Why haven’t I blogged (much) about Katrina? Well, I tend not to get political in my blog entries (anyone who knows me knows where I stand on most issues–and those who don’t know me can probably place safe bets, based on my words when I *am* vocal about political issues) and when I think about the state of disaster relief (and the lack of action that could’ve occurred BEFORE the disaster to lessen the loss), I get pissed.

Watched most of the 48 Hours‘ episode on Katrina and, in a story about FEMA, heard this gem:

What does FEMA say about all this? That this was a storm like no other. Local FEMA coordinator Michael Beeman says he doesn’t want to bring in too many people too fast and overtax the devastated infrastructure.

“How many of you are having problems getting gas and you’re asking us to bring more people in here? What we’re trying to do is to think the process out,” he says.

THINK THE PROCESS OUT? Are you fucking kidding me? No, I’m not asking anyone to charge in anywhere half-cocked, but for the love of God, FEMA, don’t you EXIST to be in service when disaster strikes? Isn’t a part of your raison d’être the fact that you HAVE FUCKING PLANS IN PLACE FOR HOW TO HANDLE DISASTERS?

This is an embarrassment, plain and simple.

I don’t care what your politics are. Bureaucracy at this level isn’t ABOUT your political agenda or your beliefs. Bureaucracy at this level equals an abandonment of a population. This is a form of genocide.