"In this place, there's a custom for the funerals of jazz musicians. The funeral procession parades slowly through the streets, followed by a band playing a mournful dirge as it moves to the cemetery. Once the casket has been laid in place, the band breaks into a joyful 'second line' -- symbolizing the triumph of the spirit over death. Tonight the Gulf Coast is still coming through the dirge -- yet we will live to see the second line." These were the closing lines of President Bush's address to the nation this evening, which he gave from Jackson Square in New Orleans. President Bush gave this speech tonight to announce new initiatives regarding the rebuilding of Louisiana.
I was listening to the speech during my drive home, and at first I was a tad concerned about the direction he was taking that part of the country. After his ideas settled in my mind for a while, however, I realized that most of what he's promoting is routed in classic conservatism.
Bush hit the nail on the head when he said, "It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity; it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty; and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region." It's this sort of empowerment that will allow the people of New Orleans, who used to rely on welfare and government handouts, to take their future into their own hands, to get jobs, create businesses, and reduce the poverty level. This brand of thinking comes straight from the conservative thinker's handbook, a free market in which small businesses drive the economy. It's an incorrect stereotype (as most are) when people say that Republicans only care about big business. The truth is, they care about BUSINESS. All business, big or small. It's the very definition of capitalism and the economy that spirits democracy and freedom. By people actually working in New Orleans, in theory, the poverty level would lessen or disappear.
The one thing that initially concerned me with Bush's speech was the amount of money the federal government will be spending to rebuild. One thing that the GOP has always prided itself on, since the very beginning, is limited government. That means less spending, less federal involvement, and more freedom for the American people. Of course, this can't always be the case. That's when I realized that no matter what this money is going to be spent. It's in the statutes that we must rebuild after a disaster like this hits... so no matter if there is a Democrat or a Republican in office, the $200 billion is going to be spent. The difference lays in how it's going to be used. It's logical to assume that a Democratic president would probably hand it over as a form of welfare, giving these displaced people money until they can get back on their feet... and of course they wouldn't, they would just live the good life and never get jobs. Bush is taking the classic Republican route by saying, "We'll give you enough money to cover the costs of educating yourself so you can get a job, or the money it will cost to take care of your kids while you are out looking for a job. We'll give you some land if you promise to build a home on it. We'll give you tax breaks if you open a small business. You just have to get up and do it!" Now, I'm just paraphrasing, but this is essentially what he's doing here.
What's happening to Louisiana is a total revamp in terms of how that economy will run. The Democrats, for years, have had their chance to make things work down there. All we got was one of the most crime ridden cities in America. It's time for Republicans to give it a shot. As Rush Limbaugh said today on his radio program (the most listened radio show in the country), "It has been nothing but political opportunism and corruption and a demonstrated failure of ideology and that failure is liberalism." It's proven that conservative economic policy works, and works well. Enterprise zones and tax breaks for businesses is the best way to rebuild, and rebuild quickly. There is a reason America has the best economy in the world, it's because of the spirit of independent capitalism. And I believe that this sort of method is going to work alot faster than government handouts and welfare programs.
My only thoughts right now have to do with the other spending the government is doing right now. Despite Bush's wish to keep his bills "pork-free," senators have loaded up his farm and highway bills with so much spending that they barely resemble their once-lean selves. Every congressmen wants to grab a little cash for their state when it comes to highway repair and construction, and now the plan is so bloated that one might think a Democrat wrote it. Now that the plan to rebuild has been unleashed, I think Congress needs to go back and trim the fat off of these expensive expenditures and put some of that cash elsewhere. Oh, and tap ANWR and build some more refineries (you know, because I always have to throw that in there.)
Bush's speech was quite a home-run tonight, and will hopefully help bring up his sagging approval rating. He acknowledged the fact that government response to the crisis was terrible, and he's taking care not to just rebuild New Orleans, but rebuild it without the poverty that was so evident before. As the former Governor of Louisiana said afterwards on ABC Radio, "The devil's in the details." We'll see what happens to Bush's plan as it gets pushed through Congress.
Things are looking pretty nasty out there. I have felt sort of out of touch with the happenings of the world since we have opted to not get cable in my dorm room. I read the Drudge Report at least three times a day, keeping on top of what I can... but it wasn't until today, when I listened to Hannity and watched the news, that I realized the insanity and devastation that is going on down in the South. That, mixed together with the added stress that outside forces are placing on the American economy and the war in Iraq, could make for a pretty bleak view of the state of our beloved union. And yet, I remain cautiously optimistic as I have full faith and trust in our president's leadership abilities.
