A day late and a dollar short

When I was younger, I recall my mom using this expression quite a bit to describe a late-comer to a trend, movie, news event, what have you. Most often, this phrase was used to describe me for a number of reasons that I won't get into here. So, I heard mom's voice last night when I went to the local video store to rent "Crash". After all the hype, rave reviews, countless interviews with Ryan Phillippe and Matt Dillon, etc. etc. I was finally going to see what the hell this movie was about. In many ways, I did feel like a late-comer to this Hollywood success.

Now, having watched the film, I have to wonder why this crap gets hyped at all. I have a friend that periodically swears off Hollywood films, then falls off the wagon and sees another, only to swear them off again. And so the cycle continues . . . I'm starting to wonder if I'm doing something similar. I had great hopes for this movie (ah, the power of reviews, thumbs, stars, and slick marketing) when we turned it on, but by the end I was so annoyed and angry I couldn't wait to press "stop" on the DVD player. The first thing J said: "how contrived." How contrived, indeed. I'm sorry, but if you are going to have all these characters intertwine, leave it to someone like Altman (or, pick your favorite director) who can weave a story with multiple characters, and with greater skill and subtlety. Maybe subtlety is the key here.

The problem, in my opinion, about discussions of race is the lack of a unifying factor/analysis that can explain the internal contradictions of race/racism in the US. I don't think Crash did anything to help untangle this for viewers. In the end, you are left with these people whose lives have all been connected somehow via "race" or a "racial" incident, but you never know how internalized racism occurs or how prejudice between groups of color get maintained or exacerbated, etc. Matt Dillon's character maybe comes closest to problems around "race"--working-class white guy, from working-class family, disempowered in a class system, ends up using only privileges he has left: whiteness and maleness. The LA riots exemplified the kind of prejudices groups of color feel towards one another--the "looting" of Korean businesses acutely described the disempowerment in a capitalist system many folks of color feel when jobs and resources are scarce. But, unfortunately, the only thing that came out of the riots was the infamous phrase: Can't we all get along? LA and the rest of the country have learned very little.

These are very rough, initial thoughts on the film. I'm sure I'll return to these later to figure out what I want to say. Suffice it to say, though, that when we talk about "race" as if divorced from the political economy, or only look at social issues via the lens of "race," again devoid of any political context, I fear we won't get to the core of racial divisions and antagonisms.

I'm thinking of Katrina now . . . for an interesting perspective on how to view the fall-out in the Gulf Region check out Adolph's Reed piece in The Nation titled: "Class-ifying the Hurricane"
www.thenation.com/doc/20051003/reed I also think this article gets to the heart of my uneasiness with Crash.

Essentially, Reed contends that "class" rather than "race" will be the better predictor of why so many people were left behind in the Superdome or Civic center. He argues that "race" as a category for analysis is often vague and doesn't lend itself to accurately describing the "bipartisan" neoliberal ideology that continues to disempower the poorest of the poor--both locally and globally. This neoliberal ideology couldn't have been more present/visible as when Bush told the US that he was going to tap "private" resources to rebuild the Gulf Region. Happy days for Kellog, Brown, and Root. For more on the rebuilding process: www.mondediplo.com/2005/10/02/katrina

I also agree with Reed when he says that looking solely at "race" (and most media accounts talked only in terms of race) without a class analysis (and this by no means makes race nor gender a sub or competing category) ends up with the call for more representation from people of color on local planning boards, housing committees, etc. What does this accomplish? According to Reed, and I'm inclined to agree, those chosen to participate in these discussions tend to be drawn from the bourgeoisie of the Black or Latino communities--who also participate in the erasure of the poor.

Ok, time to abruptly switch topics. I decided to postpone Oscar's vet visit for a week or two to see if his acne will clear up. We removed the pink plastic bowl, so we are hoping to see some clearing up in the future. Oscar also has a real desire for plastic bags. He loves to chew on them, play with them, etc. Now, we don't like him to do this (I, for one, fear suffocation) but if we leave a plastic bag around, he tends to get into it. I'm thinking his fondess for plastic (bowls and bags) is leading to the slow death of his beauty. More on this later . . .

