Traveling Beans

See George Run...

I though that this might be a year that I could give thinking about American politics a rest. Well...that was a foolish thought. Especially because the British love to bash their politicians. The recent disaster in New Orleans has made it open season on the American government here in Britain...and for good reason. Traditionally the British stick to just bashing their politicians, but when word came that four days after Katrina hit New Orleans, Bush was still chilling in his ranch on a summer break (not to mention that since he's been in office he's been on vacation for just under a year), the British media went crazy on Bush, Rice, Cheney, and the whole gang.

New Orleans has truly been an embarrassment to our nation. But for what it's worth, it has exposed a number of things. One, it's exposed the huge inequality between the rich and the poor in the worlds most powerful and richest nation. While all the rich people got the hell out of New Orleans (with all their valuables, no doubt) the poor were left to drown, starve, bake, and perish. When help didn't come, they turned to looting. I don't think anyone will say that killing people and stealing is justifiable, but in all reality, what else could we have expected? New Orleans is one of the poorest (and roughest) cities to begin with. What else could have been the outcome of four days of neglect?

Thousands of women, children, and elderly (mostly poor black and poor white) were dying in New Orleans and Bush did nothing to show that he was in the least bit concerned. It was mostly his fault that the emergency services were so late or so ill prepared for this disaster (Half of the Louisiana National Guard is "helping out" in Iraq and much of their equipment is out there as well). Then he thinks that by flying over the disaster area and kissing a few teenage girls.....things will, perhaps with his divine powers, be all better.

Yet today, as the New York Times reports the death of Supreme Court Judge William Rehnquist, Bush moves the fastest he has ever (even faster than he did when he heard about the attacks on September 11th) to find a replacement. The headline litteraly changed as I was writing this entry. Thank you for your swift action Mr. President, we now see exactly where your priorities are. God Bless you and your buddies...and no one else.

posted by Radio Ríos @ 8:51 PM