Katrina and the right mindset (781 hits)
Category: NewsRating: 1.29 on 22 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by DJMattB241 (View user info) at 2005-09-08 11:03:54 EDT
Everyone in the USA has been affected by hurricane Katrina. If not directly, then definately by the rising cost of gas. With all this going on, I've seen a lot of responses to this tragedy. Some helpful, some not.
I've seen a whole lot of pointing fingers, blaming people for their slow reactions, etc. This is wholy justified, but it is not the time. There are people that definately could have reacted faster, could have prepared better, and could have prevented many thousands of deaths. But the thing we should be focusing on right now is getting the problem fixed. Once things are under control, we can do all the blaming and partisan crap. And just so you know, I'm keeping a mental list of people that I'm furious with, and the president is definately on that list. And I'm conservative.
But this is not the time. Right now we need solutions, not more problems. It looks to me, at this point, as if its up to us, the people, and amazingly, the media, to take care of this one. All the news programs I've been watching or overhearing have been VERY upset with the lack of response both from local and national government. They've been asking the tough questions, and not taking a line of political BS as an answer. The media finally woke up.
The first thing we need to look at is helping the affected people. Yes I know, some people didn't evacuate because they were stupid, or criminals, or both. But this doesn't detract from the point that a city needs to be rebuilt, lives need to be saved, and that area needs the entire nation's support.
But where to donate to? Well if you click here: http://www.charitywatch.org/hottopics/hurricane_katrina.html it shows you the top rated donation sites, based on how much of your donation actually goes to the affected people. Every little bit you can give helps. Personally, I'm giving 10% of my paycheck every week.
Along the same lines, some employers are offering people paid time off to go down to New Orleans to help the Red Cross or other organizations clean up the mess. If your employer offers this, PLEASE consider taking advantage of it.
What if you're seriously living paycheck to paycheck with barely enough money to get by in the first place? Well first of all, consider a new job. It can only help to keep your options open and your resume out there. You'd be surprised what you might qualify for. You can't complain about the quality of your life if you're not trying to improve it.
And finally, gas prices. This is the biggest complaint (obviously) that I've heard, and rightfully so. Last week I was paying 3.19 a gallon, and this week its dropped to 2.99. There are a few things you can do about rising gas prices. First of all, conserve gas. Go out less. I'm not saying don't leave your house, but at the same time, cut back a bit on your travelling. If everyone cuts back 10%, it will increase the supply of gas, and drop the prices. I've never been a fan of the "don't buy gas on x day" policy, because it seems to me that you're not cutting back on usage, you're just moving it to a different day.
On a similar note, if you're in a decent financial situation, you might consider selling your car, and buying one with a better fuel efficiency. If you click here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml it lists the most fuel efficient cars. Taking this time to do this not only helps you save money at the pump, but helps everyone else too. Cleaner environment, gas conservation, you name it.
It is said that in hell there is a huge feast, but no one at the table can eat, because the forks are too big to turn around and get into their own mouths. In heaven, there is still the huge feast, and the forks are still too big, but everyone is full, because they all feed each other.
Together we can turn this tragedy around, and remind the politicians that its not them that run the country, but us. Let's pick up what they dropped. Let's show them that the power truly is with the people.
User Reviews
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-09-08 18:09:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Read this:
http://www.counterpunch.org/bradshaw09062005.html
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-09-08 17:21:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-09-08 13:36:33 (#)
Ranking: 2
Seems to me like New Orleans solved their own problem by sending 200,000 of the poorest niggas around to cities across the USA.
ATTN DETROIT: Burn yourself to the ground and follow this plan to reduce crime 1000% by next year.
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you are a genius!
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2005-09-08 15:55:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
That's why I'm saying we need to worry about fixing the problems. Theres all these stories which may or may not be true and they'll all get sorted afterwards.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-09-08 14:42:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-09-08 13:36:33 (#)
Ranking: 2
And now I hear that FEMA (which is blamed for slow reaction times) actually coordinated the red-cross effort from the beginning and the city of New Orleans turned them away. They didnt' want the help to come in because then they couldn't get the people out.
