Hurricane blame

[Casemaker]

Welcome to the land of the free. Free to come and go as you please. Free to board up windows, free to ignore weather warnings, free to stand on the side of the road out of town with your thumb out begging for a ride, free to take your gasless car to a gas station and beg for gas, free to wait for someone else to come save your ass, free to sit on that ass and pray to god for help.

What ever happened to "[insert your favorite deity here] helps those who help themselves." Here again, in times of strife, the question on everyone's mind becomes: "Who is to blame?" Well I know the answer.... I blame NOAA for not calling you personally to tell you a HUGE hurricane is coming to your house and to leave the area. I blame the Red Cross for not setting up a five star resort outside the predicted hurricane path 3 days before it hit and for not shuttling you there on a charter bus. I blame the mayor for not sending a limo to pick up your poor ass to get you out of town. I blame your mother for not smacking you upside the head more often as a child to knock more sense into you, and you for not smacking your stubborn mother when she said she wanted to stay. I believe it's President [insert whomever you like here: Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Lincoln, Washington... whatever.]'s fault for making you live below sea level in a geographic region prone to hurricanes. It's his fault you are poor, have 5 kids and no spouse, car, gas, food, water, scuba gear or gold chains around your neck. It's his fault your welfare check can't afford you an Escalade (or in this case a Zodiac with a 15HP Johnson outboard to get your soaking wet ass off your tin roof). [At least the numbskulls in the tornado belt have the common sense to build tornado proof basements to hide in. Oh wait... trailer parks... never mind.]

The people of this nation are becoming weaker and weaker- always looking for someone else to blame for their own predicament. It is always someone else's fault. I'm tired of people using socio-economic or "poor" as an excuse. "I can't feed my family 'cause I'm poor. I can't get a job 'cause I'm poor. I can't get an education 'cause I'm poor. I can't [whatever] 'cause I'm poor." I grew up poor and busted my ass to not be poor. This country gave me the freedom to do just that. I know that 99% of poor people are poor because they are just plain lazy. "Poor" is a choice, not an excuse.

What has happened to this area and the people in it is a tragedy. We as a country should do what is reasonable to help them. But before you go placing blame and pointing fingers at anyone else, point the finger at yourself (especially those of you waist deep in water) and ask yourself if you personally did everything you could to prevent it.

AMEN!!

[Economy Bob]

Casemaker, I couldnt say it better if I had tried!!! Those words you have written are some of the exact same sentiments I have had.
You know of course, that this opinion will not fit in "todays society" and are definately not "politically correct". Good luck weathering the storm about to befall us!

[Jimmy Sanderson]

I have had the opportunity to assist my church in sending a mobile kitchen and crew along with some medical personel to southern Mississippi to help out. The people there were so appreciative of all the efforts being made by their neighbors. It was a pleasure to help those who are willing to help themselves. I'm proud to live in a state where not everyone is looking for a handout and trying to blame others. Amen to all your statements about those that are blaming others. I was so sick and tired of folks yelling on TV because they were not given "hot meals" the day after the hurricane. I've seen a lot of days without a "hot meal" when there wasn't a hurricane.

[Alan in KY]

So true although I feel sympathy for everyone the hurricane hit. They knew it was coming so why not be ready? If you live on a creek, you might have a flood - that is a chance you take. I dont plan on having a flat tire, but I have a spare and a jack. I dont hunt but, I do have a shotgun and plenty of shells. I keep enough gas in at least one of my trucks to get me several miles if needed. Welfare is the worst thing that was ever started in this country. People need to learn to fend for themselves. It is not uncle sam's job to babysit us.

[Dan Donaldson]

Casemaker,

I know you and I have not agreed on some things in the past but I am right behind you on this one.

Dan Donaldson

[TABest55]

What a novel idea....take responsibility for your own lives. Where the government became our caretakers is beyond me. Right on the money Casemaker.

[KeithT]

Here in North Ga, they are building houses in flood plains and then wondering why they get water in them when it rains. Got one job I bid the guy built in a natural bowl and had 2 feet of water in his basement. Going to have to run 400 ft. of 16 inch french drain through the edge to drain it out. Hope it works. Keith

I agree with almost everything you say, except about the numbskulls that live in the tornado belt, I'm one of them, not by choice, but by necessity...Sorry Charlie, That's where we are, but we don't bitch and gripe at somebody else if our homes and family get blown away....down here it's an accepted risk, and fact of life..we just pick up what's left and go forward...no handouts expected or wanted...I too am sick that you and I and all the decent people of this country will have to rebuild and support, (once again) those who will not help themselves...I ain't a fan of Habitat for Humanity, by I recently talked to someone involved in that bunch, who told me first hand, that they couldn't get the whatever you call em's to work to rebuild their lives...hell, they'd have to wake them up to eat, and that ain't no crap.....no wonder the Hiwaiians wants their on economy back...I'm with 'em on that....