Trying Not to Say "I Told You So"

http://www.hurricane.lsu.edu/_in_the_news/houston.htm

First, realize that the picture above was taken on Tuesday, August 30th, 2005. The same day that a gigantic hurricane made landfall, obliterating one of the nation's largest cities. Meanwhile, Pres. Bush was fooling around with a guitar. He was also on the tail-end of his five week vacation.

Second, look at the date on the article linked above. December 1, 2001. Now, check out that third and fourth sentence. What the fuck? You mean, our "President" had received warning about the two biggest disasters of his presidency months before one and years before the other yet refused to do anything about it? In a normal world, I'd say this is shocking and appalling, but, you know, I'm really not all that surprised. In today's bizarro world, I warn my friends living in San Fran to buy flashlights and crackers. How did the Republican Congress and our esteemed President deal with this warning? They cut the Army Corps of Engineers budget for New Orleans by $71.2 million in the fiscal year 2005, followed by more proposed cuts in 2006. Where'd that money go? To fund the Iraq War. I know it's pretty hard to blame one person for a natural disaster, but it's a little easier than normal in this case. The man did absolutely nothing to prevent this disaster. He, like Nero, literally spent his time fiddling. (Well, almost literally, but they're both stringed instruments so the metaphor sticks.)

Gas was $2.89/gallon this morning and is supposedly going up at least 20 cents by noon. People like this continue to spread their hate, insanity, and fear. August had one of the highest casualty counts so far in the Iraq War, not to mention failed constitutional talks and a stampede, which killed or injured over 1,000 Iraqis, caused by the mere rumor of suicide bombers. Fox 5 continues to report on the danger of everyday appliances, especially hot tubs. We went from the most prosperous boom times in American history to the lowest depths imaginable in little more than five years of the Bush Administration.

I was talking to my Mom this morning and we had a really interesting conversation about hypocrisy and evil in the world. I feel so guilty for turning her into a liberal. Now, she's stuck in a town with no respite from the loud mouth arguments of Christian fundamentalists and crazy Conservative would-be militants. However, in a way only my mother could, she perseveres through their hate with a grace all her own. "Max," she said, "all of the people complaining the most are the ones who voted for Bush. It's really hard not to say, 'I told you so.' But, in the end, it's just not worth it since they've got to realize it for themselves for any meaningful change to occur." I'm trying to follow that advice. Hopefully, people will finally begin to see the corruption, short-sightedness and incompetence of the Bush Administration and his Republican cronies. Hopefully, we'll get some real change for the better in America. However, there's a reason I named this blog "Jaded Lens."

Here's where you can help:

http://www.redcross.org

* (added later) * I just went outside to sit in the sun for a bit since it's below freezing in my office. While out there, I overheard a group of salespeople talking about the pending removal of Louisiana's star from our flag, seeing as how it's now no longer a real state and not worth saving since they have nothing to give us. They followed this with further comments about stupid people who live in Tornado Alley, etc. Um, Maryland ain't weatherproof either, dumbshits. The whole thing made me sick. Some people have no class. Others have little or no hope.