Hurricane Katrina... My truth

I will be quoting from LC for reference..

"the Hurricane "disaster". Yes, its an unfortunate circumstance, but there's more to it than the "tragedy of helpless victimization" that's so prevalent in our society today. Hurrican Katrine is a prime example of the deterioration of self-reliance and SELF-GOVERNMENT in our country. Whatever happened to people taking responsibility for themselves? Think about it:avalanche is coming, do you stand still or do you try to run?"

Valid point LC, but if you are in a city your entire life, can you get a car to run somewhere? Can you also pay the hotel bill? That is why the city was supposed to have the busses organized and bus the residents. However, because of the beuracratic morass of New Orleans, no one beleived anything that catastrophic could happen to New Orleans. The mayor in this case probably was notified, but let us not forget the New Orleans police were considered on of the most corrupt municipal police in the nation.

But anyway, back to my fellow filipinos - What do the people do? They GET AWAY from the disaster, come back and WORK to rebuild their lives... people have legs and arms, people should use them. God knows, there's plenty of jobs out there.Furthermore, what about those on the local and state levels?

The case with the Filipinos is tragic as well as the tragedy with the Tsunami a year ago as well. Tragic in the case, and with so much less notice by the media as to the blame factor. George Bush did not creat Katrina nor did he aim Katrina to New Orleans. Rather, it was nature's laws that were enacted, and that is what hapened. As to getting away from the disaster, please see above again for SOME of the population that could not leave. As to the people rebuilding their lives, I have to say, its perhaps FEMA and the local government that is hampering people from returning. The people would want to return but can't because they have not been cleared to do so. Next, let us not forget as well, the real issue that no one seems to ask. Why would people not leave with this disaster? Well could it be perhaps it was the New Orleans police that people did not trust? Maybe on another issue the LC did not go into was the other fact that local towns did not want the denizens of New Orleans to come to their clean suburban towns.

These are the primary responders - FEMA's job is only to coordinate with them. We haven't seen this sort of chaos in Florida - which has been hit with hurricanes, how many times?

Actually we have LC, its just not covered as well. For example, the FEMA people have actually been very dilligent in colletgin loans and the like from the people of FL. Also, a few months ago, there was a questionable issue when it came to FEMA's emergency relief. Also, most of the state of FL already expects to see a disaster with a hurricane. So the state was the prime mover for relief, FEMA was a federal backup.


I lost count. But in New Orleans, What were all those school buses doing standing idle when they could have been transporting people out of New Orleans.What about locking all the people inside the superdome? Why were people just going to the bathroom wherever they felt and raping young women? What about all the killing?

Ah do we listen to the hype of the news media or the rantings of people whoe do not trust the New Orleans police and the New Orleans government? I think it was the collective malaise and paranoia of the people the citizens of New Orleans who did not trust their municipal government nor did they trust the police. The same police department known for corruption and lawlessness.

As to the school busses being parked and idle. Well blame it on the city of New Orleans. What was not mentioned by the press as well were the number of churches that wanted to send buses to New Orleans and the surrounding area. However, who did not come through? The state of Louisiana AND the City of New Orleans.

Thank you LC for some of your insights as well.

War, Hurricanes and Ports Oh My ...

In the latest presidential, I can't believe I was not there, shocker, the administrtation has fallen to prey to Enronism. That slight behavior pattern of receiving the responsibility of running a corporation, but having no knowledge of the actions of subordinates. Oh for equal time, Senator Hillary Rodam-Clinton had the same problem with the White House Travel office as well.

So with the Ports being sold to a United Arab Emirates, a group of countries that trades as one, the people of the United States are saying huh? I mean, looking at it in the pre-wararguements from this administration, if there is a link, with Terrorism, thenthey are at war with us. So now there is no slight link? Just as Saddam Hussainwas supposedly linked with Al Queda, a link done indirectly with Saddam's Generals in one meeting with Osama Bin Laden's own lieutenents. The arguement is now that the United Arab Emirates is a good and loyal ally of the United States. I am sure George W. Bush believes Isreal is a good and loyal ally of the United States, but Isreal didspy on the United States as well. Just another thing to make one go hmmm.

Of course we have assurances from the administration, there has been an adequate review of the security concerns, the review of the port security and whatever else the media wants to add as port security.
Here is where I believe there is a credibility gap as large as the state of Texas. The first, is the Iraq War. The administration started by saying Saddam Husseinhad weapons of mass destruction. Then it went to nuclear capabilities with an immenentnuclear weapon. Now, its the nation building argument. So where is the credibility of the weapons of mass destruction?