Today is gourmet Friday where J and I try to drum up something other than our usual, boring, recipes that we have been eating together for years. Any recipe suggestions would be most welcome!

Happy Friday!

Zits

I truly hate the word "zit". Having been plagued myself as a young teenager with a bad bout of acne, I cringe at the mere sighting of a potential outbreak. But, this blog has nothing to do about me or my acne. Instead the subject of today's commentary concerns our dear cat, Oscar Beauregard, who at the young age of 2 1/2 appears to have developed an unsightly blemish on his chin! At first, I scoffed at J's concern and thought it was only a scab from a fight with Mitts Millhone. By the third day, I was leaning towards tick . . .but then part of this black matter began to flake off--making me convinced that it was indeed a scab. This morning, however, it appeared to be a bit larger in scope. J has been searching the web for feline skin problems, and that's how we discovered a picture of a cat with a similar black splotch on the chin. According to the pic, this was a classic case of cat acne, beginning with an unsightly blackhead, that could eventually spread all over the chin. Oh no! We have made an appointment (as each and every website has encouraged us to contact a vet upon initial sighting of acne to make sure it isn't something more serious etc) for Friday, so I'll post an update then. Meanwhile, has anyone else ever heard of cat's getting acne outbreaks? Plastic bowls, stress, and food allergies can be among the possible culprits. Oscar has always fancied his "pink" plastic bowl, so we have removed that, and we are ordering some Innova--food that all three cats appeared to prefer before we moved and couldn't find it anymore. Thank god for online shopping. Could he be stressed? I think he took the move the hardest. Victoria Alexis once suffered from "non-specific" stress when I moved, making it all the more likely that Oscar has been upset with the relocation.

On another level I'm worried because Oscar began his life in frail health: originally diagnosed with leukemia, we had to keep him locked up in a room, away from the other cats, for two months before re-testing him. He was cleared of the virus, given his shots, and appeared to be doing fine . . .until the zit appeared. Well, I have to believe that he was/is indeed free of the virus and this blemish has nothing to do with his previous health issues! I now see why the two of us should never have children. Too much stress! I'll probably get some kind of sympathy outbreak on my own chin!

On to a new topic: The Money Pit. Yes, just like he 1980s film starring Tom Hanks, J and I appear to be living our own 2005 version. Having made a mere two payments on this fine investment we now call "home," I'm starting to hear the slow "sucking" sound . . . we now have a gaping hole in our dining room ceiling resulting from a leak in the upstairs bathroom. Anyone that has ever dealt with plumbers, knows that we are in for some expensive reparis. Our leak couldn't just be a broken seal or busted pipe . . .no, ours is a bit more complicated. It appears that the shower is leaking behind the ceramic tile and has probably been doing this for over a year! Wow. At least this explains why the house has smelled so bad . . .

This and That

Went to see The Constant Gardener last night ! Wow. It was directed by Fernando Meirelles, who also directed, City of God. Aside from the subject matter of big pharma implementing unethical drug trials/experiments in Africa, the films was technically beautiful. I love the way this guy shoots a film . . . the frenetic camera work, grainy pictures, etc all lend themselves to beautiful scenes that make the viewer feel more than just a voyeur . . . but it was probably the subject matter that is most disturbing. I know drug companies/science/medicine conducts tests on the poor--we only have to revisit Tuskegee--but what gnaws at me is how we view people in the mal-developed world as expendable, as throw-aways, as cast-offs. I recently read somewhere (the latest issue of *the economist* I believe) about the amount of deaths from 9/11. The journalist pointed out that one country in Africa experienced 2 9/11's a day for a year--as a result of AIDS and other related infections. I don't have the article in front of me, but I'm believe I'm recalling these figures correctly. An entire continent is being wiped out and their bodies are being used as tests sites for "modernization" and "development".

In other news, has anyone heard about the anti-Asian incident that just happened at the University of Michigan? An Asian couple was harrassed and URINATED on by two males who hurled all sorts of racial insults at them . . .unbelievable. An open letter has been submitted protesting this kind of behavior . . . but the fact shit likes this still happens on an ongoing, everyday basis pisses me off.

