WTF nbr

[Curtis Jenkins]

Hi Jim - nice rant!
 
You bring up some very interesting points.  The *poor* here in America are, IMHO, different from other people labeled as "poor" around the world, and you have certainly seen more first-hand evidence of that than I ever have or will.  Is there any other country on earth that has a class known as "working poor"?  In most countries, *poor* means destitute - precious few belongings, little to no education or job skills (and very possibly no paying work to be had regardless), probably way to many children and no money or means to support them, and definitely a lack of food and probably a lack of adequate shelter.  Here in America, "the land of the free", *poor* means that you don't have 2 or more cell phones.  It is amazing to see *poor* people with Ipods and other electronics - it is also amazing to hear that one of the major complaints after Katrina was that the Superdome had no internet access.
 
As far as the Mississippi vs. New Orleans disaster scope - what reporter in their right mind wants to go to Mississippi, much less after a major disaster?  Do you think Geraldo Rivera wants to commune with *truly* poor people?  Biloxi just doesn't have the same cache as New Orleans, and, to be quite frank, if Katrina had made landfall just a few hundred miles further east, devastating Mississippi *and* Alabama *and* Florida instead of New Orleans, the 'news stories' would be quite different, and I doubt that Geraldo would have given the story a second look.
 
This is a natural disaster of incredible proportions, certainly one of the worst that has ever hit the lower 48.  In a separate email, I am going to send along a different perspective on why the damage to New Orleans is so extensive - if you think that it is political, then please feel free to hit the delete key - I won't be offended - but I feel like it is becoming the norm in this country to point fingers and dodge responsibility whenever and wherever possible, and it makes me sad to see that most if not all public officials take their job for the perks and the ego stroke rather than wanting to help make their community a better place.
 
I mostly agree with you - I think 99% is too high a number - but a very high percentage of all people, regardless of color or birthplace, are good people - but the ones who are not good, the ones who think only of their own benefit and who will absolutely do anything to get their own way are getting much more exposure these days, and their number is growing rapidly.  People who follow the rules, who believe in honor and honesty, in courtesy and respect, are usually penalized, while the *players*, the ones looking for any advantage to get over on someone else, regardless of whether the "advantage" is legal, moral or ethical, seem to reap rewards and actually become respected by society.
 
I guess that's more like $.50 worth, and are just my opinions - sorry for the long reply - hit 'delete' at will.
 
I hope all are doing well and that you are OUT RIDING - I certainly wish I was.
 
CJ
San Leandro, CA
 
MIG #2006
ons <gammon@optonline.net> wrote:
Ya know, that is what gets me on this hurricane stuff. People suck when they
think that they might get away with it.

I have not figured out how rape and murder are OK because people are poor. I
bet the raped and murdered and their families would not see any reason to
excuse this behavoir.

It is a bad time, and all authorities share the blame. But it was far beyond
what they thought possible.

And the big disaster is in Misissipi, not New Orleans. Who is reporting
that? I guess not enough good pictures.

And I bet the news people have 5 hours of good tape for every minute of bad
tape. But guess what they show.

99% of all people of all classes and colors are good people.

Just my 3 cents (inflation)

OK, one more thing - Why are our poor the only ones in the world that are
overweight?

Ranted out (thank God!)

JimG