The BOX Thinking

by Bruce H, Scroggins

I can only watch and think about what’s happening, and as I watch the approaching Hurricanes, I’ve come to a couple of conclusions. First; we are not even close to preparing, or planning, for the eventual, before during, and aftermath, of these natural disasters. Second; the season for hurricanes will end in November, and we need to get at the very least prepared, for the before, during and the after.

Now I know great minds have been thinking, and planning for all three eventualities, all over the world. But as all these think tankers, think and paln, we all can tell were failing badly, and expending obscene amounts of money, trailing late at every attempt to make a difference for our people, of all colors and age, they are all Americans, and our guest, as there caught in these disasters wake.

So lets start to look at what's happening to America, in and another way. The best minds seem to be looking, and planning for the before, as though, they don’t want to get people moving on what may be a false eventual outcome.

The before thinking, they think, should be because we thought it would never get this bad, but all along, they knew, we had cat 1,2,3,4,5,and 6 and up storms, we can’t build for these, so we threw caution to the wind, and built anyway, right on the beach, and continued form the beach building right on in, and up, with whole communities, all geared around making money, planning for cat 3 protection. Now the only structures built, close to the water should be made of bio-degradable material, nothing should be built that we cannot afford to lose, this is a big change in Americas Capitalistic ways, our profit first thinking and planning has too change… think America, the only thing that doesn’t seem to be lost, but suffers damages, but are reparable, are the OIL and Energy infrastructures.

Thinking this way means, a change in the money pit thinking that’s costing America, and Insurance companies, so much more money, that we are now today borrowing like a Nation full of drunken sailors, and Captains.

The during thinking, America is haunted by our foresight, that is inadequate, to the extremes, we can move fast after, but during a storm, we are ham strung by our before planning, and it constrains us to act, in unison, to help were help is needed, so once it sure we going to be hit, the FEMA organizations should be working hand in hand with the State and Local authorities, before with FEMA subordinate and assisting, but working alone with, at each step of the State, and Local authorities way. Never should the Local, the State, and FEMA be separated from each other, because what's is the focus is America, people firsr, structures second, and the thinking about my turf, and each acting like fiefdoms, in and emergency is absolutely stupid, and a huge wast of resource, and manpower.

It’s because of the thinking we suffer, by not integrating these organizations, not in staying in separate offices before, during, and after a emergency, only coming together when one has to take over from the other, when it’s ability to respond is over whelmed. It called a layered response, each making declarations, as each saw fit, hamstringing the next layer with worthless, decisions that only get in the way of the next layer when it has to take over from the one swept over by the intensity of the emergency.

The After thinking, Now all this thinking,involves gambeling, will it hit, and when to move the people, and planning to spend the least amount of money, each limited in what’s available to get each levels jobs done, based on this box thinking model, the Local, State, and FEMA Authority are all, saving there outside the box thinking for what they didn’t expect to happen, each thinking there planning is the best, only asking for help with the peripherals, until it’s too late, and each waiting on the other to fail, before acting.

When we had bad storms in the past we had smaller populations, and less tecnology and still some of the storms still over ran our abilities to respond. But the lessons, still weren’t learned, it was as if we planned to fail, and then respond, by rushing in to save what's left, and throwing huge sums of money at the problem, and dragging the out come from pork to pork, and arguing all the way through.

The proof of this thinking was the 100,000 people left behind, and forced out of, and sent all over America, literally, snatching the voice of the region, and stealing the voter, scattering the very workforce needed to rebuild, bussing them to the four corners of the Nation, very effective, but a Huge waste of resources, and the very talent necessary to rescue, and recover is now gone, from were it was most needed. It was as if there was a plan to leave them until they would go anywhere, and hating were they were, and saying, just get me out of here.

And when many in America saw this as planned benign neglect, in the highest order, and when the Mayor screamed after having his communications cut, and then being refused to use the cutters communication, and then, the Mayor being, forced to stay close to the Media, as his only communications, was humiliating in the highest degrees, and many in America saw this as planned as well, and the Governor, saw it as well, but was more easily bought off, and remember, the Govenor was very complimentary of FEMA, in the beginning, when she saw the truth in the begining, and screamed as well, remember.

And all this was covered by claims of it’s the mayors fault, and the Governor fault, by Republicans, but the Nation as a whole saw only Michael Brown, and Bush, and then and only then did they jump in with the General first, being gruff, and short with the Media, the General saw the same things that the Governor and the Mayor saw, but was constrained by position, but we in America know the Media’s a Corporate owned lacey of the Republican Party, yes many are Democrats in the Media, but they now know where there bread is buttered, and became as dossal as in the past, since this Administrations take over of all three branches of the Government, five years ago.

The Poor, the Sick, the Elderly, the Young, the Blacks of all ages, were left to die, and suffer, till the great Bush decided to move on there behalf, Bush looked at the Box, and said, we can move now, and I’ll lead the way, but he waited too long, and had to say, “I take responsibility for what happen.”

And it has been business as usual, FEMA, the State, the Local authorities… still looking at the BOX, and in a pinch, they employ thinking outside of the BOX, and some even think they are doing a good job, because there's not too many deaths… America looks at the BOX, and prays, America can never stop praying.


Bruce H, Scroggins http://lovethetruth.blogspot.com/

Conservatism’s favorite fallacy

by PMCarpenter

September 14, 2005


In the context of weighing racial and class-based factors in the federal government’s woeful response to Katrina, the Washington Post related this succinct portrayal of the president’s political philosophy with respect to combating poverty:
“In the place of traditional poverty programs, Bush has touted faith-based social service programs, calling them more efficient and effective than those run by the government. Many programs of an earlier generation, he says, have served only to perpetuate the plight of the poor.”

Forty years of relentless right-wing campaigning on the fallacy that government programs “have served only to perpetuate the plight of the poor” has convinced a majority of Americans of the fallacy’s truth. But it has taken root among the electorate only because most Americans don’t examine the assertion’s basis any more than our intellectually lazy president has. It is received knowledge, not informed opinion.
At its core, conservatism is a profoundly antigovernment philosophy, not a pro-opportunity philosophy. The idea that proactive government perpetuates poverty, rather than poverty resulting from society’s structural flaws, is merely a cover story for reducing the cost of government to the haves, leaving the have-nots to the wolves. This may seem like an obvious point, too obvious to note even, and to an informed electorate it would be. But millions of Americans, having bought into conservatism’s simplistic solutions, have also bought into the idea that conservatism stands for a positive philosophy of alternative approaches to social betterment rather than a negative philosophy of limiting government at all social costs.
Without going into a dry, detailed history of what government programs have, in fact, done for the poor, consider again what the Post wrote about Mr. Bush’s views - that he “has touted faith-based social service programs, calling them more efficient and effective than those run by the government.”

Really? Are his faith-based programs somehow something new against which we can now evaluate the ineffectiveness of government?
Hardly. For private social-service programs dominated before the New Deal (and later the Great Society) intervened. It was the inadequacy of such nongovernmental assistance that brought about government’s efforts to do what private charities, principally churches, had been unable to do.

The deployment of Bush’s generous private-over-public aid as a national ideology to fight poverty and provide opportunity had plenty of opportunities itself to work. Prior to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, housing assistance - need I go on? - those at a socioeconomic disadvantage had little to count on but what private charities had to offer. And it was precious little. The depth of charity’s inability to meet national needs became overwhelmingly apparent during the 1930s, and it was this that launched a fundamental change in approach.

Contrary to the right’s rhetoric and revisionist history, the New Deal wasn’t a manifestation of a bunch of wild-eyed socialists intent on destroying volunteerism and private charity for the sake of erecting big government. The New Deal came about only because private means of assistance had repeatedly failed as society’s principal fallback.
Conservatives love to hark back to a nostalgic America that never existed - to a bygone age when everyone pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, and only when it couldn’t be helped did the struggling ask the local church or community chest for a hand, which was always there for them. It wasn’t, of course, and it was capitalism’s unsparing nature that finally showed the inadequacy of private aid.

Modern conservatism is founded on a deliberately constructed, rose-colored historical myth. What perpetuates poverty is government’s inattentiveness, not its pro-activism. Again, this may seem bloody obvious to you, but far too many Americans have never stopped to consider the basics.

http://pmcarpenter.blogs.com/

05:45 AM | Permalink

Congressional Oversight

By Bruce H, Scroggins
9/15/05

Rep, Tom Cole R/Oklahoma says, the Democrats, are afraid of the voters of the elected representative, to let them handle there duly elected responsibilities, and Rep. Cuptito/R say it’s by partisan, “according to the balance” in numbers in the Congress, of both houses.

Many, if not the largest American people, want a responsible Independent Commission for the Katrina disaster, and the Republican controlled Congress, who are Republicans, want a few Democrats, and the rest Republicans, and overwhelmingly, and flat out well over 76 % of the AMERICAN people, don’t want the Congress to investigate there selves, the AMERICAN PEOPLE, want and INDEPENDENT Katrina Commission.

Rep. Al C, Hasting/Florida, the American people want no Congress looking into a Republican mirror, and white washing the results.

For the Republicans, it’s simply damage control, and the Republicans, don’t want a fact finding team of the Congress, to go down to the region in question, and gather facts, even the Congressman from the regions, America raise up and tell your Representatives, the Republican controlled Congress, to stop BLOCKING the TRUTH from coming out.

Don’t let the cover-up happen, not this time, not in the 21st century, don’t wait, don’t allow those responsible to gloss over there mistakes, and try to build up some good work, to pad there absolute, malfeasants of Politically Appointed Office.

Oh yes, there Political appointments is what is scurrying around Now that the Light of Katrina, has pulled the covers off there, dumping grounds of FEMA.

