I just wanted to clarify my earlier post, so that people don't get the idea that "those people" are all in the same category. I got another call from an elderly black woman who said that she had registered for financial assistance under her old address because she had been told to do so by the call agent. Apparently her old address was the one on her driver's license. She was eligible for assistance under her new address, but her call wasn't to apply for assistance again. She just wanted to correct her record in case the person living at her old address might be prevented from applying for aid because of the double count. She gained nothing from the call. She was simply concerned about someone else, and about fairness.
There are also a lot of people in the "affected area" who would be in pretty dire straits were it not for the Red Cross assistance. It's not as though there's much of a functioning economy there, and believe it or not landlords are ejecting people onto the street if they don't pay their rent on time. There are others with acute medical problems. One woman had a dental problem that had become abscessed because the dentist she went to wouldn't treat her until he had been paid in advance. We arranged to pay her bill through a local Red Cross chapter, but the abscess had already advanced nearly to the point of becoming systemic. Yet this dentist just couldn't bring himself to do any pro bono work. I'm afraid I don't understand that language very well either.
Also, the main reason Red Cross doesn't have any Service Centers in Louisiana is that the state and local governments refuse to invite us in. They don't want to "look bad" because they can't provide their citizens all the services they need, even though... you know, they can't. We have feeding centers and shelters, but no Service Centers to dispense financial assistance in Louisiana, although there are Centers in Mississippi and Alabama. This fact drives people in Louisiana nuts, because they think it's our fault we're not in their state.
Selfishness and goodwill both have many faces.
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So this would in part account for why some people bash the Red Cross when aid doesn't arrive. So they aren't letting you guys in? That's just plain sick. The state government has been telling them for so long that they'll take care of them, when they really don't, and now that federal funds are pouring in almost unchecked they want to look good to make up for lost time. It also provides a cover and a reason for why they haven't been doing what they said they would do all along. They can always just say they never got enough funds before. I don't know if it's FEMA or Blanco who is trying so hard to hang on to power they won't let other agencies help as much as they're capable of.
Posted by: Oyster at September 23, 2005 02:47 PM (fl6E1)
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Yes, Yes - the principle of profits over people - free markets and spoils to the victors - how's that for trickle-out-of-ReaganBush's screes and Screeching Monkey's compassionate NEGLECT OF THE PEOPLE!!!
Posted by: Downing Street Memo at September 23, 2005 07:20 PM (VhNDM)
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This further illustrates why it's 99% of blacks/liberals/muslims, et al, who give the other 1% a bad name.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 23, 2005 08:56 PM (0yYS2)
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Um, DSM, I wasn't talking about Bush or free markets. I'm talking about humanitarianism as well as Demosophist is. Dude, what planet do you commute from? Sometimes your comments are entertaining and sometimes you're just a mindless twat. Feck off.
Posted by: Oyster at September 23, 2005 09:00 PM (YudAC)
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Bush's levee robbery and drunken delays led to humanitarian disaster, get it?
Posted by: Downing Street Memo at September 24, 2005 12:22 AM (VhNDM)
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Red cross is every where in Mississippi except the right places. They have old ladies driving $100,000 rescue vehicles up and down the road asking if we want some cold pasta and peas. Meanwhile we are cooking hogs and steaks on the outdoor barbecues. Getting low on beer. We tell red cross they are in the wrong neighborhoods. We are fine. We take care of each other. We tell them to go to Pass Christian, Gulfport or Bay St Louis. They are not needed here. They just stare back with unbelieving eyes. Blacks in this area (very few of them and fixing to be less of them) are all to busy standing in lines for FREE MONEY to work. We are paying $250.00 per day to workers and need hundreds. Not one black from New Orleans has accepted a job. We now have 9 crews out and not one black needs a job as long as de govment hands them food and money.
Poor management here. I am transferring to St Louis, Mo today to help the coast guard. Will be staying ate the mansions across from the arch. Any locals the needs a beer on me just answer. This has been a very hard three weeks. I have lossed my home totally, my dream boat is gone. Fema is burning the bodies of my dead cows. Hundreds of large live oaks are down on my farm. All fences torn apart. But still we are blessed. A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE. No hotels, motels in hundred miles. All elderly and young children stay in my motor home for reasons of comfort. The rest of the gang are camped out in whatever at my place. We have allready built some 8 by 12 cabins that are powered by generators. Humitity is unbelieveable. Only solution is drink lots of cold beer. Kids staying cool by swiming in my catfish ponds. I am sending out scavengers for beer this after noon. No looters here. Problems allready taken care of.
Posted by: greyrooster at September 24, 2005 09:24 AM (jwCcw)
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Rooster good to hear you are OK. We was a bit worried well cept for DSM. Welcome to the midwest enjoy yer stay I suggest a trip to Deirdorf and Hearts for a big old steak while you are in St. Louie.
Posted by: Howie at September 24, 2005 10:04 AM (D3+20)
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http://www.dierdorfharts.com/
Posted by: Howie at September 24, 2005 10:09 AM (D3+20)
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Very good to hear you're okay Rooster. Sounds like you lost a lot though. I'm sorry to hear that part. Thanx for some real insight into what's happening. Must of been hard to get to an internet connection, but I'm glad you tried.
Posted by: Oyster at September 25, 2005 07:40 AM (YudAC)
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Oyster and all. No telephone service, power in my area. Nor are we expecting any soon. I am at the mansions in St Louis, Mo. Immediately across from the arch. The hotel has internet connections in the lobby. Very handy.
Going to try and purchase computer today.
Any computer geeks out there that can help me as to what to buy. Computers are my son's bag and he's still in Iraq.
I know nothing. Purchased some computer mags but don't know what they are talking about.
Suddenly decided to wait a day or so to purchase new one as I know my friends out there will help me.
I will try DIERDORF'S AND HEARTS for a steak. Thx Howie.
Looking out the window I see thousands of people passing by on fourth str headed for the Rams game. I will give St Louis a 9 on good looking ladies. Particularly, the ones in Tee shirts walking in the rain.
My friend Mark Johnson of Vinton, Louisiana took my boat (Dream Machine) to Sabine Pass, Tx for safe keeping the day before Katrina hit. Turns out to be another bad move.
Don't know which is worse, losing my pride and joy fishing boat or finding out that someone has allowed the Downing Street Moron back.
Today is Sunday. Hard to believe that last Thursday I was out in the Mississippi Sound looking at bodies in the water near Sand Island.
Miss my family and my precious dogs. Still haven't located big Bubba, my angus bull. Fema says some of my cows may be in holding facilites in Tylertown, Ms. I have ear tags so perhaps some can be salvaged. Fema hired local cowboys to catch loose livestock. Fema has done a better than expected job in my area. They immediately started gathering dead animals and burning the bodies.
Many horror stories coming from New Orleans. The news media has been ordered not to show to worst of it. My neighborhood pulled together. I am most proud of them. Estimated time to hire a contractor to rebuild. 1 year. Insurance companies showing how heartless big business can be. I suspect some hard time for those in catch 22 situations. Insurance companies inventing excuses you cannot believe to avoid paying. My heart goes out to those who haven't had the ability to save.
Later.
Posted by: greyrooster at September 25, 2005 12:15 PM (jwCcw)
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