Katrina has offered the greatest chance for this country to discuss the most poignant question of our nation's history.
This past week, we have witnessed what corruption and incompetence, and small government has done to our nation. Now, we are crying out for a more federalized, strong-armed effort to handle this catastrophe at a time we have been begging for government to "get off our backs" and give us a tax cut.
In light of Hurricane Katrina, it's time that America makes its choice, just for the sake knowing what will be expected of its citizenry.
America, what do you want?
We are operating today in a small government mentality, leaving our central government criminally unprepared for even common sense operations, such as food and water. We are growing tired of Corporate America, but it seems in a couple of cases they are handling this job better than our government.
The cry since Tuesday has been "where is our government?" Government, why aren't you doing something? Isn't this what you are designed to do?
Americans have been living in the blissful, ignorant daze, growing rapidly out of touch with their own country. And now thousands are dead, and we have just started to wake up from our sleep.
America has been like a car on a road, and we are the passengers. We are the passengers who have kicked up our feet, and gone to sleep, not fully knowing where the car is going. Now that car has reached a major fork in the road, and has crashed right into the tree dividing it. As passengers of this car, we must now choose which road to take to both repair the damage done to our car and get to where we want to go.
I honestly don't believe neither the media nor Americans would be as angry as they are now if we all knew what was required and expected to happen to handle this catastrophe. The truth is we really don't, and nothing is mor agitating to a wide-awake American than not knowing.
The haze from our blissful, prosperous, dreamy days as American citizens has cleared for a second, and we see dead bodies floating in the streets of New Orleans, and all of a sudden we want answers. While we are all deserving of those answers, we are now required to ask: what do you want?
Do you want a strong government of the people, by the people, and for the people that is held accountable by said people, or no real government and accountability at all?
Do you want government to take control of national disasters, natural and man-made, or do you want private corporations to handle the effort?
Do you want a partioned, separate states of America with each government only in charge of their state, or a United States of America pulling people together to help each other achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Do you want the government to decide how aid is administered and delivered to its people, or do you want private corporations to do the job?
Do you want a country where everyone is in this thing together, or a country where you are always on your own?
Which is which, America? The world has just seen a very dark corner of our country, and all the "land of opportunity" talk has been wiped from their consensus. People who were once angry at us are now ashamed of us and will never think of America the same way again. More importantly, whereas a century ago people came in droves to jump into this car's journey to its future, many now decline the ride.
Nobody wants to ride in a car that has no real destination nor ride with a driver who hasn't a clue where to go or how to get there, and this car has been operating either without a driver or the most clueless driver imaginable for far too long. Some would rather just leave the car behind and go somewhere else altogether, but some want to stay in and keep it moving. But for those of us who want to stay, in light of this tragedy, we must now ask ourselves to where do we want to drive? Where should this car go? Strong or small government? Private or public agency? All for one, one for all, or every man, woman, and child for him/herself?
America, what do you want?