Let cut the crap, the Republican controlled Congress has fallen on their collective faces, and have now today rammed through the House a committee to Investigate itself, essentially. America today is seeing full face, what the party controlling all branches of Government, can not do and that is be fair to all Americans, and to assist there larcenous malfeasants, and one of the last bastions of Americans voters bully pall pit have been bought off, and out, the 4th Estate, by Corporate take over, Americans have few voices left, to stand up for the majority of the poor, and the elderly.

Black Americans, Have been bottomed out in Civil Laws, and in Employment, assaulted in lower, and higher Education, advances that took well over a century, are under attach, by the moneyed few, who are not Democrats.

Republican back big Business, has traded unfairly, American jobs for profits, on the international stage, big businesses have trashed the American workers, and there pattern of cutting benefits, year after year, and then asking for wage give backs, and in the end filing for re-organization, and in bankruptcy court finishing of the Union, in what they couldn’t do in the market place, and using the excuse, “we have to compete on the International stage,” when there the very Businesses pushing Congress to sign unfair trade agreements, that gut the American worker.

The Republican majority in both Houses, cares not for the poor, and the elderly, and the sick, and for children, and for black America, and Katrina blow the cover right off there cover-up, that is going on all over America. Congress wants to cut Taxes, Medicaid, Medicare and Education. America is in a costly war, on two fronts, and expending money at enormous clip, and the poorest of America, are just to slow to die, for this Administrations ideology.

The Republican controlled Congress is going to white wash this whole affair, and push there agenda over the Radio, and the News print, and the TV, and before two more weeks past, it will be a Hodge dodge of who don it, and well be so confuse as to who did, or didn’t do what, that when the noise machine is through, every person from the local police, and fireman, and the Mayor, will be at fault, and the president will be strutting around, saying what a good job FEMA doing, but every one from FEMA down will be left holding the bag, for faults. The FOX investigating it’s self, will not show how big a Screw up the Feds really were, Mark my words.

(I), Devastated, Scattered, Then Davis Baconum!!

9/11/05

by Bruce H, Scroggins

Lets throw in Davis Bacon, “I’ am” the President, and this will be good for my base, big business, and “I’ll” make sure, it’s looks like “I’ am” spending Americas money judicially, and it will, also look like “I” care, about the large sums of money, we are forces to spend, because of Katrina. There is a lot of “ the letter, I”, and not any “those devastated,” and this will be, “what's good for the American people’s, Federal money,” only words, and actions, like “what’s good for the Contractors,” there is no, “what’s good for the children of the lost, and hurting people,” and Bush has not said, the people who have lost all there material goods, there homes, there Jobs, there savings, this will be good for them… when Bush signed, and Executive Order, to suspend, (with no sunset,) the hard earned wage rights, won (by Unions, and Blacks, and the poor in general, ) Bush raped the already underpaid workers, (Avg pay in Region, $7 – 10 per hr.)

Katrina combinationed the State, and knocked many out, from the people to the Governments, (City, State,) and left them bloodies, bruised, and many dead. What Bush did at the behest of 32 Congressman/persons, was too stand up the parents left, and punched them in the stomach, hard.

Bush IS effectively saying to their faces, you can rebuild, but you won’t make, even close to FAIR wage, you’ll barely, make enough to afford food. The people will say to them selves, health care in not affordable, and savings, never again in my lifetime, a car is laughable. And we hoped for hope from our president, and Bush said, I’ am thinking of the people’s money, Oh yeah and the Business people who will hire “you people,” to re-build, and the Federal peoples money.

He didn’t limit what the Halliburton’s of America, and the Bectol’s, the Kellogg, Brown, Root, and every other private business who will pay less for work, and profit more, and only re-build at minimum standards. Bush didn’t require high standards, for the companies who will be, bidding, or no-bidding for work. Bush didn’t make sure the people’s federal money was doled out to minority Contractors, he’ going to rely on existing rules, watered down by his cronies, placed in charge, and of oversight, kind of like, what Bush has done in placing people, or dumping people in FEMA, he trust these people. But what Bush doesn’t trust is for an American worker to be paid a fair wage, in catastrophe. Making sure the worker has at least in the region, he or she lives, a prevailing rate of pay to deal with the economy, that will employ ever-increasing cost of living raises.

Listen, and hear me good America, what did you expect from a Hostile Administration to Unions, and Workers, and helpful, and ALL loving towards, the Energy, Health, Insurance, Banking, Military Industry, check it out for your self, Bushes Domestic agenda is smoke and mirrors, give money to Education, but not enough for the legislation forced through Congress, but more then the past Administrations, then in the out years cut it to the bones, Bush on his watch has seen the Manufacturing Industry, devastated, and the owners, have left in mass, to set up Operations outside the USA, to survive, taking the jobs with them, and there Corporate Home bases as well, and the taxes they use to pay in the USA, well that’s a double whammy, to the country, and the worker.

Bush has done absolutely, nothing for the American workers, Nationally, or Internationally… but buy the MILLIONS, the American worker has VOTED for the very man who is single handedly turning America into a First world, Third world country, by his every act, Bush destroys every hard fought protection he can, at every turn of events.

You see, when they scattered all the 250,000 people devastated by Katrina, all over the nation, those people were the very ones who would of protested in strength, what Bush did, by signing the Executive Order, the very talent, to re-build New Orleans, and the Gulf Cost, was living in the Gulf Cost, and they only needed to be moved out of the Devastated Parishes, and at most a slight distance of about 50 miles away to camps, so they could assist in there own re-building efforts, but now there’s no Voices, and the Republican Conservative Right, in concert with there leader have continued there coup, battering the City’s Leaders, and the State’s leadership, keeping them busy, while the Carpetbaggers move in, to bid on the reshaping of the region, the way the moneyed few want it to be re-build, Bush is slamming the door shut, on the workers in the region, all the way to his brother state… THE LAST THING THE DEVESTATED PEOPLE NEED IS A FAIR WAGE… Bush is saying!!

Commander and, Lead Thief.

Republicans Urge Suspension of Davis-Bacon Wage Act for Katrina Recovery
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/9/9/95352.shtml Link to Repubs letter to Bush,
32 signers

Nancy Pelosi
"It's this simple: Hurricane Katrina took away their jobs, now President Bush will take away their wages when they find new jobs. This is a partisan and punitive decision that will make economic recovery much hard for workers and their families.

Congress Vs. Minorities: The New Davis-Bacon Rulesby Scott A. Hodge and Andrew J. CowinExecutive Memorandum #299April 09, 1991 |
The Department of Labor wants to create job opportunities for tens of thousands of American workers, many of whom are minority, poor, or unskilled. The Department plans to do this by expanding the use of helpers on federal construction projects regulated by the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act. Yet Congress is attempting to block these efforts. To protect high-paid union workers at the expense of low income workers, Congress has tacked provisions onto the Persian Gulf emergency spending bill (H.R. 1281), soon to arrive on George Bush's desk for signature, that would prohibit the Labor Department from using funds to relax the regulations now preventing less skilled minority youth from working on federal construction projects.

Local Authority, First Responders, New Orleans I

by Bruce H, Scroggins

9/10/05


The Questions are coming to the surface now, and Washington is firing back at local authority, Right talk Radio is castigating, the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray J, Nagin, they say everything is his fault, but lets examine the local Authority, and the first Responders.

The Mayor has residents of a City of just under a half Million people, (498,820, ESTM, total) and many of these evacuated before Katrina hit, those who could leave, packed up there loved ones from Nursing homes, and private homes, and businesses, and got out. Now approximately 120,000 people, made an average yearly wages of $8,000.00 dollars per year well under poverty level in the USA, and over 100,000 people had no cars to get out in. even though Ray J, Nagin had issued the proper declarations on time, Joseph R, Matthew, the city’s director of emergency operations, said the city went on alert the afternoon of Friday 8/26/2005, even though a full evacuation was not ordered until Sunday 8/29/2005, and lets remember “Talk Radio Right,” Katrina did not run on anyone’s schedule.

Katrina quickly OVERWHELMED, and at the overwhelmed point, everything Ray J, Nagin did was futile, and every place, that was used as a fallback was overwhelmed as well, (the Super Dome, the Convention Center,) now why? Were these fallbacks used?

The Superdome was a “shelter of last resort,” and the Convention Center was the “overflow,” from the Superdome. Why send people there, (Superdome, Convention Center,) if you don’t have security, and food, and water.

They had minimal Police to send to the “FALLBACK,” and none for the “OVERFLOW,”
Where were the all the Police, some where DEAD, and DYING, some where looking after there families, some were trapped in parts of the city, some were on the job and got trapped, and some, have, to this day not reported, and there whereabouts is unknown. Now this happen to the Fire department just as it did to the Police, and remember Katrina did not care, and was making there jobs of security, and protection, and serving, Impossible, by any stretch of any ones imagination, except, (Talk Right Radio, and the Administrations surrogates,) now the overflow into the Convention Center was a new dilemma for Police, (an on rushing, developing nightmare, worst than the understaffed Superdome, and city proper,) now the out of control in the Super Dome, was crushing the spirits of many who stayed on the job, and had no idea, where there loved ones were.

Where were the buses, good, a very excellent question, who? Drives the city’s buses… men and women who live where? In the city of New Orleans, so many who stayed, they became like the people of New Orleans, when the first order of Alert came on 8/26/05, many drivers were sent home to look after there families, as was management, and many left, as did management, and some stayed and got trapped, and some died, and some were swept up, and couldn’t operate the buses, and were trapped. So where were the Private buses, good question, the city has no power to federalize private property, and even if they could all the Buses were neatly parked, and the drivers, many of them got themselves and there families out of New Orleans, and some came back to help, and got trapped, and some died, and some are now refugee’s like the many others.

