A National Disgrace

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


The country seems to be coming apart at the seams over Katrina and the total disaster that has fallen upon Mississippi and Louisiana.

Just to give you an idea, here is a small sampling:

  • People in the Superdome have been without food and water for days. The toilets are overflowing and people are desperately waiting for medical supplies and transportation. Many people have died waiting in the Superdome – including several babies – as the number of trapped has ballooned to over 30,000.
  • A chemical depot exploded this morning in New Orleans along the Mississippi River, sending black plumes of smoke hovering over the city.
  • Under the Same Sun points out that President Bush’s main concern seems to be “insurance fraud.”
  • Flagrancy to Reason mentions that there are still hospitals that have not been evacuated – once again, the main concern seems to be rescuing flat screen TV sets rather than the sick, the elderly, and the homeless.
  • Majikthise notes that the Department of Homeland Security first rejected aid workers from Canada bringing fresh water and medical supplies. Happily, the DHS finally caved in but now that the rescuers have reached the scene things are too out of control for them to do any good.
  • And as I noted last night, Michelle Malkin – apologist for torture and police brutality – actually said she was “heartbroken” when cops in New Orleans failed to arrest looters who were stealing food. It is important to keep in mind: she said she was heartbroken not because they were stealing food, but because the cops didn’t arrest them.
  • BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

    December is make or break for us. A full one-third of our annual fundraising comes in this month alone. A strong December means our newsroom is on the beat and reporting at full strength. A weak one means budget cuts and hard choices ahead.

    The December 31 deadline is closing in fast. To reach our $400,000 goal, we need readers who’ve never given before to join the ranks of MoJo donors. And we need our steadfast supporters to give again today—any amount.

    Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do.

    That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

    BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

    December is make or break for us. A full one-third of our annual fundraising comes in this month alone. A strong December means our newsroom is on the beat and reporting at full strength. A weak one means budget cuts and hard choices ahead.

    The December 31 deadline is closing in fast. To reach our $400,000 goal, we need readers who’ve never given before to join the ranks of MoJo donors. And we need our steadfast supporters to give again today—any amount.

    Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do.

    That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

    We Recommend

    Latest

    Sign up for our free newsletter

    Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

    Get our award-winning magazine

    Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

    Subscribe

    Support our journalism

    Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

    Donate