Miscellaneous

i saw a commercial for wal-mart last night that featured a number of workers and managers urging consumers to donate to the red cross for katrina relief. this wouldn't be so noteworthy had wal-mart along with mcdonald's and ups not stopped paying their workers in the gulf region a mere four days AFTER the storm hit. of course, papers only paid brief attention to wal-mart's abandonment of employees, so people viewing the commercial probably see this as an altruistic move on the company's part. although, wal-mart and altruism really don't seem to go together.

i've been meaning to blog about this cool food/travel show i've been watching lately: *no reservations* with anthony bourdain. some friends of mine have read his books, but this is my first econounter with bourdain and i am absolutely loving it. this guy is nuts! i love the idea of mixing food and travel together in one show--it's a good combination. and the food? wow. there were some episodes featuring vietnam and malaysia that were fantastic. seriously, check it out on the travel channel.

ok, gonna watch the us open women's final. go clijsters!

Relief organizations information

As the govenrment prepares to send a whopping $2000 to those impacted by Katrina, I thought I'd pass along the links to some very useful websites if anyone is interested in donating money to help in the efforts:

www.sparkplugfoundation.org/katrinarelief.html

(directory of organizations that focus on the (rural) poor and people of color)

www.tidesfoundation.org_0905.cfm


As 25,000 body bags make there way to New Orleans, I wonder what Barbara Bush would say? Would she figure the lives of the destitute are better off dead? Probably.
See http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/national/nationalspecial/07barbara.html?ex=1126929600&en=1a350dcefa6bb00d&ei=5070&emc=eta1

More later . . .

enter Halliburton . . .

The Navy has turned to Halliburton to help rebuild in the aftermath of Katrina. Under a 2004 agreement, KBR (the same one that has behaved rather badly in Iraq), a subsidiary of Halliburton Co., is required to provide services to the Navy and other military installations after a natural disaster. Gee, the war-hurricane connections keep growing, eh? And so does Cheney's wallet. Check out:
www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/politics/04halliburton.html

Anne Rice has an editorial about New Orleans:
www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/opinion/04rice.html

In other celebrity news, Celine Dion definitely went "off script" on Larry King this evening. I've never been a fan of hers either--and I doubt I'll run to Vegas to see her show--but the "diva" made some good points about the U.S. being able to deploy helicopters and tanks to destroy a country in no time--but can't seem to get it together to send food and water to people stranded in a flood. And, mad props for her commentary about "looters". I know there are tons of people making similar observations, but sometimes I think it takes these mainstream powerful celebrities to say these kinds of things on live tv. Good to see CNN stay on air while she made her anti-war critique.

"george bush doesn't care about black people" or why kanye west rocks

did you see him last night? did you see mike myers squirm and look a fool when kanye "went off script" during the hurricane relief concert to deliver an honest and needed criticism of the slow us response to the people in new orleans? although nervous and a little disjointed, his message kicked ass. of course, nbc has issued a formal apology for west's "rant", but c'mon people. the telethon was so overly scripted and dull, west's comments were a welcome relief. particularly on a day when i heard these stories:

1. a woman that had just arrived in baltimore, told a cnn correspondent that a huge convoy of buses arrived to the ritz carlton on thursday evening to rescue 300 people. she was so thankful to the doctors (stranded along with her at the ritz) who "commandeered" a walgreens to get antibiotics to everyone before they ventured out into the sewage infested flood waters. i like the way she used "commandeered"--sure beats "looting". i'm happy for anyone that gets out of the mess, but i was fascinated how buses could get to the ritz on thrusday evening for 300 people, while thousands were left in the convention center and stadium.

2. just found out that charity hospital, a public hospital in new orleans serving mostly indigent patients, was finally evacuated late last night. funny, how non-essential staff at Tulane was helicoptered out of the area days before . . . while over 200 patients at charity (and medical personnel) were left to wait around with corpses in stairwells because the morgue was flooded.

3. looks like 2000 or more people are going to have to wait until tomorrow (sunday) to get out of the superdome. reasons for the delay (!) are still unknown.

