Well written, Texas Jack.
The press has been very very tactful about not mentioning the fact that most of these evacuees are not out of jobs because of the flood. Only that they need help in getting access to their checks. I am wondering if moving to Texas with perhaps stricter guidelines on long term welfare....will someday wean some of them off the dole? On the other hand, this may just create a large, new, federally entitled class of folks who are entitled to a lifetime of "disability" checks for "trauma".
"After all, you don't even have to go to the mail box to get your "gubment check." They can direct deposit it right into your account."
Not only can they deposit it directly....that's what the government wants them to do.
Great article. It's all true which makes it so sad!
If I'm not mistaken, those in the Dome were not allowed to leave (to prevent looting).
Which would undermine your entire argument, if true.
Right on the money. Good post.
You may recall the Mississippi flooding MidWest a few years ago. Did we see there anything remotely resembling the violence of NO? Did KMarts get looted of... TV sets? Makes perfect sense: your cousin may not be alive, your neighbors' body is floating in the muddy waters, and your thoughts are... how to get your hands on the wide-screen you always wanted.
You point about the requirement that one must view another as a member of another tribe to rape and murder under these circumstances is an astute observation as well.
Thank you for your post.
Able bodied welfare recipients are too lazy to walk 10 miles. I walk 10 miles or more almost every day through a combination of walking to and from work, for exercise, and because I enjoy walking.
"Invariably, the film maker includes scenes of displaced civilians and the suffering they endured."
Your Doug Stephan "disliker" reporting in...
believe it or not, on this Saturday morning talk radio program, he (or the person he was talking with) brought up how MANY camera shots of looters and evacuees were BLACK!!! There HAS to be some sort of Bush (or Rove) manipulation there; an obvious racial slur toward blacks and how the Bush administration is trying to hurt blacks.
I am not nearly as good as governsleast is at reporting on the Today Show...so take my words with a grain of salt. Don't quote or misquote me...just know that apparently this line of "defense" by liberals is going to be used as another shot against President Bush.
I grow more disgusted by the day.
Several years ago, we went to Yellowstone. The rangers handed out pamphlets stressing that we should not feed the bears. When tourists fed the bears, the bears became dependent on tourist handouts; worse, they became belligerent and aggressive to tourists who did not provide handouts. Not only were the bears unable to find their own food, but the food provided by tourists did not meet their nutritional needs and they were becoming unhealthy. Now that there is a strict policy enforcing the non-feeding of the bears, the bears are not dependent, and mostly stay away from the tourists.
I've often thought that the bears in Yellowstone are the perfect analogy for people on welfare. If we stop giving them handouts and force them to provide for themselves, they'll be happier and healthier and everyone will benefit.
Good Post TJ.
Hi Jack,
You have many good points in your post. Unfortunately, your post has a tone of labeling these people as parasitic to the society.
I just wanted to remind you something: these people are the creators of JAZZ music which is revered all around the world. It is one of the few remaining things which people of the world still care to respect about USA.
Like in all complex societies of animals like ants and bees, there are NATURAL divisions of labor among human society. As you must know, these specialized members of the society cannot accomplish the tasks of the other specialized groups in their society.
Do you believe that people of New Orleans could really create this wonderful music while they are trying to climb the corporate ladder? Do you believe that if it wasn't up to the atmosphere of their cities, this music could still 'be' and contribute to the HUMAN CIVILIZATION and CULTURE? or would the tourists flood to their cities?
Do you think you are, at your own work or by writing this post, contributing any permanent improvement to the human civilization and culture? I don't. I cannot create art!
We all want justice. But, justice and equality does not a mean a "bland" society where people become DEPRESSED because there is no BEAUTY OF HUMAN LIFE in their society.
As far as I know, all the great empires and emperors have protected their artists and scientists. So should we be more tolerant toward a city which brings the ATMOSPHERE to allow artists to flourish.
I personally would not mind sharing a little part of my gains with someone who does not "officially" work, if I am aware that this brings even a small contribution to a great art, which I personally am not able to create !