This great nation..

I know you lot have been waiting with baited breath for my commentary on Katrina. Here it is. Disorganised, but so am I.

The people who could leave and didn't absolutely deserve the hell they are in right now, they are risking others' lives because of their stupidity. Those who couldn't leave are another story. The inaction and bungled action taken by authorities on all levels is just ridiculous. If you don't think they had enough notice, listen to this clip. It was obvious.

Bush's first glimpse was from his airplane (not helicopter) and I cannot think of a better metaphor to illustrate his level of concern. Then he has the nerve to ask people to donate money. What the hell? This country is so proud of its wealth and power yet at this crisis, this shameless president is asking us to donate? Fuck that, I didn't tell them to squader billions in Iraq. I didn't tell them to give billions to Israel. Should have thought about home first, don't you think? Donate my ass.

The most interesting aspect, to me, is how capitalism is at play on all levels. Wal-Mart and Sam's club managed to deliver 2400 trailer loads of supplies - water, food, ice within days. The first 170 arriving the very next day. The very corporations that are the subject of widespread of criticism for their raison d'etre. On the other end of the spectrum, there were the painful scenes of tens of thousands being forced to live like animals, the rapid decline into gang warfare and anarchy. That, my friends, are the foundations of this great nation. How great it is to be an independent and free nation. Freedom from taxes, freedom from community responsibility. It is the norm to try to evade minimal taxes and then turn around and expect the government to provide everything. The only sense of responsibility is towards oneself, to take care of the here and now and let everyone else take care of himself.

End of the day, my friends, you can understand a society by observing how it treats its weakest members. For a week we watched as tens of thousands of poor, black Americans suffered, slept, lived in their own waste. One week. This is the wealthiest nation in the world with a GDP of $11.4 Trillion in 2004. Per Capita Income of over $40K. This is the system we want to distribute to the rest of the world? We have been advertising the life we live here, but who would want this? Is this risk worth it? When crisis hits, why would anyone want a government inept and incapbale of responding? Isn't managing crisis a fundamental responsibility of leadership? This is the same democracy that protects your freedom to wear halter tops and mini skirts with thongs hanging out and to carry guns. We are so free that the government just doesn't care.