Second let us look at the compentency to disaster domestically, with the devastation of hurricane Katrina. A part of Homeland Security, FEMA, led by a paying into the office lawyer, was warnedweeks in advance of an impending storm, what would need to be done, and to plan ahead.The final effect, total disarray from the office of Homeland Security. To which I may add, has also approved of the sellig of the Ports to the United Arab Emirates. How lovely is this picture? Well if they could not get their act together at that time, what makes anyone belive theywill now?

So I add thirdly, I add one very important note to the credibilty gap of the administration. Has the War on Drugs stopped? Have we, the United States government been able to STOP illegaldrugs coming through our ports? Consider your answer carefully, since if you believe the administrationhas made any and all assurances when it comes to the War on Drugs, why do we still have drugs coming in through our borders? Why do we constantly get illegal immigrants through our borders as well?If the assurance of security is coming from this administration when common sense deems it otherwise, thenthe track record of the GW Bush administration is failure.

Incomptency Paid in New Jersey

I find it amazing how the United States Attorney never charge our former incompetant Attorney General Pete Harvey. His last comment about the JCA case and corrruption linking George Norcross, was the standard in New Jersey. So much incompetance, enough to botch up any clear legal case. When was the announcement made by US Attorney Chris Christopher? Well Pete Harvey left the building when the announcement was made.

Oh when former State Police Commissioner Santiago was playing a shell game with tax payer money for his new and improved office, Pete Harvey did not convict him or bring any charges. Why? Well Mr. Santiago left so there was no need to prosecute him.

What a pitiful tale in New Jersey. I am sure both great citizens in the McGreevey Administration will still get their state pension. That is right, my money will be used to pay for these incompetents.

Looking at incompetancy in New Jersey, specifically in state government, let's review the New Jersey tax department. The same department that used a service to collect unpaid taxes, that was now being prosecuted for poor record keeping and methods of extortion that would make most organized crime members cringe. Is there anyone to blame there? Of course not, this is New Jersey government we are talking about.

Oh isn't it great we have the School Construction Corp. and not a single person or group can explain to anyone in New Jersey what in heck has happened. There is 6 billion dollars lost, and does anyone in Trenton know who to blame or remove? Nope. Seems like there is no one at home to blame and therefore is another oops in New Jersey.

But I think we have a bigger problem in New Jersey, is the addicts in the Assembly and Senate. Yes they are shaking with need to take in their fix. They are screaming they need their fix. They want money. They want MY money again to pay for their stupid mistakes, their lazy brother and sister in laws who can't even get a real job and to pay off any and every small interest group. Of course they will always say how important anything and everything is, but the reality is, wake up. I truly think each NJ assemblyman and state senator should only work with 10% of their pay then talk about living in NJ. I know its hard for these honorable people to be cut cold turkey, but its far more than fair. Since these addicts get an automatic cost of living increase.

State of the Union: Forgotten America

Well not that I needed to listen to the State of the Union Speech. Most news organizations can highlight the main topics rather well. Not that most news organizations cover anything in depth, well since the advertising dollars are not there. No money, no video feed to that particular story.

There are two sticky points which the Administration of President Bush highlighted, the need for more math and science courses. Now that is a brilliant thought. According to the President, as prefaced by many CEO's which the president has spoken with in the last number of weeks. They are telling him we need to have more scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in our work force. Citizens who can understand the complicated math, to operatate the newest equipment and protocols in our very high tech environment.

Well, how well said President GW Bush. Now of course you have that little memory problem don't you. Your first memory loss problem occurring when there was a massive layoff announcement by Ford Motor company. Laying off all those engineers, because well of the economy. How encouraging to hear industry want more scientists and engineers, but alas no jobs. Well, there are jobs, just at much lower wages. Wages more akin to the wages in India and China.

But then, what does this Administration do instead? Well instead of decreasing the overhead of government, more spending is spent on the government. Tax decreases in special rarefied tax brackets, but no change for the day to day wage earner. Congress still gets their $10,000 a year increase because of cost of living. Their increase in some cases is the wage of an American citizen.

So President Bush, let me ask you a difficult question, did your daughters graduate with a Science or Math Degree? If not what are they doing now?