Katrina + Four

New Orleans Citizens Still Suffering

Recent media coverage concerning the recovery from Katrina shocked me. As I understand the situation we still have U. S. Citizens living in FEMA Trailers in the New Orleans Area.

Here we are in the United States of America and four years have passed and we still have U. S. Citizens living in deplorable conditions. May I remind you that this is the same U. S. of America where in the past ten months we have rescued Banks, AIG, Many Banks, helped General Motors and Chrysler Automobile Companies with Government Assistance and even stimulated the Economy with a "Cash for Clunkers" sales program.

Yet this same United States of America has yet to assist U. S. Citizens acquire suitable housing in the four years following Katrina. All of this happening in a County where the Leaders of our Federal Government labor to establish a National Health Care/National Health Care Insurance Reform for the good of all Citizens, including the possible illegal peoples who reside in our Country.

If this Federal Government is so compassionate I cannot understand why we have U. S. Citizens still living in deplorable conditions brought on by Katrina over four years ago.

So I am wondering today:

• Where is the Compassion at the Federal Level for our own Citizens who are victims of Katrina?
• Why did we have to wait until four years passed since Katrina before the Media brought this tragic and horrible situation to our attention?
• What is the Will of We The People regarding this situation? Maybe we have our priorities out of focus when we overlook a few thousand while we demand Health Care for those who may not be citizens of our Country.

There are those among us who undoubtedly state that it is not a problem that we have fellow Americans in this situation. May I remind these self-centered individuals that we never know when the next series of tragic events will not hit us and those who are self-centered!!

We have a fine country, but sometimes we get our priorities out of order. We need to focus on fixing the problems which Katrina delivered to us all. We are indeed all Americans first. I can state this fact today because I, as well as many, many thousands who have served, are serving, and will serve in the future to insure the freedoms.

From my point of view we must be concerned that "Katrina + Four" is even a fact of life. This situation should have been resolved within two years. But we have lost our focus and are looking to Washington to cure our Banking Problems, our Automobile Problems, etc.; even before we reach out in a caring/compassionate approach to our peers who are victims of Katrina.

Now, I am also aware of the ongoing relief efforts by many citizens and organizations to assist the Katrina victims; but the current process will take a long time until we all focus, we all as a Nation focus on these victims.

As it is we are all part of the problem when we turn a blind eye to our fellow citizens who are the victims of Katrina. They truly need our help and they needed it a few years ago. Now before you label me as an impatient citizen, put your self in the place of a Katrina Victim living in a cramped, possibly toxic, trailer for almost four years. We all deserve better.