Bringing It All Together

Thursday I had a discussion with a co-worker about what is happening in New Orleans. At the time of our discussion, I was thinking of New Orleans as a primarily racial issue, as was my co-worker.

I've done a lot of thinking since then, and now am changing my mind about that. I am speaking only of the relief response, or lack thereof, not about how the news is portraying the story, as I think they are two different things.

The response issue is about class, not race. When you look at popular culture (something I think will be responsible for the loss of the republic, but I digress), you see a lottery, of sorts. The television networks' fall schedule is full of the examples of this: Amy Grant granting wishes to those who are deserving. Home makeovers for those who are deserving. Personal makeovers for those who are deserving. If you are not deserving? To quote our Vice President, go fuck yourself. What makes you deserving? That isn't as clear, but I think over time it will become clear that you have to have some physical deformity, have a child with a deformity, or have something horrific happen to you. You May Also Be A Winner if you adopt 30 children and house them in a single family 3 bedroom home. The only other way you can become deserving is if you are willing to go on national television and embarrass yourself by eating live insects for, what is it, $50,000? All the rest of you are undeserving.

Undeserving, to the point of derision. Think about that. The Hannity's, the Limbaugh's, the O'Reilly's of the world now dictate what's deserving of our attention, our money, our emotions. If your are morally upstanding, then your need is acceptable. If you divert from their norm, then you are undeserving.

What happened in New Orleans earned scorn by HannityLimbaughO'Reilly. They will until the day they die focus of the morons who stole a big-screen tv and ignore completely the people who got food and water any way they could. So while they tell people to donate, they won't call in Amy Grant or the home makeover guys, because...they are undeserving. You don't win the lottery this time, please play again.

Democrats have allowed this to happen unanswered. Democrats used to understand the principles of providing for everyone who needs it, not just those who are deemed respectable enough by someone else. We used to talk about this stuff in public. It's become shameful to do so, because the republicans have worked for 2 generations to dismantle the whole concept of common good, and have demonized anyone courageous enough to discuss it.

When I watched Hannity and Colmes last night, I was stunned by Shep Smith and Geraldo Rivera. The righteous indignation of co-opting the truth was something to behold. It is pretty pathetic when our outrage has to come from reporters. Shame on our 'leaders' for not standing up for these people.