Once again, a major disaster affects tens of thousands of Americans in the form of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. Once again, Americans generously respond with donations…at first. But the survivors will need help, big help, for years to come. Unfortunately, history suggests that there probably won’t be the sustained attention to Harvey required to make a difference. Just look at Katrina; 12 years later, parts of New Orleans still look like a war zone.
Disaster Fatigue
Ted Rall
Ted Rall is a syndicated political cartoonist for Andrews McMeel Syndication, WhoWhatWhy.org and Counterpoint. He is a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal, a graphic novelist and author of many books of art and prose, and an occasional war correspondent. He is, recently, the author of the graphic novel "The Stringer."
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That’s why we hairless apes banded together in the first place – you fall & I help you back up. I fall, and you help me. And as society grew, we found that it was even more economically efficient to provide a safety net for all of us. Even as the memory of the disaster du jour fades the victims can rest assured
that our pooled resources will be used to help them get back on their feet.
Then we’ll all get on our unicorns and fly to candyland!
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”
I’m always pleased to see Americans act like communists in these “paradises built in hell”, but the big parasites will never contribute to the victims any more than is necessary to pose as leaders of the parade, giving back just an inconsequential amount of the money they took from health care and infrastructure “trickle down” budgets.
I swore off the Red Cross years ago, after my brother told me that as a soldier in the 1950s, he (and others) had to pay for the packages of soaps and toiletries that were donated by school children across the country. I remember those drives for donations which were to be delivered to our armed forces members. I didn’t realize they had to pay in order to receive them.
But my judgment was confirmed after the infamous tornadoes hit downtown Little Rock. As a victim whose house was hit, I didn’t see a single Red Cross volunteer in my neighborhood, not even someone delivering sandwiches or serving coffee.
I agree with those Texas officials who said, “Don’t send them a penny!”
Don’t send them a penny!
That link isn’t working. Try this one. If it doesn’t get you there, I’m at a loss to explain why.
I swore off the Red Cross years ago, after my brother told me that as a soldier in the 1950s, he (and others) had to pay for the packages of soaps and toiletries that were donated by school children across the country. I remember those drives for donations which were to be delivered to our armed forces members. I didn’t realize they had to pay in order to receive them.
But my judgment was confirmed after the infamous tornadoes hit downtown Little Rock. As a victim whose house was hit, I didn’t see a single Red Cross volunteer in my neighborhood, not even someone delivering sandwiches.
I agree with those Texas officials who said, “Don’t send them a penny!”
https://www.thepinkarmadillo.com/2017/09/08/texas-donate-red-cross/
I came to the same conclusion by another path.
Not unrelated: today is 9/11. I’m seeing very few articles, cartoons, etc. Are we experiencing disaster fatigue? Or is it something else: disgust at the way Our Country responded?
It’s officially “Freedom Day” – even though that day had nothing to do with OUR freedom and everything to do with Middle Easterners reacting to our encroachment on theirs.
It is a day for reflection, just not necessarily the reflection that TPTB would prefer.
TPTB say it is for healing.
More likely is that they are trying to squeeze a little more hate out of it in their Third World War against the Third World. (Not my phraseology, but I forget whose)
I say quit picking on the scab if you want it to heal.
@ CrazyH –
The Bobby McIlvaine Act
I’m not having much luck with my links today. Try this:
https://beta.ae911truth.org/get-involved/bobby-mcilvaine-act
derlehrer – thanks for the link.
I am an unabashed Truther, but I gave up advocating some time ago. Perhaps a hundred years from now when it’s ancient history, the architects and engineers will have their say & The People will be ready to listen.
Until then, I’ve decided to adopt Noam Chomsky’s attitude: It doesn’t matter because American Imperialism will continue regardless.
Far innocents have have died since 9/11 than on 9/11. The three thousand people who died that day no longer care who is responsible.
The United States government spends annually over one million million (10¹²) USD of the funds it extracts from taxpayers for the military and the (un)intelligence agencies. Under these circumstances, it’s clear that there’s no money left to finance long-tern relief for persons struck by natural disasters. You pays your money and you takes your choice….
Henri