Courage & Cowardice

A member of the New Orleans police department reported on CNN that one of the problems they encountered during the Hurricane Katrina rescue was the "cowardly men" who rushed the rescue vehicles. Apparently, they never heard of the "women and children" first rule of rescue and had to be forceably removed from the vehicles. The cameras also captured two men who refused to be evacuated because the National Guard didn't show them any "hospitality".

The media captures the best and the worst of humanity in times of crisis. But always remember, somebody is making a decision about what goes on the air.

White Opportunism : Black Looting

It's very telling that our state and federal beurocrats wasted no time in giving a stern warning to looters in New Orleans that they would be met with a "zero tolerance" (i.e. intolerance), "shoot-to-kill" policy. While poor people are starving and dying of thirst and diabetic shock and disentary and other entirely preventable maladies, the governments earliest priorities were to meet black faces stealing tennis-shoes and televisions with excessive force.

You see, when you're poor & black, it isn't taking advantage of an opportunity to enhance your chances of survival, but looting that will not be tolerated by the powers that be - even when they should be concentrating on much more important things, like making sure hundreds of thousands of Americans don't succumb to the ravages of a natural disaster. Here's a practical solution: if you're carrying anything that you don't need for survival, like water or formula or diapers or food or medicine, then you don't get help. Ten boxes of Nikes are surely an economic and social boon to some poor, black, urban male, but you can't eat shoes no matter how cool they look. Now, if you're stupid enough to shoot at people who are trying to rescue you, then you deserve to be shot.

At the same time, when rich white businessmen gouge consumers at the gas pumps and take obscene profits from the war in Iraq with no-bid contracts, that's NOT looting. Somehow that's ok. Those people don't get an M-16 pointed at their heads for stealing from the federal treasury and from the American taxpayers. Instead they're celebrated as clever opportunists by right-wing conservatives (i.e. fascists). I'm sure those people are already positining themselves to re-build New Orleans and parts of Missisippi and Alabama. I bet the back-room handshakes have already left their palms sweaty. I know, we can get Dick Cheney to give the New Orleans re-construction contracts to Kellogg, Brown & Root and Haliburton and/or their less publicized subsidiaries - they've been having a helluva time in Iraq and would much rather deal with poor blacks instead of poor Iraqis.

I believe this administration and their corporate comrades in the private sector are guilty of the worst looting in the history of our country (and the federal deficit will bore that out when all is said and done), yet nobody is threatening these unapologetic theives with extreme force - even in the voting booths. Too bad. Oh, and remember, this is the same administratioin who ignored the looting of Baghdad.

•••

It will be a mistake for the Katrina victims to turn the slow response to this crisis into a black/white, racial thing - even though there's still undoubtedly unspoken forces working against black America when it comes to white empathy. But I think it's really about class. Those with the means and the sense to leave, were never in any danger. Those without? Well, right-wing conservatives are true social Darwinists who don't feel any guilt in saying "fuck 'em" - as long as it's not on the record in print, radio or television.

As soon as the Fed had boots on the ground yesterday, the top priority seemed to be positive photo-ops to counter the negative publiciity about the slow response to the human crisis. It started with President Bush, who coddled two black women in his arms and kissed them on their heads. Then the generals got into the game today, kissing black babies and and making damn sure they got videotaped barking orders, getting shit done. Well, they were definitely losing in the PR game with this crisis - they had to do something.

I think it's probably true that the magnitude of this crisis played a large part in the slow response. Add to that the poor communication between local, state and federal authorities and you've got a real, dangerous mess on your hands. But it I think it really opened peoples eyes to the fraility of our nation and our susceptibility to natural and man-made disasters - regardless of how deluded we are about American superiority.

Battle of Orleans

I used to shake my head in disgust and dismay while watching on CNN the senseless violence that occurs in Africa and Haiti and other third world countries and wonder, " What's wrong with these people? Who's in charge over there? Why isn't anybody helping the civilians? How can this be happening?" I never thought I'd be asking the same questions about New Orleans, U.S.A.

There's no better example of the complete disconnect between the needs of the America people and the response of the Federal and State governments.


In the words of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who completely lost it in a radio interview, "....I am pissed!" He said nobody's talking about it, but drug addicts are roaming the streets, armed to the teeth, looking for something to take the edge off of their jones. And they don't have the manpower to deal with it. "Someone needs to get their ass on a plane and figure this shit out RIGHT NOW," he said, referring to the Governor and The President just before breaking down into frustrated sobs.

Scary.

CNN keeps reporting that the people need food, water and police and military security. The National Guard officials keep saying they're doing everything they can, and that more and more guards are being deployed to help. However, I will say this about the media coverage, I don't think I've seen one picture on CNN of military troops being deployed to the area, though they claim there's thousands. CNN has been there for three days and they've only shown FEMA employees, who are basically just collecting bodies at this point. Is the breakdown in emergency response or CNN's coverage?

The New Orleans police department is holed up in their precinct and have snipers on the roof, protecting their own while simultaneously watching the city burn.

Where the fuck is the military? Oh yeah, they're "protecting our freedom" in Iraq. Well, damn good thing we have The Department of Homeland Security to make sure we're all safe. Thank God for that.

Unreal. Strange how this happens when most of the media images show black faces as the ones pleading for help as well as the ones looting and shooting. Would there be a lack of response if this happened in western Florida? Is it possible there's a subtext of racism? I'd really hate to believe that.

Mo'town now Po'town

I'm probably not the first to suggest that Detroit adopt the updated nickname "Po'town" after todays report of U.S. census data that puts Detroit in the pole position for poverty-stricken metropolis'. Apparently, a third of Detroit residents live in poverty. That info coupled with the planned cutbacks in the police officers and precincts should put D-town back on top for homocides by year's end, eh?

How to end the war

I think the best way to end the war, without the relative advantage of showing it's pornographic violence on t.v. every night like they did in the sixties and early seventies, is to insist on meticulous accounting for the cost of the war. The one thing American taxpayers hate as much as seeing their sons and daughters come home in shoe boxes, is getting ripped-off by the sheisters who've infiltrated their government by way of no-bid contracts achieved with the help of administration officials. Question their profit margins and you'll see things heat up.

I agree with Frank Rich....

...in his 8/28/05 editorial ...the Democratic party's credibility in America is OVER. And, until the last election, I was a Democrat. Now I'm a pissed-O-crat who celebrates every embarassment our current so-called "civil servants" suffer. Since Clinton, The Democrats have made it embarassingly obvious that most of them are little more than wanna-be Republicans who don't appear quite as ruthless.

The Profitibility of War

Anyone who is interested in understanding the motivation for seemingly pointless pre-emptive wars in the Middle East should absolutely watch Frontline's feature on the privatization of military functions in Iraq.


If you previously had illusions about nationalism, liberty, freedom or democracy, you should be cured of that by the time this documentary is all over.


Watch Frontline's "Private Warriors" online. If you'd like to get quickly to the root of the issue, I suggest you watch Chaptger Three first.

Capital Blasphemy: Maximum Wage

"Forbes reports that the combined compensation of the chief executives of America's 500 largest companies rose 54 percent last year..."

- while us working slobs continue to lose ground.

Here's a radical idea, and one that I'm sure has been quashed by politicians before: why not have a "maximum wage" (i.e. The maximum multiple you can earn, in wages and benefits, over and above the wage and benefits of the lowest paid worker in your company). Prove to all of us that a "a rising tide floats all boats" - like the Republicans used to argue during the "trickle down theory" debates of the 80's (what a crock of shit that turned out to be). A rising tide is only good for those who OWN the boats - the rest of us are still treading water or drowning.

Maximum wage: It's just, It's fair - which means it'll never happen.

National Transparency

Before I ever cracked the cover of his book, I came to the same conclusion that Robert Reich dd in 1992's "The Work of Nations". Nationalism in a "global economy" is meaningless, insofar as it relates to the aspirations and hopes of the citizenry who are contained within a country's borders. The major players in the U.S. Government, and their co-conspirators in business who write the laws and grab the multi-billon dollar defense and infrastructure contracts, are no more loyal to the label "American" than a free-agent in baseball is to the label "Tiger", "Yankee", "Brave" or "Patriot." The players go where the money is and only bring up such labels when it suits some local public relations interest. That's never been so evident as it has in the last ten years, when jobs have consistently gone to the cheapest international labor market.

In a global economy, flags have become as transparent and meaningless as brand labels. Anybody who waves a flag in your face in times of crisis is trying to sell you something. The poor sods who "buy it" are the same ones who end up doing the thankless, bloody work of war, or serve up their sons and daughters to some lofty, but ultimately illusory, ideal . I wish there were some greater meaning in the violent deaths of so many brave souls who are willing to kill or be killed to suit some government aim, that it couldn't all be reduced to economic positioning and pure, unadulterated greed. But in capitalism, the "winners" will keep trying to win AT ANY COST. They don't know how to do anything else. Their driven like machines to "win" - even if it means losing everything else of meaning. Nationalism and patriotism are only a means to an end.

It's all bullshit......and nobody cares.

Go ahead, get on that plane. I'm sure it's safe.

Northwest sounds pretty cocky about their ability to hurt the mechanics union with replacement workers. They've been planning a coup d'etat on the mechanics for over a year now, hiring on the side and training in Arizona on grounded aircraft. Let's see if their thrifty/shifty plan works and breaks the evil union or if NWA customers pay with their lives.

Too bad the unemployed union workers can't suckle the federal tit like NWA did after 9/11. No, no - we can't have the Fed HELPING actual Americans now. Only Corporate Ctizens get the Federal fruit.

Cowardly Congress Silent About Gas Gouge

I'd just like to say that, after hearing Lou Dobbs' report that oil companies are collecting record double-digit profits and their ceo's have received 100% + raises while we're paying record prices at the pump, that I'm one righteously pissed-off working class mother-f*cker.

To my representatives and Senators in Congress - YOUR FIRED!!!!!!! - for this and so many other offenses over the last four years You're a bunch of useless cowards and corporate sycophants who'd sell your mothers for another term in office. Close your doors and declare your job a wash.

9 Billion Reasons To Question Authority

That 9 Billion dollars has been unaccounted for by The Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq is reason enough to end the war. And the looting continues....

The problem with Congress......

The problem with The United States Congress is that average Americans don't have their own high-paid lobbyists to do their bidding. So here's what we should do: we'll send a representative from each "district" to represent the people who live in that district. We'll pay them well, give them great benefits and a great retirement plan,. If we're lucky they can influence legislation on the people's behalf - or if they're really good, maybe they can even write the bills themselves! What do you think? Great idea, eh?

Whaddaya mean it'll never work?!!!!!

; 0

Waking thoughts about Al Queda

I watched Frontline's January 2005 feature about Al Queda's presence in Europe last night and woke up with this thought in my head: •••••

To The Mothers of Misguided Martyrs

Like packs of rabid dogs infected by a maddening virus, your sons are too sick to see the lust within their own hearts; it's a lust for blood and redemption, a lust for power and a return to the Caliphate, but it is lust nonetheless. And though you love them mothers, fathers, daughters, brothers and sons of miguided martyrs all over the world, you must put them down before they destroy the innocent and God curses your family for their arrogant and prideful sin - to presume to know His will where it is not written.

•••••


Strange, I'm not even religious.

Plame Game A Crying Shame

That Judith Miller is going to jail for refusing to reveal a confidential source, a hilghly placed Bush regime source who probably committed a felony by leaking the name of Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA operative who happens to be married to a published critic of said administration's pre-war, African yellow-cake fiasco, is terribly ironic. It's Novak and Rove who should be wearing shackles for this travesty- but then, they're covered by the commandeer (sic) in chief.

Reporter Jailed After Refusing to Name Source - New York Times

The Court of Supremacy Has Spoken

The Supreme Court's recent decision, to allow the seizure of private property by local governments who can turn said private property over to a corporation under the guise of eminent domain for "the public good", is yet another sign that the constitution in this country is being interpreted by rascals of the highest order.

Book Tv: Parental Guidance Suggested

Am I delerious this morning, or is CSPAN actually trying to piss-off the FCC?

During a Book TV interview this morning with "Spank the Donkey" author, Matt Taibbi, I almost choked on my Fruit Loops - twice! Matt Taibbi said "Fuck" and his interviewer said "Pussy", and he didn't mean kitty-cat. It was something like, "But don't you feel like a pussy if you don't turn in a report every day? There's a certain bit of macho-ness that goes along with being a campaign reporter."

I wasn't offended, really, just surprised they cuss as much as I do.

Bush/Blair - Told Ya So!

As I implied in a previous post, I thought from the very beginning there was something fishy going on between Bush and Blair. Now we have The Downing Street Memo which, at least, hints they were on the same page about a year befor the Iraq war began.

I guess this is an "I told ya so" post.

; )

Wisdom from R. Crumb

I heard an interview with R. Crumb the other day on Fresh Air and he said, "...the American sub-conscious is a garbage-pail of media images." I'd only add that blogs are the new dump.