Now how is this Ray J, Nagins fault, the Mayor, at a early point, was swept over by Katrina, and his power to do anything, except become homeless, and scream for help, He was reduced to a man with a title, and no power to get anything done, even for himself, except to stay close to the Media, and SCREAM, for HELP.

Ray J, Nagin praised his Police and Fire departments for working long hours under horrific conditions, and two of his officers committed suicide since the hurricane hit. Katrina’s wrath since it came ashore was overpowering for the Mayor, the City, the Police, the Firepersons, and the few National Guard Troops, who were just as swept up, and just as trapped as others, all over the city, remember 80% of the city went under water. How fast was this overflowing water? They say, (and I’ am not sure, of the numbers) but the storm surge was 30 feet in total, and it came in at 10 feet per hour, and in 3 hours, the city was under water, (don’t hold me to these numbers, but close) and hundreds of thousands were trapped, and killed, and Katrina did not care if you were a Policeperson, or a Fireperson, or Young, or Old, or Sick, or a Child, or a Baby, or Black, or White, it just did what a hurricane do… bulldoze everything in it’s path, and it doesn’t, and did not care about your title, as mayor, or Journalist, or Doctor, or Talk Right Radio, or Democrat, or Republican, or even the Governor, or FEMA.

Next I’ll examine the States responsibility.

Scare them with some TRUTH

by Bruce H, Scroggins

Tell them there’s poisons, and broken glass in the streets, even the parts that were untouched and dry, drag some out, or scare them out, but out! someone! wants them out.

I heard a tearful nursing home attendant describe contacting the loved ones of there patience’s, and out of 59 patience, 32 had someone come and get them, and this home was under mandatory evacuation, but the only was they could be evacuation was if someone came and got them.

I know this Tragedy was a perfect storm, and it was one in a million, and the city had issued the declaration for the City’s people to evacuate, it was mandatory. Now the City was up to, and over there heads in responsibilities, and in some of the nursing home across the City there responsibilities, were to protect and care for there patience, so just calling someone, and telling them to come and get them is not the end of there responsibility, and the loved ones who cared for there loved ones in these Institutions, who lived outside, have a responsibility to do all they can for them.

Those loved ones, out side of the nursing homes, were in a tragedy as well, and were pulled in all directions, and many choose to look after those in there immediate charge and made decisions, to get them out, those that had the capability to do so. And those that choose to stay, could get out them selves, and were lost, some of them, died of acts of criminal intent, while trapped in a flooding city, with there local protection stretched, thin and broken, and crushed by the shear weight of numbers, and there own despair, for there loved one, it was a recipe of catastrophic proportions, and it played out… it played out, at the cost of the least of humanity, the Old, and Sick, and extreme Elderly, and predominately black, being able to do, no more than watch their own demise slowly.

Here’s the story, the City ask for buses, and the City Buses did all they could, but where were the Private BUSES, Private Companies BUSES, they, Instructed there driver to go take care of they families, they shut down there businesses, and parked them in neat rows, and there BUSES, went under the FLOOD as well, hundreds of BUSES, around new Orleans, and in total may per haps, thousands of BUSES.

None FACT, the City dose not have the Power to Federalize private property, like the Federal Government dose, (FEMA) has that federal POWER. So there are some screw ups by the City, but not many, so stop trying to play got you TV, on the Police, got the Horses mouth and ask your pointed questions, ASK the Mayor, ask the Governor, ask the Head of FEMA, ask the President.

I’ am sick to death to see you keep asking, the very people who worked their selves to death in some cases, why they didn’t do more, like they started this whole thing, like because of what you think they (the City, State didn’t do the state Q form the City, and didn’t do right, and the FEMA took there Q from the City, and State and followed some pattern set by the lower levels of Government and that’s how all, the leaving BEHIND started and everything is the City, and the States fault.

Listen… all news media… Katrina was like a run away 1 Million Ton Tank, and the City tried to stop it with police, and the State tried to stop it with the State Troopers, and a few National Guard, soon both lower Governments, called the Army, and the Army came but forgot to bring the Anti-Tank Weapons, and just stood and watched, and ignored what was on TV (the Media,) and still they stared like deer in the headlights, at people screaming for help, and for more days than I care to count, they waited until the Tank ran out of gas, and the Sun started to shine, and still waited a day or two, before the fire, of you inept basta_ds, came cra-shinding down from both Party’s in Congress, along with the raised voices of the Media, together it became defining to the President, and Johnny come lately’s started to move in what was needed days ago.

No Longer Invisible

By Eugene Robinson

Friday, September 9, 2005; A25
NEW ORLEANS -- Beside the interstate leading into this abandoned city there's a self-storage warehouse whose flimsy walls were peeled away by the hurricane. The contents are almost undisturbed, stacked neatly in their exposed compartments. You can see all the inconvenient things that people stowed out of sight and out of mind.
That's what this unreal disaster did to New Orleans and the whole country. Things we tried to tuck away and forget about are suddenly out there for the world to see. As a nation we can deal with them or not, but we no longer have the option of pretending they don't exist.
Chief among this inconvenient baggage is poverty. After seeing who escaped the flood and who remained behind, it's impossible to ignore the shocking breadth of the gap between rich and poor. It's as if we don't even see poor people in this country anymore, as if we don't even try to imagine what their lives are like. Think about what just happened -- a record-book hurricane was bearing down on the most vulnerable city in the country, and it didn't dawn on officials at any level that many people didn't have cars in which to flee, money to stay in hotels or upstate friends with enough space to take them in.
To be poor in America was to be invisible, but not after this week, not after those images of the bedraggled masses at the Superdome, convention center and airport. No one can claim that the post-Reagan orthodoxy of low taxes and small government, which does wonders for the extremely rich, also inevitably does wonders for the extremely poor.
What was that about a rising tide lifting all boats? What if you don't have a boat?
The other unavoidable inconvenience is race. In New Orleans, race and class overlapped to such an extent that it was difficult to pry them apart. Were people forgotten or treated with disdain because they were black or because they were poor? Mostly because they were poor, I'd say. Was the African American majority ill-served by an African American mayor? Mayor Ray Nagin clearly loves his city and its people, but at one point bitter crowds at the Superdome were honoring him with the chant "[Expletive] Ray!"
Still, there was a racial component in the way the residents of New Orleans looked at one another in this crisis. When the city broke down into anarchy, some whites began seeing any black man as a robber, looter, carjacker or rapist. Horrible crimes were indeed committed, but there were far more reports of crimes that never took place.
But, yes, some black men were robbing, looting, carjacking and raping. It was like a social explosion, muffled by the enfolding waters -- destruction for destruction's sake, reminiscent of what we saw four decades ago in the Watts riots. Most black New Orleanians had nothing to do with any violence, but I was surprised at how many of them were quick to believe that some nameless, powerful "they" had somehow engineered the levee failures to protect the French Quarter and wealthy parts of the city by surrendering poor black neighborhoods to flooding. Some whites, meanwhile, stayed in the city and joined together in vigilante bands to keep out the unwashed hordes.
I saw myriad examples of whites and blacks working together, helping one another, striving for the common goal of survival. I saw evidence of the unique New Orleans cultural gumbo that is so much a part of the city's self-image. But the instances of mutual suspicion, of quick separation into us vs. them, were too real to ignore.
New Orleans looks ruined and uninhabitable. It sits in an untenable position, wedged between lake and river in a busy corridor for hurricanes; the French founded the city in 1718, and just four years later it was all but wiped out by a storm. But you can bet the city will be rebuilt. In their book "The Resilient City: How Modern Cities Recover From Disaster," scholars Lawrence J. Vale and Thomas J. Campanella point out that destroyed cities almost always rise again.
"The question is, what do we mean by recovery?" said Vale, head of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. "Is it getting the hotel occupancy numbers back up in the French Quarter? Or is it fixing low-income schools or working on the worst housing problems? Who is going to set those priorities?"
Now it's time to drain the water, bury the dead and clean away the muck. But for a city and a nation that put poverty and race into a locker and ignored them for 20 years, cleanup is just the beginning.

eugenerobinson@washpost.com

The Polls say What !!, horse cookies

By Bruce H, Scroggins


I looked at the polls shown and could not believe my eyes, 38% said no one, 69% said no one should be fired.

I watched for days, BLACK faces screaming for help, and descending into madness, and debauchery, 90% of them Black, and I know there were people of all colors, but to see a pole, that says these margins, said what they said, I fine it hard, if not nearly impossible to believe.

I want a pole done of those who where the victims, and ask them what they thought of the FEDS, the STATE, and the CITY, and a pole of the people of color, the ones whose faces America saw on TV night and day.

Ask them if someone should be fired, ask them Lou Dobbs, ask them if they thought they were treated fairly, and as quickly as possible. I dare say, that there is a racist element in these poles you showed on TV, tonight (9/08/2005 3:00Am)… everywhere, I turned, I asked, and people want to know what, or who screwed up, black and white people, I ask… and they want heads to roll, right out of office, and very few of them want a City, County, head to roll out of office, or local powers and police… ask them, the victims, what they think of this mess, they were OH so intimate with this tragedy for days, ask them, and them only ask, and lets hear the results, and ask some black organizations to do the same pole, one to blacks, and one to none colored people, and then on air compare the results.

Ask, them Lou Dobbs, Ask them, come on ASK the victims.

