Red States Sing the Blues
Be careful what you vote for, you just might get it.
In the aftermath of Katrina, let's rattle off some of the pressing needs of the victims of the storm.
- Shelter
- Food
- Clothing
- Employment
- Transportation
- Training
- Money
- Medical care
- Education
- Hope
The need is staggering. Where do we look for help? Few institutions are large enough to coordinate and supply comfort and support to so many people. In fact, the federal government stands alone in that respect. So America looks to Uncle Sam for answers in times of such tragedy and during the past week, we watched in horror as our Uncle failed miserably. The reason for today's feeling of national shame is that our government not only failed, but it seemed lost, inept with no idea about what to do or where to turn. We are disappointed, frustrated and outraged.
But are we being fair? After all, we have been responsible for selecting our leaders and administrations. We elected George Bush and the Republican congressional majority. And they have pretty much delivered what they promised, if one took the time to pay attention. Their aversion to the government organizations that supply all of the above needs has been quite clear. They have proposed or succeeded in cutting or eliminating the programs or departments that offer:
- Shelter
- Food
- Clothing
- Employment
- Transportation
- Training
- Money
- Medical care
- Education
- Hope
I don't recall hearing any Republican in the past three cycles talk about increasing the funding to answer any of these needs. Quite the contrary. They have made no secret of their desire to unravel the New Deal, which was created to answer the above needs...needs which stemmed from an earlier national tragedy, The Great Depression. In fact, Republican policy is a blueprint for returning to the gilded age of robber barons and unregulated business practices that led to that economic disaster. They promised, "to drown the federal government in the bathtub" and they have pretty much delivered.
So are we being fair with our outrage? For those Republican purists, and there are some, there is no outrage, no surprise or no disappointment. I have heard and read statements that have reveled in the tragedy as an opportunity to cleanse the population, rid the south of sin and blame the victims who got what they had coming.
Fortunately, they are not the majority. Most are appalled and they can't understand why their beloved, moral leader would wait so long to respond. These voters are the metaphorical Kansans to whom Thomas Frank refers in his book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" During the election they were fed a constant barrage of irrelevant culture issues, which masked the inhumanity of the underlying truth about the Republican agenda. They were warned about the dangers of gay marriage and over-the-counter birth control, but they weren't told about the small print details in the bankruptcy bill. They were distracted by the left hand thumping the Bible, while the right hand was picking their pockets, cutting their pension and sending their sons and daughters off to war. And, now, the final insult...America can't or won't act to save the lives of Americans. I wonder, if given the choice now of saving 10,000 lives in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and allowing two men to marry in Massachusetts, which one they would select. My better part would think the latter.
The reality is, those victims of the storm in the Red States and others watching from afar who asked with their ballots for this kind of government, have gotten exactly what they voted for. I'm hoping the next time, they'll pay a little more attention.
In the aftermath of Katrina, let's rattle off some of the pressing needs of the victims of the storm.
- Shelter
- Food
- Clothing
- Employment
- Transportation
- Training
- Money
- Medical care
- Education
- Hope
The need is staggering. Where do we look for help? Few institutions are large enough to coordinate and supply comfort and support to so many people. In fact, the federal government stands alone in that respect. So America looks to Uncle Sam for answers in times of such tragedy and during the past week, we watched in horror as our Uncle failed miserably. The reason for today's feeling of national shame is that our government not only failed, but it seemed lost, inept with no idea about what to do or where to turn. We are disappointed, frustrated and outraged.
But are we being fair? After all, we have been responsible for selecting our leaders and administrations. We elected George Bush and the Republican congressional majority. And they have pretty much delivered what they promised, if one took the time to pay attention. Their aversion to the government organizations that supply all of the above needs has been quite clear. They have proposed or succeeded in cutting or eliminating the programs or departments that offer:
- Shelter
- Food
- Clothing
- Employment
- Transportation
- Training
- Money
- Medical care
- Education
- Hope
I don't recall hearing any Republican in the past three cycles talk about increasing the funding to answer any of these needs. Quite the contrary. They have made no secret of their desire to unravel the New Deal, which was created to answer the above needs...needs which stemmed from an earlier national tragedy, The Great Depression. In fact, Republican policy is a blueprint for returning to the gilded age of robber barons and unregulated business practices that led to that economic disaster. They promised, "to drown the federal government in the bathtub" and they have pretty much delivered.
So are we being fair with our outrage? For those Republican purists, and there are some, there is no outrage, no surprise or no disappointment. I have heard and read statements that have reveled in the tragedy as an opportunity to cleanse the population, rid the south of sin and blame the victims who got what they had coming.
Fortunately, they are not the majority. Most are appalled and they can't understand why their beloved, moral leader would wait so long to respond. These voters are the metaphorical Kansans to whom Thomas Frank refers in his book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" During the election they were fed a constant barrage of irrelevant culture issues, which masked the inhumanity of the underlying truth about the Republican agenda. They were warned about the dangers of gay marriage and over-the-counter birth control, but they weren't told about the small print details in the bankruptcy bill. They were distracted by the left hand thumping the Bible, while the right hand was picking their pockets, cutting their pension and sending their sons and daughters off to war. And, now, the final insult...America can't or won't act to save the lives of Americans. I wonder, if given the choice now of saving 10,000 lives in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and allowing two men to marry in Massachusetts, which one they would select. My better part would think the latter.
The reality is, those victims of the storm in the Red States and others watching from afar who asked with their ballots for this kind of government, have gotten exactly what they voted for. I'm hoping the next time, they'll pay a little more attention.
posted by NYBri at 5:05 PM
<< Home