Politics over People
The political storm that is brewing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina has the opportunity to be harnessed for real change. Change that, while too late for the victims in the Gulf Coast, could help to save and strengthen the lives of all Americans.
This article is not meant to be just another volley in the predictable political match taking place between right and left. This is intended to be a constructive conversation about some glaring problems that everyone in this country should be concerned with. Poverty, race, security, emergency preparedness, and the concept of politics over people have been and should be highlighted as we construct plans for the future.
First and foremost, we (yes you, me, and our neighbors, FEMA, Bush, Democrats, Republicans, all of us) must continue to aid in the recovery from hurricane Katrina. Thank you to those have already donated time, money, food, and shelter. We can do more. Thank you to the official response around the country from officials willing to give shelter, provide food and water, and take displaced into their communities.
Now, the hard part. Much of this disaster could have been avoided. There. I've said it. We might like to wish it away or ignore it but we cannot allow ourselves to continue down that destructive path.
Security and Emergency Preparedness: The failures in this department, given the amount of time spent chest-beating and the amount of money allegedly spent bolstering our homeland security, comes as an enormously alarming let down. Governments are most typically created for one primary purpose...to protect the citizens. We failed at almost every level of government. New and better procedures must be researched, funded, and implemented as soon as possible to avoid more tragedy by neglect.
That means more focus on domestic security issues such as ports, international border traffic, nuclear facilities, emergency personnel and equipment, and an orderly chain of command and communication at all levels.
Poverty and Race: It's hard not to see that disasters like Hurricane Katrina magnify the gap between the wealthy and the poor. And in much of the Gulf Coast region the victims were poor African-Americans. Far too long our collective conscience has been shielded from the harsh reality that we have overwhelming problems with race and poverty in America. Our indifference or ignorance has created conditions that in one brief but lasting moment culminated in the simultaneous worst and best scenarios. You may ask how I could dare to say "best". However, if we are to move forward in a positive direction following this horrific event then we must make the best of the visibility and realizations of Hurricane Katrina. The collective realization that we do too little to help our impoverished citizens lift themselves out of dangerous lives should serve as a call to action. The lack of adequate education, healthcare, transportation, economic opportunity, and social equality all contributed to the death of thousands of Gulf Coast minorities who could not flee to the safety of a nearby city or a better life down the road.
We must stop protecting the strong and wealthy at the expense of the weak and poor. That means funding and implementing public policy that provides a quality education, safe communities, affordable housing, healthcare for every citizen, and sustainable economic opportunities free of racial and social prejudice.
Politics over People: While not as gut-wrenching as the disaster itself, the political games being played as almost everyone scrambles to score points or deflect responsibility is a disgusting distraction from the mission on the ground. To have politicians, pundits, and so-called newspeople delivering partisan talking points to protect themselves or their sworn comrades in the midst of this tragedy is insulting and nauseating. There are people from across the political spectrum engaging in tasteless finger-pointing and self-preservation. This childish dialogue does nothing to bring back the dead, restore the lives of survivors, or chart a path to a brighter future.
We must stop putting partisan politics ahead of people or sound policy. As difficult as that may seem given the current official political discourse, we can and must rise above this obstacle to build a stronger union.
This article is not meant to be just another volley in the predictable political match taking place between right and left. This is intended to be a constructive conversation about some glaring problems that everyone in this country should be concerned with. Poverty, race, security, emergency preparedness, and the concept of politics over people have been and should be highlighted as we construct plans for the future.
First and foremost, we (yes you, me, and our neighbors, FEMA, Bush, Democrats, Republicans, all of us) must continue to aid in the recovery from hurricane Katrina. Thank you to those have already donated time, money, food, and shelter. We can do more. Thank you to the official response around the country from officials willing to give shelter, provide food and water, and take displaced into their communities.
Now, the hard part. Much of this disaster could have been avoided. There. I've said it. We might like to wish it away or ignore it but we cannot allow ourselves to continue down that destructive path.
Security and Emergency Preparedness: The failures in this department, given the amount of time spent chest-beating and the amount of money allegedly spent bolstering our homeland security, comes as an enormously alarming let down. Governments are most typically created for one primary purpose...to protect the citizens. We failed at almost every level of government. New and better procedures must be researched, funded, and implemented as soon as possible to avoid more tragedy by neglect.
That means more focus on domestic security issues such as ports, international border traffic, nuclear facilities, emergency personnel and equipment, and an orderly chain of command and communication at all levels.
Poverty and Race: It's hard not to see that disasters like Hurricane Katrina magnify the gap between the wealthy and the poor. And in much of the Gulf Coast region the victims were poor African-Americans. Far too long our collective conscience has been shielded from the harsh reality that we have overwhelming problems with race and poverty in America. Our indifference or ignorance has created conditions that in one brief but lasting moment culminated in the simultaneous worst and best scenarios. You may ask how I could dare to say "best". However, if we are to move forward in a positive direction following this horrific event then we must make the best of the visibility and realizations of Hurricane Katrina. The collective realization that we do too little to help our impoverished citizens lift themselves out of dangerous lives should serve as a call to action. The lack of adequate education, healthcare, transportation, economic opportunity, and social equality all contributed to the death of thousands of Gulf Coast minorities who could not flee to the safety of a nearby city or a better life down the road.
We must stop protecting the strong and wealthy at the expense of the weak and poor. That means funding and implementing public policy that provides a quality education, safe communities, affordable housing, healthcare for every citizen, and sustainable economic opportunities free of racial and social prejudice.
Politics over People: While not as gut-wrenching as the disaster itself, the political games being played as almost everyone scrambles to score points or deflect responsibility is a disgusting distraction from the mission on the ground. To have politicians, pundits, and so-called newspeople delivering partisan talking points to protect themselves or their sworn comrades in the midst of this tragedy is insulting and nauseating. There are people from across the political spectrum engaging in tasteless finger-pointing and self-preservation. This childish dialogue does nothing to bring back the dead, restore the lives of survivors, or chart a path to a brighter future.
We must stop putting partisan politics ahead of people or sound policy. As difficult as that may seem given the current official political discourse, we can and must rise above this obstacle to build a stronger union.
3 Comments:
"Politics Over People" sounds like a sermon from the mount. The article is very idealistic but ignores the fact that despite the American people's generosity and compassion, when the story is no longer front page news, people will return to their TV sets and the media will move on to the next "big" story. The tragedy will leave a permanent imprint on people's memories but the important questions which are rarely posed, will lie on the trash heap of unposed questions. The important questions about 9/11 are not on the heap because they were never posed except by a few who paid the price for asking the right question.
I understand that the pessimism displayed in your comment is based on recent reality.
And you are almost certainly right to assume that the important questions that need to be addressed will likely grow mold. The short attention span you mentioned along with fact that the people who need to answer for these questions perceive themselves as above accountability will see to that.
So, that really just leaves one question that can be answered. What are we, who do not like what we see, going to do about? Answer: Resign ourselves to the notion that we can do nothing? or Speak out, act up, and vote the bums out? I'll take the later, idealistic or not, even if it means doing it one bad apple at a time.
Then, perhaps, real answers can be found in a responsible government.
I fully agree with Don. I do not believe that my comments implied that people should give up. I have been a political and social activist for 27 years toiling in the trenches against overwhelming outs and never gave up. Don is right that activists must continue the struggle secure in the knowledge that one day as in all other great causes, justice will win out.
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