A GATEKEEPER ADMINISTRATION
From its inauguration, the modus operandi of the Bush Administration has been t0 preserve and protect civil and legal privileges, wealth, natural resources, and basic human rights for the exclusive use of elites. The millions of ordinary Americans who make up the population of the United States have been regarded as mere chattel fit only to be used. In every governmental policy executed, from the Black and Hispanic soldiers fighting the war in Iraq to the supercilious comments of Barbara Bush on the lives of the poor in New Orleans, the imprint of this attitude lies clearly exposed.
Why was FEMA and other government agencies so slow in responding to the disaster along the Gulf Coast? Because the aim of our government was not to serve the needs of people, but to guard the gates protecting the interests of itself and its corporate confederates. The deliberate aim was to hold off assistance, to stall as long as possible, and when finally forced to act, to allow only bare minimum resources to be made available that would appease the public. Money spent on the poor in Gulf states, especially on poor blacks, would, in a word be money wasted.
You will recall that the initial government response was a law and order response. The troops came in with loaded weapons pointed at innocent flood victims. Fortunately, the scheme failed. The media, in its own selfish motivation, bluntly revealed to the whole world not only the magnitude, but the puniness and inappropriateness of the response. Our government responded because it had to, or else lose all credibility and the the ability to retain the power its minions so eagerly covet.
Thus, do we see the sad effects of a government of gatekeepers. Our nation has fallen mightily. And we have seen only the first steps in the ultimate tragedy that Katrina initiated. Just wait until the corporations, the no-bid contracts, the special interest profiteers, the crooked politicians, and the whole range of swindlers set up shop. This time our government will be a facilitator and the gates to booty will be thrown wide open. It won't be a pretty picture.
Why was FEMA and other government agencies so slow in responding to the disaster along the Gulf Coast? Because the aim of our government was not to serve the needs of people, but to guard the gates protecting the interests of itself and its corporate confederates. The deliberate aim was to hold off assistance, to stall as long as possible, and when finally forced to act, to allow only bare minimum resources to be made available that would appease the public. Money spent on the poor in Gulf states, especially on poor blacks, would, in a word be money wasted.
You will recall that the initial government response was a law and order response. The troops came in with loaded weapons pointed at innocent flood victims. Fortunately, the scheme failed. The media, in its own selfish motivation, bluntly revealed to the whole world not only the magnitude, but the puniness and inappropriateness of the response. Our government responded because it had to, or else lose all credibility and the the ability to retain the power its minions so eagerly covet.
Thus, do we see the sad effects of a government of gatekeepers. Our nation has fallen mightily. And we have seen only the first steps in the ultimate tragedy that Katrina initiated. Just wait until the corporations, the no-bid contracts, the special interest profiteers, the crooked politicians, and the whole range of swindlers set up shop. This time our government will be a facilitator and the gates to booty will be thrown wide open. It won't be a pretty picture.
posted by Jerry at 2:55 PM
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