IS ALL OF THE NEWS MEDIA AFFRIAD TO SAY IT, WHY WERE THERE SOME MANY BLACKS SHOWN FOR DAYS, SUFFERING, AND DYING, AND STEALING, AND DYING, AND SCREAMING, AND DYING, AND YOUNG BLACKS, AND OLD BLACKS... AND NO ONE IN THE NEWS, WONDERS WHAT BLACK AMERICA THINKS ABOUT SEEING PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM IN SHELTERS TODAY, AND SCATTERED ALL OVER AMERICA, NOT ONE JOURNALLIST WILL TOUCH THE STORY, THAT'S ON THE MINDS OF THE WORLD... THE WHOLE WORLD, THE ENTIRE WORLD.

ARE ALL THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SCARED TO TOUCH THE TRUTH, OF WHAT EVERYONE SEEN FOR DAYS, AND DAYS, AND DAYS, AND DAYS ON ,WITHOUT END IT SEEMED, WITH A SMATTERING OF NONE COLORED PEOPLE HERE, AND THERE. AND THE PICTURE TODAY IS MORE BALANCED, BUT WHY IS THAT?

HOW MANY WERE OF WHAT RACES? IS EVERYONE AFFRIAD? TO SPEAK THE TRUTH? OR IS IT EVERYONE IS AFFRIAD TO SPEAK THE TRUTH TO POWER? IS EVERY NEWS JOURNALIST, PROTECTING HIS PILE OF BRICKS, AND DOSEN'T WANT THE POWER ELITES TO CRASH HIS CARRER.

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS REQUIERED.

Talking point, keep saying “Blame Game”

by Bruce H, Scroggins


The Blame Game, all anyone dose is PLAY the BLAME GAME, fixing responsibility is not a GAME, the City, the County, the State, all were calling the Feds, and the storm blew right past the three lower forms of government, the storm was over there heads, and the last line of response is the feds/FEMA, and FEMA is backed up, by the President. FEMA is a Federal Disaster response agency, designed for the national level catastrophes, not for City level, or County level, or State level, responses.

So every person who cannot, or refuses to see that the President on down to the feds, FEMA, blew it, they are not seeing the days, of death and dying, by 99% black faces, but America saw it, clear as day or night, on the 24 hour new cycle.

When the tornados, hit Florida, several of them, the FEMA people, and the President was clued in from before to after, and once again Bush declared and emergency, before the disaster, just like in Louisiana, and Katrina.

But in the Katrina disaster, the FEMA level response, didn’t marshal resources, and didn’t act for days, and America watched in horror, as people died right in from of the camera’s.

When you declare, or make a declaration before a disaster, your response Agency, your head of response teams, are put on notice to start MARSHALLING supplies, and people, to respond as soon as the rain and wind slows down. But that didn’t happen, and all America saw it didn’t happen, not for daaaaayssss… now, the Right winger, want to blame the City, the County, the State heads with negligence… America as a whole is looking, and listening to every statement by these excuse makers, and accusers of the lower levels of Government, and are comparing there lower levels, to Florida, and can see only one thing clearly… no comparison, hands down… none.

Point: all the troops, and the trucks, and jeeps, and helicopters, and plans, and supplies… Question,” do you think they just made that equipment, and they just trained these troops over night, and had to wait to get the food, and water, or was it all MARSHALLED somewhere, with all the FEMA responders, watching days unfold, of Americans dying, day in, and day out.

And the organizations, which on the News, we see prominently, where were they, I know some of them were trying to do some things, before day one. Some one needs to ask these questions, ask the police where were the FEMA people, where were all these troops, and where did all the water, and food suppose to come from, and where was it, before it arrived in the disaster zones, of the Gulf Coast

Was all this in a marshaled areas, just waiting to get the word to go in… waiting just outside the area most needing this supplies, it must have been hard to just sit there day in and day out, eating and sleeping, and watching people die on TV, and wondering, why? Are we not moving in, the FEMA people thought to them selves, the doctors on call, watched on TV, day in and day out, eating and sleeping them selves, and wondering why? why? I can’t go in and save these people from there suffering, it had to be hard to watch Americans descend into Madness, and have loads of help, all around them, and in there hands. But NO CALL TO GO IN AND HELP.

The Real Looting is just Getting STARTED

The Real Looting is just getting started

By Bruce H, Scroggins


FEMA, Red Cross, just to name a few, our getting in the way of the private concerns, who have a heart to help, there are people bringing people like, the elderly, who need 24 hour care, and they are being dumped on the Churches door step, and the churches are more than willing to help, there are people Federalizing, shipments sent into Louisiana Churches, to help, and some of the shipments, have been seized.

The Big Institutions, are taking over, and blocking the good works done by those, who all along have shown the heart to get in there, from Day One. The only reason things have bend going well, as of two to three days ago is the MILITARIES, can do attitude, and they are the ones, who have ben flooded in to, jump start the effort, that was suppose to START up, ALL on it’s own, at the City, County, Federal Levels

And if you think, 10.8 Billion was enticing to loot on the big stealers scales, wait till Congress allocates 50 plus Billion to this tragedy. I've heard tree firms sending trucks and crews before Katrina hit to the neighboring States, in anticipation of the great deal of work coming in the Gulf States, smart move yes, but they are small opportunist, compared to the Looting Coming, to your TV screen, and in the News papers, in the not too distant future... just watch listen and see, and remember the truth.

The Red Cross, is a fine organization, but they have been shown to be untrustworthy in the past, especially, with money earmarked, to be GIVEN to those directly affected by the Tragedy, (remember 911, money given,) I said earlier, that the Black Churches, who are well acquitted to deal with the seeming 80 plus percent of black people, they have a cultural affiliations, to the people, and have there most honored Black Institutions, in place to spring into action, the NAACP, and the URBAN LEAGUE. And the truth is coming out, ALL the Churches are ready to help, but the Federal level is blocking, and in some cases, STEALING the GOODS sent by good Americans… yes stealing, looting, all in the name of federalization of needs, and then telling the churches , when they ask for help, a big FAT…NO… you b_____ds.

Congress has to get these Black Institutions involved, and you will see, much better results, with talking to the people, who are intractable, and refuse to leave. These people, many of them don’t trust the people, who our now, issuing orders to leave, even the local police, who lost everything, them selves. Remember for days, the lost people, didn't’ see there own police, and fire, many were on duty, in other parts of the city, and many were seeing to there loved ones, many, were killed, many were overcome, and are today down sick, Physically, and Mentally, but for what ever reason, some good, and some not so good, they weren’t there, to PROTECT & SERVE.

After the huge uproar, and all the Media coverage, and the endless Black faces on the 24 hour News Cycle, has put America into a sour, and angry, and flat out pissed off mood, and America is not in the mood for more bureaucratic B_ll S_it.

Remember, when a crisis gets beyond the ability for the City, and the State to handle it, the FEDS, responsibility kicks in automatically, but for some odd reason, Katrina and those at the FEMA level authority couldn't’ get there feet out of the sand, and there hands out of there pockets, they were paralyzed with fear, and all they could do was look at the book on emergency preparedness.

Warnings, Warnings

by Bruce H, Scroggins

The Mayor of New Orleans is calling for everyone to leave New Orleans, The Water, and the Conditions are a toxic soup, of disease, filled with dead bodies, and dead animals, and decaying flesh, and chemicals.

And Water… water, water, and not a drop of it good, except in a sealed bottle… warning staying in this death trap, is not and option.

And the powers that be have spread these infected people to more than a dozen States more, Adults, Children, Old, and the Young, and the Babies, all are walking time bombs and this is a Public health hazard, of immense proportions, for the USA, like they have never seen before.

Now all of those in the know, FEMA, The STATE, the HEALTH Department, the POLICE, the STATE Board of Health, … What, and When did they know this, and …WHY? Did they not tell the people …BEFORE and AFTER?

They left those people in this mess, for days, and days, knowing and never said a word to the people… Oh well the powers that be, said to them selves, no sense in telling them NOW and many descended into madness, and we know many were mad before Katrina, but be that as it may.

Not helping them right after, and leaving them was CRIMINAL, we know this today, and sending them to other States and not telling the PEOPLE, and the STATES, only compounded the tragedy… the still evolving TRAGEDY, each day a new revelation of the absolute, benign neglect of Americans, and it’s tantamount to designed murder, YES I said murder.

It was and is a death trap, and for days, they knew, ask the powers, who ignored the dying people of new Orleans, they who should know, will have to answer, and don’t let parse words, make them answer, with out explanation, don’t let them Obfuscate, the TRUTH, and don’t let them sugar coat it, ask for independent professional answers, so America, whom they don’t want to ask Questions of, and new talking points, Blame game, THIS IS NOT A GAME, THIS IS LIFE & DEATH.

An Emerging Story in Black America

by Bruce H, Scroggins

The big story in a large part of Black America is the Big Media doesn’t respect the Black Organizations, and Black Churches, and big Media is NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and all of the 24 hour News Programs on Satellite, and Cable, and by Black Organizations, I am talking about the NAACP, and the URBAN LEAGUE these organizations are the oldest, and the most trusted in the Black communities around America, and it’s glaring to us, that on your News Shows, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army, are the only one’s prominent, and in repeat at the end, and at the start of each segment, as the only organizations America should give to heavily.

Your show will have to stop reinforcing this, belief by your not placing these honorable strong Black Institutions, in their rightful place, with the ones to date you have shown, adinfiniteum to America, by design.

Believe me, I’ am not against these fine organizations, but I’ am also very proud of these Black Organizations, and they have done a great deal for Black America, and if you don’t listen to them, and in turn respect them, we will see this every day and night, and you’ll lose creditability with Black America.

Remember this present Administration, dose not talk with our leaders of choice, and many see that in the Black community as disrespect.

Remember, the Black community is largely faith filled people, and there faith tells them if you don’t respect the Son, you can’t respect the Father, and there is no way to the Father, except by way of the Son, if you understand, we will see a change, and all America will understand.

