This is beyond disgusting:
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman received word from President George W. Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the President has approved Gov. Heineman's request for an expedited disaster declaration for parts of Nebraska damaged by recent severe winter storms.
"I want to personally thank President Bush and his disaster response team at FEMA for moving so quickly to approve our request for a federal disaster declaration," the Governor said. "Much of central Nebraska remains without power or powered by alternative means, and this assistance to the public entities trying to accelerate the recovery efforts in our communities is welcome and warranted under these difficult circumstances."
And Bush STILL ignores New Orleans.
Bush jumps right on in to help Nebraska, but still refuses to help New Orleans. Bush is responsible for the flooding of New Orleans, so I guess he won't do anything to attract further attention to yet another one of his failures, no matter how many people die or what it costs. But a sane person might see redemption in doing something to fix the mess they made, but, then again, I use the word "sane".
But something I find equally disturbing is the silence across America about New Orleans. It's not in the news. Diaries here about the conditions and need in New Orleans scroll right off the list. And really disturbing is the silence of out new Democratic Leaders. Not a word from any of them. Except some noise about investigation fraud. Yeah, right. As if that will help fix a house in New Orleans. No committees set up. No aid packages created and rushed through. No plans laid out to help the city. Why is the new Congress, so full of fixing things and getting America back on track, ignoring the third world conditions in New Orleans?
The city can't wait- can't anyone get that through their heads? The Crescent City needs real help now. If Bush can get 8 billion in cash to send to Iraq and hand out to anyone who walks by, why the %^&* can't Congress get a thousandth of that- 8 million in cash, and take it down there and give it to people who are desperate? The city needed massive help a year ago, and things have only gotten worse since.
Why can't the new Congress rein in the insurance companies who refuse to pay out, but are spending millions on defend themselves in court, and on advertising to tell everybody how great they are? Why aren't they being hauled into Congress right now?
Nolalily had a great diary a couple of days ago that really showed the pain people in New Orleans feel. But the response from this board to take action was about as limp as can be. Ho hum. Another New Orleans tragedy story. How so last year.
What is wrong with America, to turn its back on New Orleans? What is wrong with our new leaders, that they also turn their backs on New Orleans? And what is wrong with us, that we turn our backs on New Orleans? Why aren't we raising holy hell with our new reps, to make them do something NOW?
When you go to bed tonight, be thankful you are not, if you are lucky, still living in a cramped trailer in front of your ruined house in a ruined neighborhood. When you get up in the morning, be thankful that you, unlike many people in New Orleans, have a kitchen to fix breakfast in, and a cup to put your coffee in. And be thankful that you don't have to worry about your meager possessions begin stolen by ever emboldened criminals while you are away. Then look in the mirror and tell your self how much you care about your fellow man.