An inspiring repsonse from Tom Vilsack about the tragedy in the Gulf Coast. If only our President was any good as any of our Dem Governors.
The post is at Heartland PAC, excerpted below:
As I see the images of the tragedy in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, I am filled with many emotions. I am saddened. I am upset. I am angry. People are suffering now in ways that are almost too hard to bear. But I also am hopeful. In the history of this country we have accomplished so much by coming together to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges. We must do it again.
We are working to help the governors and other leaders across the Gulf Coast in every way possible. We have deployed troops from the Iowa National Guard to Louisiana, and we are reaching out to communities around Iowa to do what they can to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I have asked all departments ofIowa state government to identify all the assets that our state could make available beyond the more traditional response. As a result we now know that 500 beds are available for temporary housing at our state hospitals. Our Veteran's Home could make available equipment like walkers and wheelchairs. Prison Industries can make furniture available. The list is endless. We are also in the process of evaluating how many homes may be available for more permanent housing until cities and communities get rebuilt. As a community, Iowa traditionally responds this way. We all know we can't wait for someone else to bring the country together and take care of our fellow citizens.
We have to take the responsibility into our own hands, as many of our fellow Americans have already begun to do. But we can do more. Each of us has something to give, and each of us has the responsibility to alleviate the suffering of those across the Gulf Coast. It is the responsibility of each of to provide for the security of all, and to help provide hope and opportunity. This is not a short-term problem. People have lost everything that most of us take for granted: loved ones, homes, jobs, and their very way of life. Acting individually -- and acting collectively -- we can provide the assistance to our brothers and sisters who are suffering.
What can you do without, in order to give hope to others?
Donate to the charity of your choice.
Engage your family.
Engage your neighborhood.
Engage your place of worship.
Engage your employer and colleagues at work.
Engage your school and your classroom.
Take it on yourself to be an organizer.
Take this opportunity to resurrect the American dream by helping others in their time of need.
Iowa and all of America is all about our shared community and at times like these there is a force more powerful than flood waters and that is community. When we focus our efforts and our assets there is no disaster greater than us.