Bruce H, Scroggins

God Bless

A View from a Black Americans SKIN

9/6/05 10:12 PM

by Bruce H, Scroggins

It’s the seventh day of our American tragedy, and America is swinging into gear, and it’s heart warming to see but I have some strong views about the response to date.

Administrations Response; Racism, and the wholesale scattering, of the residents; murders, rapes, and firing on those who’ve come to help, are just some of things that deeply concern me, and Black and White America, should be upfront with there collective outrage about the events unfolding right in front of our faces. and lastly cleanup and rebuilding.

Lets jump in with both feet and hands, and a must is, we must keep our eyes, and ears open, and believe what you hear and see. Now the Media is and has always been the ones, with a canvas, and they paint, and some times they like what they paint, and some times, before and after painting, make decisions to change course too, as they believe, and are urged to bring “balance,” to what they report, and the Media, has one of the strongest presences in the “views,” and “view.” the World and America views of Americans at there worst and best in tragedy. I have heard, and viewed, on the News programs, (CNN, MSNBC, and Local coverage’s,) what I call, “changing course, and balancing the story.”

The print Media has as far as I can tell to date a magnificent job covering all aspects of this tragedy, but are not with out fault, but have done a yeomen job, to date.

The visual Media has a Bully pall-pit of a different sort, and can shape the news viewed in a more sustaining way, what with there 24 hour news cycle.

The Administration is averse to dealing with the Black communities strongest supporters, and Leadership, and a large part of the Black communities backbone-foundational-structure. And that is the Black Churches, Bush likes Black churches for his Faith-based Initiatives, but he only wants black pastors who agree with his political stances, those who do this, are given face time with Bush, and he and others take there Q, and literally, tells the Black community, "these are who your leaders should be," and that’s not to say, Black Pastors can’t get money to do Non-profit humanitarians works, if they don’t agree politically, no that’s too easy, and Bush is not that opaque, about the practice, but he is Crystal Clear to many in the Black and White communities of America.

Yes, Louisiana has suffered a tragic lost to its State, but Racism, rape, murder, are one set of extremes that are coming to the surface, and many are asking why?, why? Are they doing that, and, don’t they have basic right and wrong learning? the answers to all is “yes,” and the reality is, how can I explain this, listen if your ass hole, before you lose your things, and lets be clear they lost “things,” you’ll be ass hole without the things, and if you know right and wrong, but choose to be a rapist, and a murder, or were, before the tragedy, you can still be one be after, if you “choose” to be… If you’re a racist before, and choose to continue being a racist after, that is a choice… If you choose to show the truth before, and choose after the facts to change course, you choose this change.

In every instance, men/women made a choice to do what they did, and the catalyst for these acts, have been internal, and external. For those trapped, and stubborn enough to stay, it was, the catalyst of, there was no money to leave, and this little pile of bricks is all I got, and I live check to check, and believe me, PRIDE was active in all of these excuses, and there’s, the elderly, and the sick mixed in, and all are vulnerable, too those who have more strength, and less morals, and no hope for there squalid existence before the Tragedy, struck, and they were living a tragedy day in and day out before the tragedy… so a natural, and unnatural response, would be, my life has been taken away, and what little “pile of bricks,” you have, is gone, and your with out hope, and you see no way out, you descend into madness, the young, the old, the sick, the poor, the men, the women, the children, and all around you see death, in unimaginable proportions, your mind goes into survival mode, you try to save your own “skin.”

Example: some years ago a plane cashes on a mountain, the passengers were soccer players, and after being stranded, lost, with no hope, left they descended into cannibalism, and everyone who heard there story, understood the deft, and dept of there position.

Another thing to remember is, the churches, a bulwark in their neighborhoods are gone, there places of refuge, are gone, and there communities familiar faces, are gone and those who are looking lost, just like you, are not familiar, or friendly looking, because there lost, just like you, and your both wondering, will you hurt me to survive, or will I.

I just watched an irate LT. General Honore on TV MSNBS Live (1:57 Pm, CST), lashing out at the Media for asking questions about there late arrival on the sense, he was over the top, because he doesn’t think he should be ask about, the feeble response from the Federal Authorities, I have one response to him, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen, because his anger dose me and the people no good, and your an Arrogant man with Authority, is all I heard and seen, and the Media should cut him no slack, He stepped up with Chartoff, to the Hot seat, and got mad at a perfectly pertinent question. And it’s not secure everywhere, and he lied and tried to paint a picture that everything is secure, and it’s not and the Media has been there far longer that LT. General Honore. Truth in fact, and the Media should light his fire, right under, and in his face.

Bush is one of the most smarmy men I know, and I know something of smarminess, having been young, and thinking at some points of my youth, that I was God’s gift to God knows who, (smile.)

Accountability will come up everyday, and indifference and arrogant outburst from Johnny come very, very lately’s of whatever authority, and political stripes, better get ready, and stand up tall, and suck up there smart ass retorts, because Americas, not even close to being in a mood, of wanting to hear his anger.

What's is lost in all that has happened is, where is America’s faith, this is suppose to be a Christian county, well I can’t tell. The people lost in the south, are relying, many of them on their faith, and that faith has served them well, it gives them hope, not to lash out, but to be strong and to hold on to those of faith who stand in the breach, for them everyday and night, and these everyday first responders, have stayed, and rolled up their sleeves, and worked to the bones to be a servant to there fellow man, did everyone hurting, acknowledge them… were they attached, and some killed and hurt, yes… and a painful yes, for them all, but that did not deter them from living out the faith, and in turn inspiring other to hold on to there faith, and let it stand in them and give, when all they had to give was each other.

So give America, give of your time, and your money, and make a point to give to Black churches, if not money time, if not time, food, if not food, clothes, and if not clothes, give of your mind, and believe what you see, and hear from those who have suffered the lost of all things material, but look at America from there faith, and say, I believe someone, I can’t see loves me, and will help me.

Last be not least, Black America, see's many black people being sent out of there home State, I ask why, when they should be housed right in there home State, and are the very ones who should be involved in helping, everyone whose lost, and needs help, who better to help, than those who’ve been helped, and who better to work rebuilding, their homes, and the homes of there fellow lost. Stop scattering them to the four corners of America, they need wholeness, and work, and money, and a home at home, they want to help there fellowman, and the Feds, and the Military, and FEMA needs there help, and they need to help.

A great lost of man power is taking place, and some want to act like there doing so much, and in this mix of the lost, is Teachers, Security Workers, Janitors, Cooks, Construction workers, Air conditioning specialist, system managers, nurses, Highway heavy Workers, Bricklayers, Electricians, Computer Specialist, Nursing home Attendants, Hospital Workers and a veritable cornucopia of every field needed in this tragedy, and scattering them to the four corners of the States, is putting stress on there neighbors. These refugee’s can build housing, and put in the pluming, and can make everything needed for the rebuilding of there State.

So I ask, WHAT are you DOING, why? Can’t the powers that be VIEW/SEE the immense waste of limited resources, on one hand, and the clear as your face answer, on the other.


And if you’d just ask the NAACP, and URBAN LEAGUE they’d tell you the same, in most cases.

Making a Tragedy Worse

by Bruce H, Scroggins

I watch and, listened, and called phone numbers, and ask people, about loved ones, and have spent time looking for lost family, and heard of friends lost, along the way. And my prayers go out to our fellow Americans who have lost so much, and those who are safe, and those who this day are in harms ways.

I look in horror as those most in need, are displaced again over and over again from not only there homes, and neighbor hoods, but from there state, and are to this day completely out of the mix, of the plan for the very land, they own in some instances, and for those who were renting, they have been shoved, and shoehorned into another State. They’ve lost there voice, at a time when those at the table, will set the future for there home, and may tell them about it, only when and if, it becomes necessary.

America watches the TV News Shows, and wonders to them selves, why? Won’t they leave, with all the destruction, and death around them, Americans, say to them selves, “I don’t get it,” well let me relieve your concerns, and inform your minds, and I ask you to open your hearts, just as your faith, and your Pastor, has this past two Sundays. And please I ask you don’t let the criminal acts of a few sway your minds, get you to focused on what is to date a very small part of the problem.

Most of those who refuse to leave know they will not be at the table, and they don’t trust anyone to speak for there interest, in the development of there homes futures, so don’t fall for the side issue of looting, the News Shows, are trying to fill, and be balanced in there reporting, and that’s it. These issues are important issues, but they are still not the most important story.

The people, who are alive, are the story, and America should never forget it. These people, who have been shipped out of there State to another State, are the very people to help those, who are still there, and in distress, the people who lost everything, want a part in there recovery, and let me tell you what a definition, is of recovery, first to recover, you have to know what you lost, and the LOST, and hurting people of Louisiana, know what they lost, and those who remain and refuse to leave know what they have, and will lose if they leave, and they know that many of the voices that they have come to know and have supported them over the years of there life’s, they don't recognize, or trust, and means there voice has been reduced by death, and by displacement.

The talents in those well over 250,000 people shipped out of Louisiana, could have been brought, just outside of town, and the FEMA, and the FEDS, could of spent some money, to and put them to work, after giving them Medical treatment, building the shelters, and then some, could of assisted in New Orleans, in the search and rescue of there fellow neighbors, and these same people could’ve of been made as whole as humanly possible, and would be a catalyst for positive, upward looking, and hopeful outlook on there future, and they would "BE" there when the "TABLE" is set for all Re-development, of where they lived out there life’s.

Now the NAACP, and the URBAN LEAGUE, has the Institutions available to assist in this kind of plan to give the Lost HOPE, it’s a lot simpler, than it sounds. If they can in a hurry, make homes for the Japanese in Arizona, even thought they were woefully inadequate, they can use the very people who have the talent and the blood bought right to be there at the table of there comeback from the lost.