The situation on the ground in New Orleans and the surrounding areas and states is something out of a movie. Actually, it's out of a few movies. The equation consists of one part "Mad Max", another part "The Warriors" with a healthy helping of "Waterworld." It's absolutely sickening to think that there are so many pathetic lowlifes out there that are taking advantage of this situation for personal gain. There are numerous, and nauseating, accounts of thugs looting TVs and DVD players, raping women, killing cops, and warring amongst rival gangs. There are hundreds of accounts of heroes saving lives; people sticking out their necks for the safety of those who can't help themselves. But all of this seems to be overshadowed by the dark and terrifying side of human nature.
I just sat in awe as I heard stories about a car jacker shooting a police officer in the head in order to get away with a Cadillac, or a man killing his sister of a bag of ice. It's simply horrid that people would stoop to this level of animalism (a scene eerily similar to that of Spielberg's "War of the Worlds"). But I also have to wonder why these states weren't better prepared for this. It was a category five hurricane that was immanently bearing down on these states, and yet people obviously weren't properly evacuated. This storm certainly didn't sneak up on New Orleans or Alabama. I just have to wonder what the governors and mayors were thinking.
Although it is not evident how badly these people were coddled all of their lives. After seeing clip after clip of urban residents screaming about how the "state" and the "government" needs to be taking care of them, I am beginning to realize how important it is to stress independence and self-reliance. These people waited around expected to be handed an answer, handed a safe-haven, and now they are left with nothing. The politicians of New Orleans are largely to blame, and after seeing these videos and interviews, it's clear how little they did to help these people rise up.
What bothers me almost as much is the opportunist liberal senators who are trying to pin this on President Bush. There are a number of Democrats out there using this tragedy for political gain, taking every chance they can to make a pot shot at our Commander-in-Chief. Ted Kennedy was quoted saying that this whole natural disaster may not have happened if President Bush had joined the Kyoto Treaty or had done more to stop O-Zone depleting gases. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the leftists would blame a NATURAL disaster on Bush. They would blame the lack of oxygen in space on Bush if they could. But I applaud the President for taking the first steps to helping these struggling people. He has already stated that the national government will bear the burden of the $1 Billion+ a day expenses it will take to clean up the area. This certainly isn't going to help our bloated budget. Some folks would be apt to argue our deficit is so large due to the war in Iraq, but then again all of those petty, pork-barrelled highway projects the Senate plugged into Bush's highway bill aren't helping either.
Perhaps the largest ripple (excuse the pun) to come from this disaster is the immediate rising gas prices. Just today prices lept about $.70 in Western PA, making the average price of gas $3.19. While that is cheaper than some places, it's definitely the highest I've seen in my four years of driving. America is caught in a rather tough spot. On one hand, the gas prices were rising anyways due to the lack of oil refineries in the States (of course, we'd like to build more but those enviro-weenies won't let us... but they sure are happy to complain about the high price of gas!). Now that this hurricane took down a bunch of oil lines, prices temporarily sky rocketed until they can get the things back online. Of course, now would be a great time for America to tap the oil that is just wasting away in the Pacific or in ANWR. The first to complain about the gas are the first to kibosh any idea the right has to fix the problem. But I digress, because this is becoming exactly what the left is trying to do: make this tragedy political.
But what good can possibly come out of all of this? While do I say that I am cautiously optimistic? Because, as Reagan so often showed, optimism is what gets stuff done. Sitting around and moping about the destruction and looting isn't going to solve the problem. Swift action, heroism, prayers and support are what's going to change the situation down there. This president is capable of all of that. He has faced so many challenges and tragedies during his four and a half years in office, and I know that he is the right man for the job. We need to get the national guard, coast guard, and any available police officers down there to crack a few thug-skulls and get everything under control. When we stop the rioting and looting of children's hospitals, then the strength of the human spirit can take over and begin to put that place back together. I give much praise to the great state of Texas, who has already vowed to take in over 100,000 refugees, giving them shelter, food and aid. I am just curious to see how much international aid we get (since we helped so much in the tsunami relief just months earlier).
Keep that chin up... things will get better.
