I completely agree with those who are asking where was George and where are the feds, and why did the local government's breakdown in leadership add to this horrendous situation, everyone should be asking why, how and what needs to be done to be sure this never happens again. I cannot watch the scenes from all over the gulf coast and believe that had there been a swift action on the part of FEMA and other agencies, not to mention the congress, senate and many other officials who were wrapping up their vacations and Bush rounding off his month off with a fund raiser in SanDiego on Tuesday, we might not have seen the amount of suffering that we did. I cannot believe there would have been mob scenes had basic life supporting supplies been airlifted into the areas where it was so desperately needed three days before the media brought it into our living rooms. If we can airlift water and livesaving supplies, troops and equipment into other areas of the world on seemingly a moment's notice, why does it take four days to get a little to our own citizens? While it is true that the N.O. and LA authorities could have done much more to ensure the safety of their residents, it also cannot be overlooked that the feds have cut their Army Corps funding for improvements to the waterway and levee systems three years in a row. Still, none of this excuses the complacency of the American people themselves for allowing our resources to be stretched so thin that our reaction time is so delayed - and still is by the way, the suffering hasn't been eliminated just because the pictures we're now seeing are of people getting food and shelter, there are many thousands more who have yet to see troops, volunteers, etc. to help them. We have let a smirking chimp become president - twice, and 51% of the vote is not a mandate of the people BTW - and we did nothing. We have let people point their fingers at us and call us evil and immoral - and done nothing. We have witnessed and paid for the invasion of a country based on complete lies and fabricated evidence - and done nothing. We have waited for years for the Democrats, or anyone, to stand up in even halfhearted opposition to those in power and ask tough questions, but we have not demanded it of them. The time for that is over, I am personally going to write to my elected representatives to express my opinions on the state of our nation, our people, our policies and procedures and at least I can sleep at night knowing that I've done everything in my power to make sure that the people who for for me, for my security, safety and defend my way of life are aware that I'm watching them and not blindly following along, trusting everything I see and hear from an administration who has once again let me down gets away with it. Brittney Spears can chew gum and spout "follow the leader" rehtoric all she wants, but I'm standing up for myself now.