Putting a Face on Responses

by Bruce H, Scroggins

9/6/05 1:47 PM

Today, we hear and see, that Donald Rumsfeld, and the Military are “putting a face on Responses,” they say here’s what we’ve done, so far, and it’s heartening to hear America coming together, but those responsible for the early days catastrophic, woeful responce, through inept coordination, and flat out not knowing need, and an American dying from, a pencil, or a telephone.

Don Rumsfeld knew the storm was coming, and they knew the aftermath, was full of ALL possibilities, and they knew the plans were supposed to be, already be in place, relief and Aid, was suppose to be in place, days before the known storm hit and fell after coming out of Florida.

The Powers that be understood the possible magnitude of this Katrina, during the first strike, and in the after math of the first strikes, they seen the tragedy unfolding, and they completely, and utterly miss the mark, by not moving forward with the PLANS they say were suppose to be ALREADY IN PLACE, people dying in front of cameras, almost instantly, and the Government KNEW they were dying, and did not ACT, and in the case of the New Orleans poor, they were brain locked, and chased there tails in endless moves, with no resoults.

(I' am watshing Don Rumsfelds Press conference)
The Military says, look America, you have to look at the priorities, the helicopters “they had,” first I ask, who is “they,” and the original question was where were the “YOUR,” helicopters, (meaning the MILTARYS helicopters,) now Rumsfeld, is spewing numbers of what they’ve done to close the breeches to date, and the General is saying nothing, blah, blah, blah… Rumsfeld says, anyone who doesn’t understand, is wrong in there questioning, of are responses, that’s what I get from his spewing.

And the General is mixing Iraq, and a pep talk, (close your mouth, and only open it to answer the question, sir) Question; you talk about how the plan was in place, but the reality was not the same as what you’re telling us today (is what I hear, in answer.) And the response is BLAH, BLAH, BLAH… and the Administration chooses, ding, ding, ding… it’s not my responsibility.

And that is the face, today put on responses… I didn’t do it… RIGHT!

This Administration doesn’t want to place blame… RIGHT now, and even Clinton says the same, well, no one was held accountable after the facts of 911, and most of Americans, don’t raise our children this way, and if you screw up on the job, you get relieved from your position, and someone who can get the job done is put in your place, but not with this Administration, it’s… Stop asking whose the blame, and let the people who are the blame, do the job, (let me add) they should of done in the first place… I’ am sorry did that soud like they don't know S__t , because I know it flat out didn’t make sense, and even if you wait to build up all this good work, it will not lessen the FACTS, that they SCREWED UP ON A MASSIVE SCALE, and no heads were chopped off.

Acess right now what didn’t happen, that was in place to happen. Bush say he’ll lead his own Investigation, right now I don’t trust the man were the buck suppose to stopped, he can look and when he seeg his reflection in the investigation, I wonder what he’ll say to him self, this will be, one more moment of truth, and if his past performance is an indicator, he’ll see very little.

And Bush will pep talk his way through and around the whole thing, and tell us, "look at America pulling together"… take a moment, and don’t let Bush get away with not making himself, THE ACCOUNTABLE RESPONSE.

Bruce H, Scroggins

Should they Rebuild New Orleans?

By Bruce H, Scroggins

Only if they destroy everything down to the sewers, and pile it up for land fill, and bring in a little over one third of a mile of dirt, for foundations, and bridges. But they won’t do this the levees, and walls would be 6 to 8 stories high. And these people are scared for their pets, and they’re little pile of bricks, and their corner of the world. Blame game, in you screw up on your job, you lose your position, if not your job, immediately, and if anyone dies, the re is an Investigation immediately, but this Bush Administration, does not hold any of there ADMINASTRATORS accountable, only the opposition is held accountable for saying whose at fault.

Barbara Bush, says their UNDERPRIVILAGED anyway, woo, she’s tuff. Interpretation to me, She just said, anything you give them will be appreciated, (they, them) have never had much… insensitive yes, out of touch with the suffering, of hard working Americans, who lost all of their pile of bricks, yes. Please stop asking the rich, what they think of anything, and if they start talking about anything not ask them, just let them ramble on, and politely turn away, senility about being poor, and sick, and losing all is out of there reach, at least for many.

And last, if your child screws up, do you confront his screw up now, or say a couple of months from now… your answer, and remember, the children are looking and listening to US ADULTS.

The Real World, I mean, the one you and I live IN

By Bruce H, Scroggins

No lets not talk about whose at fault, lets look at a part of the Plan, there is a disaster Declaration, that happens before, and some times after the FACTS, you declare before the Facts, to put everyone on ALERT, whose job it is to spring into ACTION, the moment it time to go.

You see ALL the Trucks, Plans, Food, Helicopters, Medicine, Troops, in abundance, and the Doctors, and skilled people around today, and you do not think they just built all that equipment, or they were waiting for it too be built. All of what you see today was available weeks ago.

Let me say what many already know, If your son was responsible for taking the trash out, even if it’s raining, but if it’s lightening, and hailing, and the winds are 100 plus MPH, you defer, even though the smell is high, but as soon as the weather pasts, that morning. Your son knows to get the trash out of the house, so you the father come home that evening, and the trash is still in the house and the house stinks to high heaven.

So you confront your son, and he says, this not the time for the blame game, I’ll take it out but, don’t get down on me know, I’ve got to disinfect, and mop the area, where the trash can was, and burn some incense, and your son tells you I’ll look into why it didn’t get done, but that can come later.

LEFT BEHIND

Left Behind by Bruce H, Scroggins

America has neglected, the people of color, and the poor, on purpose, it was by design, it is benign neglect, of the most vulnerable Americans, and that is our National Tragedy, and the whole world is watching America, and by their neglect, they have allowed, and fostered murders, of our very young, and the very old, and those already sick, and these are the very people who, have supported New Orleans, from generations to generation, with hard work, and today have nothing but the skin on the backs.

This is flat out racism against Blacks, and this is a crime against humanity, and is being played out in the 24 hour News Cycle, and the News Organizations and they ask WHY? Why? Are they stealing, and killing each other, and some in power, lets start with the Governors, are now saying… ZERO tolerance, to looters, and I have given orders to shoot to kill.

And the poor are asking, WHY? Why won’t you help us, you fly over us, and you see us waving, and dying, right in front of the camera, where are the troops? Where are the Police?

The Bush Administration is not alone in this Racist National Tragedy, this gose back at least five Adminastrations, all the way to Nixson. The Congress knew what those in Louisiana told them, for years will happen, and about the levees being in a dilapidated state, and that they needed 208 million dollars to finished the work, to shore up there deathly needed protection, and all for the most vulnerable people, and Bush’s budget, allotted 10 million dollars, and today, I’d say 30 to 50 Billion would be a low ball estimate for repairs, but until some one makes a real plan, would be throwing good money, behind, not enough money, to rebuild a City, waiting, for the next “Perfect Storm.”

No one will do a story on those who live on the High ground, and are isolated, but have limited resource, all the movers and shakers of Commerce, and Private Business, and Government, there homes are protected by the Local Police, who America, and the World didn’t see in the aftermath of “Katrina.,” you know what hurts the most, the powers that be, knew they were leaving the most vulnerable people behind, and they left them anyway, that is the height of arrogance, for any society, it is a sin, and “reproach to any nation.”

Left behind is mild in description of what we all have seen happen to Blacks, in the South, from New Orleans to Mississippi, to Alabama. New Orleans's a city that’s older than America, built on tourism, with all the service jobs gone, and all the homes of the workers gone, with literally “nothing to eat, or drink, and no where to sleep, the poor went crazy, they were in near, to full blow panic, and some would even attach those few who’ve come to help.

All over the world, there have been discussions about, what would happen if a storm hit New Orleans, and three days ago it happened, and all the plans of men and of racist Institutions, headed by the power elite, have shrunk from view, only surfacing to say how bad it is, and then go to the next extreme, and say, “shoot to kill,” there will be n tolerance.

But let me tell you America, Black America is pulling together, through, the help of Americans, and If you want to help, you can call any CHURCH or TEMPLE, or SYNGOGUE, Black or White, MUSLIM or CHRISTIAN, or call the NAACP, or the URBAN LEAGUE, or RAINBOWPUSH, or the REDCROSS, or the SALVATION ARMY, you can call the Big News organizations, like NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, or CSAN, PBS, MBS, or BET, You can give money, or food, or clothing, and for those who have the heart, you can open your home to those who most desperately need shelter, but do this with a wise and understanding heart, and seek guidance, before, making your home available.

And first before doing anything, if you believe, pray and meditate, we need all the guidance we can get, because this is going be, for a lot of Americans, a long and dark journey into the Light of the real America, we all talk about, and have for much of our lives believed was for all Americans, a "Christian Country,"… well were going to get our chance to show the world, it wasn’t all talk, but remember, the world saw America clearly LEAVE BEHIND AMERICANS, so lets get to work.

HIGH and DRY by Bruce H, Scroggins

HIGH and DRY

9/1/05

The Disaster, in Louisiana is America unprepared for what ALL America, and the State Government knew years ago would happen, “The Perfect Storm.” Pray, and do all you can for those suffering, open your homes, carefully, but open your hearts wide, and give of your time, where you can.

I have some questions, where are, our first responders, and where are the State Police, and the Local Police, where are the Red Cross located, where is the Coast Guard, and the Air National Guard. The Media should be making there Stations, a heaven for support, there Top Priority should be, to tell all who can hear, where to go gather for the coming work, but remember, those who need the help can’t hear CNN, CMBC, CBS, ABC, or FOX, these Media outlets are running none stop, with there 24 hour News Cycles, replaying the tapes of the devastation, and the looting, and the dead, and sick and dying, and the Old, and near death, and the filthy water.