4. projected death toll in lousiana: over 10,000

so back to kanye. i have to admit, he hasn't been one of my favorite hip hop artists . . .though i have grown to enjoy college drop-out more and more. i'm going to support late registration--not because the critics say it's a five star album, but because this guy has the sense to use his power as a celebrity during a live telethon and tell it like it is. we need more people to "go off script" . . .

FOUR DAYS?

As you can tell from my previous post, I am totally pissed off by the lack of federal government response to the crisis in the Gulf area. I have watched, much to my dismay, this president use his "trip" to the area today for more opportunistic photo ops with people in AL and MS. I *think* he might be in LA right now, but I bet he only does an aerial tour of New Orleans. For once, the servile media, has begun to criticize this president and his misguided policies regarding the environment, domestic spending, and disgusting war-waging abroad. There have been some great editorials in the NY TIMES about this being a "Can't do government" that likes to wage- war, slash environmental polices, but not spend any kind of money on preventative measures that might (just might) have averted this massive crisis. The most devstasting images I've seen have been the dead bodies outside the convention center (supposedly 1000 National Guard troops have been marching into the center earlier this afternoon, but the dead bodies continue to decay in 95 degree weather). People are apologizing for looting a rite-aid because they need diapers, band-aids, and other necessities that have been promised to them for days--but have never ever materialized. Bush condemns "lawlessness" and says there has to be a 100% crack-down on looters. This administration we are living under (or should I say suffering under) is lawless. And, I know I'm not saying anything new here, but when the majority of people who are gonna fucking die as a result of the US government's negligence (and it is criminal) are mostly poor and black--don't tell me race and class don't matter in this country. This hurricane was not a tornado that appeared on the horizon without warning. I am disgusted.

Meanwhile, in between all the horrible images on tv, reporters keep reassuring everyone that the oil pipelines will be ok. The market is going to be ok. Gas prices are going up, but the market will stabilize so everyone can have a nice Labor Day holiday.

Oh, and the hearings for John Roberts are still on schedule for next week. What a break for Bush and Co. The population can be distracted with New Orleans, while Roberts and his despicable record can move right on through . . .and we all know he'll be appointed. We all know this hearing process is a sham. Just when the plight of poor blacks actually makes the news--we can look forward to a future Supreme Court justice who didn't really believe in civil rights "issues" during the Regan administration or wage gap issues for women . . .what perfect timing.

As for Iraq: Well over 100,000 civilians are dead and close to 2,000 soldiers. On August 31st, Bush gave another press conference (I'm with the New Orleans Mayor who said we needed to put a moratorium on press conferences) to say we were in Iraq (gasp!!) to protect the "vast oilfields" from falling into the terrorists hands. Oh my god. This IS NOT a legitimate presidency.

And, what's gonna happen to dear Pat Roberts? That story seems to have faded from the news. Here we have a person in power (at least in major religious circles) calling for the assassination of Hugo Chavez. Wow. And, incredibly, he said we didn't need to have a "war" to accomplish this (that would be too expensive), but we could just use our "operatives" and the "oil" would be safe. In an apology this week, Roberts wanted to clarify that he never said "assassinate"-- rather, "take out" Chavez which in Roberts feeble, evil mind could also mean "kidnap".
I can't fathom how many international laws have been broken with these comments . . .but I know nothing will happen and the 700 Club will continue to broadcast to the flock of faithful.

Ok, I'm gonna go now. I'm too mad to type anymore.

Statement on Katrina by the International Action Center

This was forwarded to me by a friend. I couldn't find the link to the piece, so have pasted the article in its entirety. AEL


The Hurricane and Bush’s Criminal Negligence:Bush Slashed Flood Protection * Bush sent emergency personnel and equipment to Iraq* Bush’s role in global warming * Oil Profiteering * Bush failed to develop an evacuation plan * No emergency relief program, even now

