ONE MAN'S VIEW

I got this from the blind-conservative email list I am on. If nothing else, it's food for thought.

Stevedore and Rattan (Who says: Don't bring me into this. I don't necessarily agree!... After all, I'm just a tree hugger from Yam Hill, Oregon!)

***ARTICLE IS BELOW***

In 1927, a major unnamed hurricane struck the city of New Orleans. It was
actually more powerful than Katrina. The scope of damage was much more
severe because this particular hurricane actually hit the city. Katrina
missed it by 25 miles.

The interesting difference is the response the government gave in 1927 to
those hurricane refugees, compared to the refugees of Katrina, err- I meant
"survivors" ---(sorry Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson). How much aid did the
government dispense at that time? Zero, nada, not one dime. And you know how
much aid the army offered? The only aid from the army came in the form of
loaning the city of New Orleans tents and camp stoves. Ironically, later,
the army sued the city for reimbursement. So what was the big difference
here?

It was the attitude the people had towards the government at that time,
compared to the attitude that Katrina's victims have. The 1927 "survivors"
expected nothing from the government. 80 years ago, people understood that
the government was there to "protect life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness." Today, Americans expect the government to "provide life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness." That's a major difference. And now, a week
later, when the government failed on all three levels of local, state, and
federal to provide for their needs, Americans were sorely disappointed.

Reverend Jackson and reverend Sharpton spend their opportunities arguing
about semantics. "They shouldn't be called refugees, they should be called
survivors" Unfortunately, they missed the boat. It was a perfect opportunity
to deliver a very basic message to their people.

Fact, if you are poor and uneducated in America, this is what happens.
Fact, if you depend on the government, you will be sorely disappointed.
Fact, if you are poor in America, there is no reason for you to be
uneducated. Its free! 12 grades. And if you really apply yourself, there is
enough grants and assistance out there for higher education, which will
raise you above the poverty level. And no longer will you depend on the
government and be disappointed. Its unfortunate that this lesson will be
missed by most of the "survivors".

A couple of other points should be brought to light. G. W. has asked the
congress for 50 billion dollars worth of aid for the "survivors" and clean
up of the city. Interesting isn't it? one million people displaced and out
of work in that city, sitting all day in shelters, waiting for the next
handout. Of course, the thought never occurred to anyone that just maybe,
"hey, we should give all these folks jobs filling sand bags to plug the
levees and clearing trees." (Wonder how many of them would want government
aid if they had to work for it?)

And finally, they haven't hardly begun the task of picking up dead bodies,
and already the finger pointing has started. The congressional hearings and
probes will go forever. Millions will be spent on a wasted diatribe of a
bipartisan "witch hunting expedition"- all of which will be nonsense. If
you're a democrat, you are going to blame the president. If you are a
republican, you are going to blame the mayor and the governor. This is
another case in point of how the government will once again fail its people,
they could have spent the millions educating the poor and misplaced citizens
of New Orleans so that they could go out and get a new and better life,
instead of wasting it on useless blame investigations.

Well, I'm just a dumb redneck joke teller and certainly not educated enough
to run my government. I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who
will tell me why my ideas and thoughts will not work. Maybe I should just
stick to joke telling, eh?