The children are suffering, and the majority are children of color, and this a painful sight. New Orleans was a man made City, waiting for a disaster, the Local police who served and protected, and enforced the law, is where today, they stand guard alone. Along the lines that separates the poor, and the forgotten, in the devastated City, and there not showing all the high ground where the well off, are isolated, but HIGH and DRY, and those who planned to live on ground set up and filled in to be much, higher than the City, they knew one day that it all would be GONE, and the City today is GONE, completely GONE, these wealthy people who helped plan the City, and had positions of power, I’ am talking about decision making, effectual positions of power, they have planned for this end of Civilizations from day one, there homes have power, and they have water, and they have telecommunications, be it limited in scope.

I want you to know that 80% of the City is gone, so show the full extent of the 20% that’s left; I want America to see what’s left and who has what’s left.

Bush flew over and made a few speeches, but he was ineffectual in his Bully Pall Pit, Iraq has more devastation then the three States combined, and the Military is rebuilding what they destroyed in Iraq, like HOSPITALS, WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, and WASTES TREATMENT PLANTS, and all the OIL infrastructures, and the TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS… by the way, according to the Geneva Convention, no Countries Military signer is suppose to destroy, these facilities, but no one said a word about the destruction, not a word, but I digress.

America has suffered a blow of historic proportions, and the POOR, and PEOPLE of COLOR are bearing the full force, and will be scared for life from this, many, many more will die, and they will never, see America the same again, they will have a this FIXED in there minds of America, as they search in vain for family, and the life they once had.

Even the Churches have been destroyed, but the 20% will continue on and recover, and can leave, and the local Police will protect their property, while there gone, as they have all along.

I get the impression, so clear, of the powers that be, there lack of coordination, that they themselves said they planned for three years ago, and tested just last year, the reality to me is, they want as many destroyed as possible, while they slowly, turn out the help, and that help, has been so slow in coming, it can only be, on purpose, we see people right here in America dying, right in front of our eyes, and people are giving money, and asking where do you need them to go, and no one is going to there aid, not even the Army, could it be we have no Army. And with each nightfall, thousands dread the dark, they are in stark terror, what will become of them, with each Sun rise’s light… less and less of there humanity is left, and some will fall, some fast, and some slowly, slowly into anarchy, not against America, but against reality of the America, they live and are dying in, what is to become of our brothers and sisters, and the elderly, and the sick, and all the babies.

I ask all who read this to pray the Lords Prayer, and make up in your hearts; to do what you can to help.

Now this is the time for the powers that be, to call for a Nation to pray and pull together to make recovery from absolute destruction…to make a start, and to those who make the hard decisions the City, as to where to rebuild the Lives of those who lost EVERYTHING, and rebuilding, in the City is not and option…UNLESS they build the whole City…like the 20% who are sitting on the Hill…HIGH and DRY.

Immigration Today

Immigrations 7 26 2005

Immigration at a time of War is a matter, that can only be handled by first, securing the borders, and second, exerting our control, over the system by making it known, that all, who entered illegally into America, must come forward in 1 year, and at the end of that year, all who are found to of entered illegally, will be deported, and there children can stay, if born here, with family, or in institutions supported by the country of origin, and then, there status, will be worked out.
Your guest is right, we don't have the capacity to find everyone in our country illegally, but we do have the capacity, to weed out illegals over a short space of time, with deadlines, and strict border control going forward.
We must also penalize, all businesses who have employed illegals, and they should be, first given a time span to clean-up there employee base, and they can do it, very well, they can require documentation from those they employ, and check out that status.
And if you have a family, and you’re here illegally, or legally, and you break a serious enough law, and it requires you, to go to jail, whether your married with children, or not, your family would suffer when you went to jail, and you would be just as gone, and you would be just as American, or just as illegal.
Many will say the children will be displaced, and your right, but if a parent, a cousin, and businesses support them being here illegally, these are most often times can be AMERICANS who allow them to mix in and support them staying here illegally, they say, it's my cousins, it's the children, there working and paying taxes, and there not breaking the Law, these are all answer to, a illegal act.
And Americans of the same nationality, support them with their organizations, against their country of origin (If born American), and the naturalized citizens, and those who have adopted America and have come legally to become citizens. Many of those who have come legally tacitly turn there eyes from the illegality of there family members act, of coming to visit, and staying illegally, coming in legally, and staying with American family members, until they can get a job, and a home, and then stay illegally, and often supporting non-profits, set up to lobby fellow Americans to let them stay. I' am not against good people of what ever color, or country, I' am against, at a time of War, (and war makes a difference, here,) and people of several different colors, and countries who hate America, and come in and hide amongst Americans, and plan and plot us/Americans, murder.
All borders must be secured, all ports must be secured, and against all who would perpetrate any and all illegal acts against America. The nice illegal people, and the hateful illegal people, and all in-between.
I look at this immigration problem like it was my yard, my country, If some one came over to my border fence, and climbed over into my yard, and was industrious, hard working, and peaceable, they would still be set up in the corner of my property illegally, and they would still be breaking the Law, and if I entered there country illegally, I would be breaking the there law.
So the borders must be controlled, and talking about, amnesty and any talk of letting them stay, when you don't know, who out maybe 14 million illegals aliens, is here to plot and plan murder, is unconscionable, and sends the wrong message to those who want to come illegally, and it sends the wrong message to Americans who support there family and country men and women, coming and staying amongst Americans, mixing in to hide.
You can be a good person, and hide, you can be a good person, and work hard everyday, and pay your taxes, you can be a good person, and make a bad decision, you can be a good American, even a family member, and support illegals, to stay here illegally, to do something illegal.
First it's War, second, it's illegal, and we are nothing else, if not a nation of LAWS.

By: Bruce H, Scroggins

Empty Apology and Hollow Rhetoric

by DNC


Washington, DC -- Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman today apologized for the "Southern Strategy," his party's despicable decision to ignore and demonize minorities for electoral gain in the 1960s and 1970s. Mehlman's empty apology for 30 year old political tactics lacks credibility in the face of President Bush's failed policies.

"The truth is the 'Southern strategy' lives today," said DNC Chair Howard Dean. "If Ken Mehlman feels like apologizing, he should start by apologizing for his party's use of divisive tactics in 2000, for using code words like 'quota' to divide African Americans, for demonizing gay people in 2004, and for the divisive use of immigration issues in 2006.

"If the Republican Party is really ready to change its stripes, they would denounce Mehlman's pledge to employ voter suppression tactics in this year's elections and join Democrats in rallying the nation around our common values and ideals.

"Mehlman's words ring hollow and lack credibility if he and President Bush aren't wil

ling to enact policies that truly expand opportunities and equality for all Americans, rather than policies that leave African Americans behind by driving up unemployment among African Americans and driving down home ownership rates. Under President Bush we've seen cuts to small business loans that are critical to expanding opportunity and cuts in funds for HIV/AIDS, an epidemic that is viciously claiming the lives of too many African Americans. Until President Bush and his Administration get serious about truly addressing these issues, not merely paying lip service to them, any apology rings hollow."

See below for a new document from DNC Research:

President Bush's Failed Leadership Leaves African Americans Behind

President Bush's record in the African American community is distinguished by a lot of rhetoric backed up with little action. While he talks of being a compassionate conservative, his consistent opposition to causes important to African Americans has severely damaged his credibility. Under the Bush Administration, African American unemployment has increased and funding for job training has decreased. His own No Child Left Behind Act has been severely underfunded and many African American seniors will be exposed to higher drug costs under his Medicare plan. Bush has consistently eliminated programs that help African Americans. It is morally irresponsible to slash funding for key education, health care, and job creation programs. Democrats believe that it is our responsibility to work with African Americans to ensure that the policies we pursue are consistent with the values we cherish and the promises made.
President Bush Does Little to Reach Out to African American Leaders

Bush African American Support Lacking Despite Claims of Outreach. The Republicans consistently claim they are reaching out to African Americans, yet Bush only received 11 percent of the African American vote in 2004 and 9 percent in 2000. [Sun-Sentinel, 10/24/04; CNN.com]

Bush Turns Down NAACP Convention Invitation for 5th Year. As the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People convenes its annual meeting, President Bush, for the fifth year in a row, has declined an invitation to speak at the convention. [Baltimore Sun, 7/9/05]

Bush Did Not Attend the 2004 NAACP Convention, Nor Any Other Convention During His Presidency. The White House initially attributed Bush's decision not to accept the invitation to speak at the NAACP annual convention to a scheduling conflict. It's the fourth straight year that Bush has declined an invitation to attend the NAACP convention, which opens today in Philadelphia and runs through Thursday. He is the first sitting president since Herbert Hoover not to address the group. [Reuters, 7/9/04; Knight-Ridder, 7/10/04]

* Bush Later Admitted that He Would Not Attend Because NAACP Leaders Called Him Names. "'I would describe my relationship with the current leadership as basically non-existent,' Bush told reporters. 'You've heard the rhetoric and the names they've called me.' Bush added that he 'admired some' NAACP leaders and said he would seek members' support 'in other ways.'" [Knight-Ridder, 7/10/04]

Bush Has Purposely Ignored the Congressional Black Caucus. "Bush did meet with the Congressional Black Caucus during his first two weeks in office -- on Jan. 31, 2001 -- but... Bush has repeatedly turned down requests to meet with the group since then. Caucus members have complained that not only has Bush refused to meet with them on specific issues, including his plans to attack Iraq, but also the White House often has not even responded to their letters." [Washington Post, 10/14/04]