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Stabby do you remember where you saw this? I have been hearing some outrageous claims about FEMA, but so far most of them appear to be BS.
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-09-08 14:24:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
BTW, I'm NOT selling my car unless you want to front me 19K for a Volkswagen Golf TDI.
(I have a Chevy Metro for daily driver.)
But that's a damn good idea for others here driving their 1977 Caddy's with 500CID engines.
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-09-08 13:38:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
whoops...10,000 people. They put many of them at Camp Custer if anyone is familiar with Michigan. Needless to stay these lives will be unproductive burdens on society for the next 2-3 years or however long they can squeeze free money out of people & the government.
Well, to put it in your local language: It would be like taking 10,000 blacks and put them in Gary Indiana. Out of the frying pan into the fire!
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2005-09-08 13:36:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hahah. Michigan is taking 500 people and putting them in battle creek...a city in the middle of nowhere. If someone wanted to make something of themselves locally, they're screwed. How the fuck are they going to get jobs? I hope they don't send any to Detroit for god's sake!
And now I hear that FEMA (which is blamed for slow reaction times) actually coordinated the red-cross effort from the beginning and the city of New Orleans turned them away. They didnt' want the help to come in because then they couldn't get the people out.
Seems to me like New Orleans solved their own problem by sending 200,000 of the poorest niggas around to cities across the USA.
ATTN DETROIT: Burn yourself to the ground and follow this plan to reduce crime 1000% by next year.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-09-08 12:16:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Even if you don't have money, you probably have a few extra blankets and clothes around that you could donate.
If no one showed up in Iowa, check Idaho for them. These are the same brilliant minds who shipped a bunch of evacuees to Charleston, WV instead of Charleston SC.
Submitted by TheSpook (user info) at 2005-09-08 12:07:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Way to recite what's already happening.
Thanks for the update.
Submitted by CrazyCanuck (user info) at 2005-09-08 12:06:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Iowa was going to take 5,000 refugees and only 24 or 32 showed up. I think thats a little inconsiderate of them.
They said they couldn't handle the cold so they went to Detroit. That sure will help out their crime problems now won't it?
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:41:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/cgi-bin/message_get.cgi?message=1126065372728521159#1578220
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:21:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:17:49 (#)
Ranking: 2
i get 12 mpg
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I get 23/33 and I use my car about twice a week for short distances and I still think it's too expensive. Change your car dude.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:17:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i get 12 mpg
Submitted by ParlorTrick (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:16:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I just heard that the federal government gave a NO BID contract to Haliburton to do the Katrina clean up!
WHAT?
A NO BID contract?
My tax dollars going to the company who is still in court trying to defend extreme cost overages associated with the no-bid contract they were given in Iraq?
The same company that our VP is still vested in?
How is this justified?
The Federal government should give the emergency dollars to the state and local governments who should hire local competitive contractors and keep the money and jobs where they are needed most.
Shameless.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:15:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
speaking of the media http://www.ubersite.com/m/74672
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:15:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:14:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I was curious to see New York absent from the list. Mostly because being a southerner in the Empire State is punishable by 250 hours of community service or a $7,000 fine.
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:11:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:08:17 (#)
Ranking: 2
this sounds like the left mindset to me.
You commie, making excuses for them they should have known better.
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Yeah... as Jon Stewart said last night, it's New Orleans' fault for existing.
Submitted by RamJetMax (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:10:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"On a similar note, if you're in a decent financial situation, you might consider selling your car, and buying one with a better fuel efficiency. If you click here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml it lists the most fuel efficient cars. Taking this time to do this not only helps you save money at the pump, but helps everyone else too. Cleaner environment, gas conservation, you name it."
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So, won't someone else still be driving the same car, using the same amount of gas? Seems like the only thing you would do here is add another car to the road and increase the overall use of gasoline. Correct me if I am wrong here.
Submitted by shark25 (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:10:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What the Logic?
Submitted by Merlina (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:09:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-09-08 11:08:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
this sounds like the left mindset to me.
You commie, making excuses for them they should have known better.