Statement from the International Action Center
With every hour that passes, we see and hear new stories of the horror and devastation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. What makes these images more shocking is the realization that much of the death and destruction could have been prevented.Almost all of the death and destruction arising from the hurricane is the direct result of criminal neglect by the Bush Administration. This crisis was predicted in numerous reports and news articles and little, if anything, was done.While natural disasters are beyond our control, the preparation for expected and predicted disasters is something that we can control. Natural disasters do not have to be catastrophes if plans are made in advance to protect people and their homes, but these plans were not made.President Bush has diverted funds that were needed to prepare for this type of natural disaster to fund a war of conquest in Iraq. He did this despite being warned of the potential for danger by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) as early as 2001. The Houston Chronicle reported on Dec. 1, 2001: “New Orleans is sinking. And its main buffer from a hurricane, the protective Mississippi River delta, is quickly eroding away, leaving the historic city perilously close to disaster. ...So vulnerable, in fact, that earlier this year the Federal Emergency Management Agency ranked the potential damage to New Orleans as among the three likeliest, most catastrophic disasters facing this country.” The Bush Administration knew of the danger and they knew how to prepare for it. But they chose to do little or nothing – they actually slashed funding for preventative and emergency measures, leaving the people of the region helpless to deal with the inevitable disaster. Now, with the destruction of New Orleans and numerous surrounding communities, tens of thousands of people are without food, water, or electricity. Thousands of homes are destroyed and the death toll continues to climb. This is a disaster of unprecedented proportion. It is poor and working people, particularly people of color, who are suffering the most from this disaster.No preparationIt was clear from watching the disaster unfold that no real plans had been made for evacuating the region, even though everyone, including Federal authorities and meteorologists, knew that a hurricane of enormous magnitude was descending on the area.For the elderly, the handicapped, the poor, there was no provision for evacuation or shelter. It was “everyone for themselves,” and those who didn’t have the ability to flee or the means to finance their own evacuation were left to perish. There were no arrangements for more than 100,000 people in New Orleans - 20 % of the population and overwhelmingly the poorest part of the population. Those with out cars, credit cards, and hotel reservations had few alternatives but to stay home and face the coming deluge. The death toll continues to mount, and it becomes more and more apparent how little the government is concerned for human life, particularly the lives of poor and working people.There were many obvious things that could have and should have been done if the government were concerned about the lives of the people. Trains, airlines, buses, and other transportation could have been put to use evacuating people. Convention centers, hotels, and college dormitories throughout the region could have been used for shelter. The government uses eminent domain to take working people’s property for the benefit of corporate developers; this would have been an excellent opportunity to use eminent domain in a way that actually benefits people. Because there was no plan for evacuation, more than 20,000 people were herded into the Superdome without adequate food, shelter, water, or medical care for days. The New York Times said, “By Wednesday, the stench was staggering. Heaps of rotting garbage in bulging white plastic bags baked under a blazing Louisiana sun on the main entry plaza, choking new arrivals as they made their way into the stadium after being plucked off rooftops and balconies. The odor billowing from toilets was even fouler. Trash spilled across corridors and aisles, slippery with smelly mud and scraps of food.”Videos of the situation (see below) show just how desperate the situation is—people are without food, water, and medicine. Bodies are piling up on the streets. The people have been absolutely abandoned by the government.Only massive immediate Federal intervention can relieve the situation. The government has access to stockpiles of food and medicines and it has cargo planes and helicopters to deliver them. Yet the Administration has chosen not to act while people are dying.Slashing emergency preparations to fund war and tax cuts for the wealthyKnowing that a hurricane of this strength was eventually inevitable, the Bush Administration slashed the budget of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the area by $71.2 million. This cut eliminated hurricane and flood protection projects as well as a study to determine ways to protect the region from a Category 5 hurricane. This cut was part of the Bush policy of slashing essential programs to pay for a tax cut for the wealthy and for the occupation of Iraq. Comparing the cuts of more than $71 million for flood protection to the $1.7 billion taken from the people of Louisiana for the war in Iraq. This is one more example of how the Bush policy of endless war endangers the population here.The Aug. 30 Editor and Publisher revealed that $250 million in crucial projects planned by the Army Corps of Engineers in the delta for shoring up levees and building pumping stations could not be carried out. “The Corps never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security—coming at the same time as federal tax cuts—was the reason for the strain.