Bush Refused To Commit To CBC Agenda. Shortly after Bush's second inauguration, Bush again met with the group, but would not commit to anything on their agenda. Bush simply agreed "to consider proposals to end racial disparities." Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said that Bush seemed surprised by the drastic disparities that existed, replying to their statements with "visible grunts." Rep. Watt said, "It was like every time a new piece of information was hitting the president, he was being hit in the stomach." [CNN, 1/27/05; Dallas Morning News, 1/27/05]
Bush Opposes Affirmative Action Programs Used by African Americans

Bush Opposed Affirmative Action on the Same Day As MLK's Birthday. On January 15, 2003, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, the Bush Administration announced it would be submitting two friend-of-the-court briefs opposing affirmative action at the University of Michigan, wrongly asserting that the University's policies "amount to a quota system." Bush "called affirmative action 'fundamentally flawed,' as the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 examined whether considering race as a factor in admissions to the University of Michigan was constitutional." [Detroit Free Press, 8/30/04; New York Times, 1/16/03]

Bush Deliberately and Wrongly Identified University of Michigan Admission System as a "Quota." During his announcement that his Administration would oppose the University of Michigan in its affirmative action cases before the Supreme Court, Bush stated that Michigan's admissions policies "amount to a quota system that unfairly rewards or penalizes prospective students based solely on their race." According to the New York Times, Bush's use of the racially- charged word "quota" was strategic because of the strong negative reaction the word elicits in polls. The Supreme Court rejected Bush's position, ruling that the Constitution "does not prohibit the law school's narrowly tailored use of race in admissions decisions to further a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body." [New York Times, 1/16/03; 6/23/03; United States Supreme Court]

Under Bush Administration, Unemployment in the African American Community is at its Highest Levels in Years

Bush's Policies Result in High Unemployment Rate in African Americans. The unemployment rate among African Americans remained over 10.5 percent in 2005 - remaining at levels not seen since 1997. The Bush budget squanders an additional $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years on more tax cuts for the wealthy, but does little to create good-paying jobs here at home. And these tax cuts will squeeze out a range of programs to help create new opportunities, support strong national security, and restore prosperity. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05]

Bush Budget Cuts Funding for Small Businesses. There are more than 820,000 African American owned small businesses. The budget cuts funding for the Small Business Administration, which helps minority-owned small businesses grow, by $85 million from last year's proposal. The budget also provides no resources for the Microloan program, even though this program is critical to aiding minority communities by supplying small loans to start up newly established and growing small businesses. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05]

Bush Denies Job Training Opportunities. Some African American workers lack the academic preparation and skills training needed for economic success. Yet the Bush Administration shortchanges the job training needed to create new opportunities. The budget cuts job training services by about $280 million and block-grants the adult, youth, and dislocated worker programs and the Employment Service program, jeopardizing critical training resources and particularly harming dislocated workers and at-risk teenagers. The budget cuts other job training and related programs, including trade adjustment assistance, veterans' training, vocational rehabilitation, and adult education by about $300 million. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05]

Bush Continues to Underfund Critical Education Programs that Help African Americans

Bush Underfunds his Own No Child Left Behind Program by $13.1 Billion. Bush's budget provides $13.1 billion less in funding for No Child Left Behind than the 2002 law authorized, leaving 3 million children without the help with reading and math that they were promised under Title I, and cuts Education Department funding below this year's level. More than 15 percent of African Americans over the age of 25 do not have a high school education. This is the fourth year in a row that Bush has underfunded his own program. [National Priorities Project, 2/14/05]

* Bush Budget Offers Title I Schools $7.2 Billion Less Than Promised, Leaves 2.4 Million Low-Income Children Behind. Bush's FY 2005 budget proposes $20.5 billion for Title I, $7.2 billion less than was authorized under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Bush's last four budgets have cumulatively provided $22.4 billion less than what was pledged under NLCB. The President's budget would allow Title I to serve 2.4 million fewer low-income students than the amount authorized under NCLB. [President's FY 2005 Budget, www.ed.gov; historical data at www.ed.gov; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, 2/6/04]

Bush Budget Guts Head Start. There are 324,700 African American children being served through Head Start, but the President's budget eliminates the comprehensive educational, health, and nutrition services that children in this program currently receive. In addition, the budget freezes Head Start funding at this year's level, meaning that 25,000 children will have to be cut from the program next year. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05]

Despite Bush's State of the Union Promise, His Budget Underfunds Pell Grants by $6.6 Billion. In his 2005 State of the Union Address Bush promised to increase the maximum value of Pell Grants, but he continues to fall well short of his 2000 promise to increase the value to $5,100. And Bush continues to provide $6.6 billion less than is authorized under the Higher Education Act. Only 17 percent of African American adults have their bachelor's degree, and yet the budget completely eliminates the $306 million GEAR-UP, $313 million Upward Bound, and $150 million Talent Search programs, which ensure that high-risk students succeed in high school and move on to college. As a result, about 1.3 million students - 70 percent of whom are minorities - will lose support they need to make it to college. [Bush, State of the Union Address, 2/2/05; Bush Speech in Hampton, New Hampshire, 8/30/00; Federal Pell Grant End of Year Report 2003-2004; National Education Association, 2/05; Office of Management and Budget, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2006, 2/7/05]

Bush Administration's Social Security Plan Negatively Affects

African Americans

African Americans Rely Disproportionately On Social Security For Their Retirement. "Without Social Security, 60 percent of African American seniors would live in poverty." African Americans are less likely to have additional retirement income beyond Social Security and 40 percent of African Americans rely solely on Social Security as their only source of retirement income. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05; Dollars and Sense, November/December 2004]

African Americans Would Be Hurt By Raise In Retirement Age. Bush's argument that "African American males die sooner than other males do, which means the system is inherently unfair to a certain group of people. And that needs to be fixed" is inaccurate. "By age 65, when Social Security's full retirement benefits start to be paid, the difference between life expectancy for the average African American and white male is less than two years." The statistic Bush is citing is skewed by high death rates of African Americans children and youth adults. Thus, African Americans would be harmed by Bush putting a raise in the retirement age on the table. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05; Bush Conversation on Social Security, 2/3/05]

Bush's Plan Would Cut Benefits For Seniors. The Washington Post reported, "a former senior administration official who recently discussed Social Security strategy with Bush aides said the change in the indexing formula 'is assumed to be a part of any final solution.'" According to the Social Security Administration's own chief actuary, steep benefit cuts would occur under a plan to change the formula by which Social Security benefits are calculated. By setting first year benefits according to rises in inflation, as opposed to wage growth, benefits would be reduced dramatically, as wages generally rise more rapidly than prices. If you retire in 2022, the Bush recalculation will cut your benefits by almost 10 percent. If you retire in 2042, the Bush benefit cut will total more than 25 percent. By 2075, our children and grandchildren will be facing staggering cuts of 46 percent to their benefits. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/21/04; Washington Post, 1/4/05]

Bush's Plan Makes It Harder For Survivors To Receive Benefits. Bush has claimed his plan will allow seniors to pass on Social Security, saying "...when you pass on, you can pass that money on to whomever you want." However, his plan actually makes it more difficult to do this. "The Bush privatization plan would require retirees whose traditional Social Security benefits are below the poverty line to purchase annuities 'to ensure a stream of monthly income over the worker's life expectancy.' Unless individuals' account balances are in excess of the 'poverty- protection threshold,' retirees may not withdraw their money. Only unused money from the seniors' funds, if there is any, can be passed on to heirs." [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05; Bush Speech, 3/4/05]

Bush Administration Fails to Make Healthcare Affordable for

African Americans

Bush Administration Budget Fails to Make Health Care Affordable. There are 7.4 million African Americans without health insurance and millions more who can barely afford to pay their premiums. However, the budget does not improve access to health care. Instead, it cuts $60 billion from Medicaid, decimating health care funding for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities and making it even harder for families to afford nursing home care. These cuts will shift costs to states and beneficiaries, cut payments for providers, which will undermine their ability to provide care, and increase the number of the uninsured. While the Bush budget claims to reinvest $15 billion of the $60 billion in cuts back into Medicaid, the bulk of that spending is from an "outreach initiative" which is unlikely to ever produce any new coverage, as many states have moved to make it more difficult for families to enroll. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05; Kaiser Family Foundation Issue Brief, http://www.kff.org/minorityhealth/7293.cfm , 7/8/05]]

Bush Cuts Office of Minority Health. African American men suffer from heart disease at nearly twice the rate of whites and those under 65 suffer from prostate cancer at nearly twice the rate of whites. And yet, the President's budget makes a six percent cut in the Office of Minority Health, which supports disease prevention, health promotion, and educational efforts that focus on health concerns that cause the high rate of disease in racial and ethnic minority communities. [Democratic Policy Committee report, 3/05; HHS, FY 2002-2006 Budget in Brief]

Bush Budget Underfunded Programs that Help Combat AIDS In the African American Community. In his State of the Union address, Bush outlined an agenda aimed at U.S. inner cities, including a pledge to fight the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community. Bush also asked Congress to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act "to encourage prevention and provide care and treatment" to people living with the disease. "And as we update this important law, we must focus our efforts on fellow citizens with the highest rates of new cases: African-American men and women," Bush said. However, Bush's FY 2006 budget proposal includes cuts for some domestic HIV/AIDS programs, including a $14 million decrease for the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Program and a $4 million reduction for CDC's Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. [Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/3/05; San Francisco Chronicle, 2/8/005]

* The HIV/AIDS Epidemic is a Health Crisis for African Americans. In 2001, HIV/AIDS was among the top 3 causes of death for African American men aged 25-54 and among the top 4 causes of death for African American women aged 20-54. It was the number one cause of death for African American women aged 25-34. [CDC Report on AIDS and African Americans, http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/afam.pdf , 7/8/05]