What have YOU done?
Here's a handy-dandy checklist of action items. Feel free to add your ideas.
KEEP READING . . .
- Have you donated money to your favorite trustworthy charity, earmarking it for 'Hurricane Katrina Relief'? Blogger Billmon has a listing of a bunch of charities with short summaries, contact info, and website links. Best to donate online or by phone if you can. http://billmon.org/archives/002122.html
- Have you learned of, or tried to find out about, relief efforts of any kind being organized in your local area? Check your newspapers, contact churches, community service organizations, local government, etc. Many American communities are going to have to welcome survivors who will be staying for an extended period of time, or even permanently. Will your community do what it takes to help these folks in their time of need? They're going to need places to stay, food, clothes, housewares, jobs, etc.
- Have you called or written the White House to demand that President Bush investigate and, if necessary, fire Chertoff, Brown, and whoever else is responsible for this abdication of responsibility, and step down himself if he can't perform his duties? Phone 202-456-1111. E-mail Comments@whitehouse.gov
- Have you called or written your Representative in Congress to demand an immediate, full-scale inquiry into the federal government's paralysis of the last week? Find contact info: http://www.House.gov
- Have you called or written your two U.S. Senators to demand that consequences be visited upon those who neglected their official duties in the federal government? Find contact info: http://www.Senate.gov
- Have you written letters to the editor of moderate-to-conservative newspapers in your area? (Sorry, but skip the liberal/progressive ones if you have such a luxury. They are on our side. It's time to get in the faces of the Bush supporters.) Check your area newspaper's web site for how to submit letters to the editor, by e-mail preferably. Keep it concise, 'punchy' and try to focus on the need for governmental accountability -- now.
- Have you called into right-wing talk radio shows to refute the lies with truth, truth, truth about FEMA, DHS, Bush, Chertoff, Brown . . . and truth, truth, truth about Blanco, Landrieu, Nagin, etc.? < suggested by reader Cream City >
Below is a letter I sent to my Congressional representative. A variation of it was sent to my two United States Senators and another variation was sent to the two largest newspapers in my state, both of which are moderate-to-conservative.
Dear Representative:
This week, we saw the federal government paralyzed for five days while tens of thousands of people in New Orleans were stranded in stadiums and on highway overpasses in 90-degree heat without food or water. Babies, the elderly, and people in wheelchairs died for lack of a response from the world's most powerful and wealthy nation. Thousands more are dead.
This was abdication by the president, the Homeland Security Department and FEMA of their responsibilities and duties to our people.
This was negligence. It was dereliction of duty. It could've been avoided in the first place, but the Bush Administration cut millions of dollars from maintenance of the very levees that broke on Monday morning, flooding the city of New Orleans and killing thousands of our fellow citizens who were unable to leave.
It is unacceptable that the president waited a full week after the Louisiana governor's request for help before starting to bring the full force of the federal government to save thousands of our people.
It's time for America to open our hearts and help the survivors in any way we can. It's also time for hard questions and accountability all the way up the chain of command, and the buck stops in the White House. Then-Congressman Harry Truman rode herd to investigate shoddy defense contractors during World War II, so there's no excuse to postpone a full-blown inquiry to the "sweet bye and bye."
It's time for Congress to immediately investigate this life-and-death scandal, and not cease until heads roll, resignations are tendered, and those responsible for this fatal negligence are removed from office, up to and including President Bush if necessary.
Thank you for your representation and service.
My letter to the editor varied from the one I sent to my representatives, and it ended with this:
This week I thought of the words of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25:
"'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'"
< Another Suggestion by reader Ohio >
You all might also want to read wild salmon's diary at
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/4/223320/6973
For contact info after reading both diaries go to
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media