“The 2004 hurricane season was the worst in decades. In spite of that, the federal government came back this spring with the steepest reduction in hurricane and flood-control funding for New Orleans in history.”Emergency Specialists and Equipment sent to IraqThe National Guard, who would normally be deployed to aid in evacuation and disaster relief, is unable to respond adequately because 40% of the Mississippi National Guard 35% of the Louisiana National Guard is in Iraq. So is much of their equipment, including dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers and generators that are essential to dealing with this type of emergency.According to the Washington Post, "With thousands of their citizen-soldiers away fighting in Iraq, states hit hard by Hurricane Katrina scrambled to muster forces for rescue and security missions yesterday -- calling up Army bands and water-purification teams, among other units, and requesting help from distant states and the active-duty military."Many of the members of the National Guard are also emergency medical technicians and firefighters. They should be at home helping their neighbors recover from this disaster, not in Iraq maintaining an illegal occupation.Contempt for Environment exacerbates disasterThe flooding is exacerbated by the elimination of wetlands, which provide a natural buffer. The Bush Administration has removed Federal protection from as much as 20 million acres of wetlands. The Bush Administration has demonstrated utter disregard for human life and contempt for international law by refusing to abide by the 1997 Kyoto accord, a treaty signed by the United States and 54 other nations. The agreement is designed to limit emissions that cause global warming.Sir David King, the British Government's chief scientific adviser, says that global warming may be responsible for the devastation reaped by Hurricane Katrina. "The increased intensity of hurricanes is associated with global warming. We have known since 1987 the intensity of hurricanes is related to surface sea temperature and we know that, over the last 15 to 20 years, surface sea temperatures in these regions have increased by half a degree centigrade. So it is easy to conclude that the increased intensity of hurricanes is associated with global warming." Loss of life is avoidable – Cuba a U.N. model The massive loss of life in Louisiana and Mississippi was avoidable, if those making decisions were interested in funding emergency measures rather than spending money on war and occupation. Cuba lies directly in the path of many hurricanes, and yet the loss of life is usually minimal, because the government has systems in place to aid orderly evacuations, provide emergency shelter, and look after the elderly, the handicapped, and the poor. In 2001, when Hurricane Michelle, a level-4 storm, hit with sustained 125-mile-per-hour winds and widespread floods, more than 700,000 people were evacuated. Only five Cubans lost their lives in the storm. In September 2004, Cuba endured Ivan, the fifth-largest hurricane ever to hit the Caribbean, with sustained winds of 124 miles per hour. Cuba evacuated almost 2 million people--more than 15 percent of the total population. One hundred thousand people were evacuated within the first three hours. An incredible 78 percent of those evacuated were welcomed into other people's homes. Children at boarding schools were moved. Animals and birds were moved. No one was killed. The UN declared this to be a model of disaster preparation.Cuba, a country blockaded and isolated by the U.S. for 45 years has been able to evacuate millions of people in an orderly fashion without loss of life. Natural disasters do not have to be catastrophes.Oil profiteeringBeyond the horrific loss of life and homes in the region, working people everywhere will suffer as the pay more than $3.00 per gallon for gas, as oil companies rake in record profits. In some places, gas has reached as much as $5.00 per gallon.Releasing oil from the Strategic Oil Reserves could easily offset the loss of oil refineries in the region. Nearly 700 million barrels of oil are stored in underground salt caverns along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. This reserve was established to cushion oil markets during energy disruptions or other emergencies, and sitting on the oil rather than releasing it only keeps the price of gas high and ensures greater profits for the oil companies.While George W. Bush and his friends at the Big Oil companies are growing rich from escalating oil prices, while working people, who are already suffering from the economic policies of the Bush Administration, are having to spend more of their shrinking paychecks to pay for gas to get to work and school.Venezuela offers to help while Washington refuses to actPresident Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has demonstrated more concern for working and poor people in the U.S. than George Bush has. Chavez has announced that Venezuela will be offering poor people discounted gas through its Citgo chain. He has also offered to send more than $1 million