Cross posted at Peace is Active
New Orleans could use a "surge" of 20,000 National Guard troops and a billion dollar jobs program.
The problem is that I can't support a "surge" for New Orleans because it would be led by the Bush Administration.
Does anyone believe the Bush Administration would execute a surge for New Orleans correctly?
The National Guard would probably be sent to guard oil platforms instead of being used to help the residents. Instead of giving the local population jobs, our tax money would be given to Halliburton who would then hire cheap labor from the Philippines or Nepal so huge profits could be made while the local population remained unemployed. Neighborhoods would probably be rebuilt to insure Republican majorities instead of being rebuilt for the benefit of distressed minorities.
Iraq could use a "surge" of support from the United States and the rest of the world. Residents need electricity and jobs. We all want the Iraqi citizens to be able to live in peace with legitimate governments, fair markets, and healthy environments.
The problem is that I can't support a "surge " for Iraq because it would be led by the corrupt and incompetent Bush Administration.
So I apologize to the citizens of both New Orleans and Iraq.
I'm sorry it is so hard to trust the Bush Administration with distributing the billions of dollars in aid money you need and deserve. I'm sorry that the American people were tricked and bullied into voting for George W. Bush. I'm sorry that the American people supported a war of choice led by people with dollar signs, not compassion, in their eyes. I'm sorry that the Republican Congress failed to provide oversight and accountability for the money and effort that was supposed to help you. I'm sorry that the monopoly media thought it might seem unpatriotic and potentially unprofitable to raise questions during a time of war.
But most of all, I'm sorry for my failure to be a democratic citizen capable of leading this nation away from such incompetence and corruption.
So I pledge to you today that I will not support the "escalation of war" as proposed by the Bush Administration, but I will support a "surge of peace" that is growing in this nation and throughout the world. Never in our history have we had the ability to communicate with so many people. Never in our history have so many people had a democratic vote to hold their leaders accountable.
We have the ability to lead through example. We have the ability to live in peace.