I had no idea that I would witness the virtual destruction of an American city this week. New Orleans is practically gone. The looting is so bad now that police are being shot and beaten if they try to restore order. Martial law has been declared for the first time in 60 years. I understand people stealing food, but why the TV’s? Where are they going to plug it in? God help us if we have a real terrorist attack. God help us!
Have you heard the name Harvey Jackson? He was wandering aimlessly down a flooded street in Biloxi with his small grandkids when a CNN reporter asked him how he was doing. His reply made the reporter cry and it should rip your heart out. His wife recently had a stroke and couldn’t move her legs, so they remained in their house. When the water flooded the first floor they moved to the second floor. When water flooded the second floor they moved into the attic. Harvey Jackson then had to make a hole in the roof. He and the kids climbed onto the roof, but by the time they tried to pull his wife out, the water had already reached her. They struggled. He pulled. She pushed as hard as she could. He clung to her hand. And then she begged him to let her go and take care of the kids and grandkids. He wouldn’t. He clung to her until the house split in half and she was washed away! And here I am worried about $3 gas!
However, on a separate note, could we please build some new friekin refineries now!!! It’s not a supply/demand problem – it’s a supply problem! Mexico has given us millions of their unwanted citizens; I say we take their oil in return! They’re swimming in black gold down there.
And, speaking of other countries, take a guess how many other countries have offered help to us? I’m still waiting. Oh, you can’t come up with a list? That’s because there isn’t one!
3 comments:
Couple of comments -- Probably going to be inflammatory, but here goes:
1. New Orleans has been living on borrowed time for a century, and every single scientist/geologist/meteorologist has told them so. They chose to ignore all of the warnings. And there are even comments such as; "This is the storm we have feared". Don't get me wrong, it is a tragic, tragic story for the common people, but LA should be forced to rethink this whole concept of building in a known disaster area. Likewise, FLA should be cut off from FEMA aid if they keep rebuilding in the same exact areas that are destroyed year in and year out... How long do we foot the bill for their lack of planning, foresight and simple common sense?
2. Because of the power of the auto and oil industry in our country we are becoming MORE dependent upon fossil fuels, NOT less... Give me a break; does anyone really believe that we could not have developed a fuel source/automobile that properly runs and does not continue our dependence on oil? Of course we could, but the PACs have SO much influence that they simply do not invest... And now we have HUMMERS which get no gas mileage.. At a time in our country when we should be working to create more efficient cities and transportation systems, we are doing the exact opposite...
Amazing...
BTW, the stopry about the grandfather was incredibly sad! I am not down on the people, I am down on what passes for city planning (an oxymoron if I ever heard one)!
And finally; looters, walking amidst floating bodies, stealing stuff they cannot even use... Amazing!!! No, we are not a society driven by the need to HAVE, to fill that desire to simply POSSESS... So sad to see that within HOURS of the hurricane passing through this is going on. I second your fear of a real terrorist attack... What would we do if we really had something major on our hands nationwide?
Good thoughts Ray. I just looked at a satelite image of New Orleans, and my first response was, "this is the stupidest place to build a city!" Your 2nd point is well noted as well. I just checked out the new 2006 VW Passat - the new technology in these cars is mind-boggling, but they still run on oil. I agree, the car makers aren't even trying.
"However, on a separate note, could we please build some new friekin refineries now!!! It’s not a supply/demand problem – it’s a supply problem!"
Great point!
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