in oil, food, and and equipment to the region. In addition, the Venezuelan government is offering two mobile hospital units, each capable of assisting 150 people, 120 specialists in rescue operations, 10 water purifying plants, 18 electricity generators of 850 KW each, 20 tons of bottled water, and 50 tons of canned food.A senior U.S. State Department official said he was not aware of the Venezuelan offer, and then dismissed it as "counterproductive."The real looting: Bush Administration steals from working people to fund war and corporate greedRather than focusing on criminal neglect by the Federal and State governments, the corporate media is reporting that the real danger is looting. In an attempt to shift blame from the policies of the Bush Administration, the news networks are demonizing the victims. In a blatant appeal to racism, those being portrayed as “looters” on the news are without exception black males. Tens of thousands of poor people have been stranded by a policy of neglect. Many are without food, fresh water, baby formula, and medicine, and the government has refused to provide even basic relief.The real looters are not the hungry people taking what they need from an abandoned corporate superstore. The real crime is that they were left in this situation by a government that puts war and corporate profits ahead of human needs. The Bush regime has looted billions of dollars of the people’s money, slashing programs that provide basic necessities and robbing from agencies that are tasked with preparing for natural disasters in order to fund a war of conquest against the people of Iraq. There are dangerous looters, but they are Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld, not the poor people of New Orleans trying to feed their families. It is clear that the Bush Administration is increasingly putting the entire population of the country in growing danger by relentlessly slashing every social program, infrastructure maintenance program, and environmental protection program.Money for Human Needs not War!It is the Bush Administration, and the Big Corporations it serves, who are directly responsible for the disaster, and they, not the working people of the region, should be responsible for rebuilding and providing relief.In a speech on Wednesday, President Bush said, “our hearts and prayers are with our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast who have suffered so much from Hurricane Katrina.” But the people of the region need food, clothing, shelter, and jobs, not hearts and prayers. He grinned as he said, “recovery will take years,” but offered no plan to assist in that rebuilding. The people of the area need, and are entitled to, more than empty rhetoric and vacant smiles. The crisis demands a massive national mobilization to meet emerrgency needs and facilitate rebuilding efforts. The disaster is beyond the scope of local authorities or private charities to handle; the Federal government must devote its ample resources, which are now being used to wage war, to provide immediate and long-term relief.We call on the Bush Administration to:* Stop funding war and occupation. Use the money instead to fund emergency relief and rebuilding.* Erase the debts incurred by working people who had to pay for gas and emergency shelter because of the government’s refusal to plan for evacuation.* Provide emergency unemployment relief to the tens of thousands who have lost their jobs because of the devastation.* Immediately exercise eminent domain to use all available space to provide emergency and long-term shelter to those left homeless.* Provide a massive jobs program at union wages for rebuilding. Millions of unemployed workers could be hired to help construct housing, schools, and other public facilities.* Food, water, clothing, medical supplies, and other necessities should be immediately commandeered for the emergency from agribusiness, supermarket chains, and pharmaceutical companies. Government food storage supplies in warehouses throughout the country should be made available immediately.Watch "Desperate Struggle" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9156612 click on “Launch” under Free Video

sheltered lives or just plain dumb?

I was browsing in our local wine store yesterday when another customer walked in and asked the owner for Merlot recommendations. After he (owner) lists off a few decent, affordable bottles, the customer makes her selections and proceeds to check-out. As she is about to leave the store, she pauses and asks the owner (apparently she detected his accent) where he is from. He replies: "South Africa." As I'm waiting for her to LEAVE so I can pay for my wine and get on with my cocktail hour, she backs up, lays her keys down on the counter, and says: "Seriously? How long have you been here?" He looks amused and asks: "Why?" More silence (meanwhile, I'm just standing there witnessing this bizarre exchange) on her end as she stares incredulously at this guy. Finally, she makes a move to leave, but not before uttering this gem: "South Africa, huh? And you are white!! Wow." He begins laughing (I'm not sure he could do much else at this point) and says "Yes, white people live in S. Africa you know. We had this little system called apartheid for many, many years." She grabs her keys, all the while shaking her head in disbelief, and says: "whatever man, have a good one!" Still seeming a bit stunned, he looks at me and mutters: "sheltered lives, sheltered lives."