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Success Needs No Excuses Judy Stillson | 9/08/05
I have to admit to being personally sickened - first, by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina; second, by the abject failure in rescuing people; third, and this is the worst, the willful, purposeful neglect and criminal negligence of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security (isn't that now an oxymoron?) in efforts to help survivors reclaim some semblance of humanity and believe that they are still living in the United States of America.
The forced evacuation of New Orleans is unnecessary for many people, but the National Guard and police are nevertheless forcing rightful property owners from homes that are safe, suitable for living and relatively unharmed by the storm.
In Houston, Gulfport, Biloxi and in smaller towns scattered along the coast, the pattern of complete confusion and incompetence on the part of FEMA is beyond alarming; it is spectacular in its scope of ineptitude.
Every step of the way, FEMA has confounded efforts to save lives, assist anyone in need, allow rescuers in to do their job, and provide relocation, money or medical services. Nobody, no agency, no group could possibly be as inept and absolutely worthless. FEMA is not, in my mind, helping in any way. They are hampering any and all efforts at solving any and all problems and they are - to the naked eye - doing so on purpose.
While the White House, the President, his advisors, his Cabinet and anyone associated with the administration seems to be spending more time trying to assign blame to New Orleans Mayor Nagin or Louisiana Governor Blanco, other operatives are dragging their heels, short-circuiting recovery efforts and delaying assistance.
We are now more than 11 days into this national nightmare and there seems to be no end in sight. Americans have paid their taxes to the federal government dutifully and patriotically over the years, but now we are seeing first hand that we have been severely shortchanged.
Developed nations around the world have offered aid only to be turned down, stalled or ignored and now they are looking down upon us with a mix of pity, surprise and disgust.
Hurricane Katrina made a shambles of our gulf coast.
FEMA and the administration is making a mockery and a disgrace of our entire nation.
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