I’m frustrated with where I see the country going and it’s nobody’s fault except out own.
