LOL @ the eloquent wording of Scotz's last sentence (well, his whole post but the last line was the clincher)

Maybe this is already common knowledge but I read last night that La's welfare money (not sure what America's exact terminology is) was to be distributed on Sept. 2, days after the storm.

I understand that it would have been impossible to give $$$ early to residents on assistance, however you'd think authorities would have been aware of this budget dilemma.

It really struck home to me because I live in such a po' 'hood. Government cheques are issued towards the end of the month here (I'm not sure if it's always the 27th but I'm pretty sure it is).

You can see how desperate people are before their cheques arrive and, if a calamity of Katrina's nature were to hit this area a few days before cheques are cut, people would be fucked.

It's only the middle of the month right now and people are already getting an early start on earning extra money (read participating in more criminal activity, prostitution, drug dealing, arguments, general loudness, etc. than occurs for the two weeks or so after cheques are issued).

I'm sure the timing of the storm/gov't assistance was part of the reason people acted the way they did. Of course, I'm not defending the looting of TVs and alcohol but if I was a young parent on assistance and had no money until my next cheque, there is no doubt in my mind I would have smashed a shop window to get diapers and formula for my child.

And, to also comment on people who think events would have been the same if WJC was in power, I also respectfully disagree. He's been called the first black president by some & let's not forget, he grew up po', too. I think America was lucky to have such an intelligent man in power. Not only that, he remembered where he came from & endeavoured to improve the lot of all.

I think Clinton

a) wouldn't have been on vacation for five weeks to being with
&
b) would have moved White House operations as close to the action as he could for maximum impact

I really can't picture him being shamed into addressing/recognizing the seriousness of the situation.

I am an unabashed fan of him, can you tell? :better: