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Katrina will come to be less the full force super-hurricane that hit the coasts of the Gulf region. and more a super-calamity in human suffering aggravated by a gross lack in leadership.  Rather than replacing Camille as the standard for Mother Nature's rage and punishment- as widely reported, Katrina installed itself as the yardstick by which to measure how politicians care, and serve the needs of a region. or a nation.

America is replete with career-politicians born, or self-anointed, to lead. at all levels of government.  What becomes obvious when a Katrina comes along is that for the many "born to lead," there is only a scant few "committed to serve." And just as heroic acts by the commonest of people take place during these disasters, the bumbling in leadership and lack of human compassion loom high before our eyes.

Congress, as it always does on these somber situations, will investigate. and perhaps find fault with the French and Spaniards for building communities along the Gulf; or, take on Jefferson for negotiating the Louisiana Purchase; or even debate why we might be so far behind the Dutch in dike engineering technology- and the ability to build safe population centers at or below sea level.

And, as always, our inept, and/or uncaring, politicians will miss the message written in bold capital letters before them.  And we, as voters, will also miss the message written for us. for we never learn, and keep on electing the same self-serving, incompetent bunch.  Which brings me to a comment made by an Irish friend, a much respected management theorist in Europe, last November, shortly after our presidential election.

If only for anecdotal reasons, we must agree that each village should be allowed to have its idiot," he told me. "What really confounds me," he went on to say "is when he gets elected, then reelected, mayor."  That says something about the villagers. and the villagers'R'us.

One of the saddest parts to Katrina's calamitous aftermath is the lack of dignity and honor in politicians, or their designees.  In the past we have seen how in other parts of the world, even lesser catastrophes are often followed, without instigation, by the resignation of those in authority.  Even in situations where neither incompetence, nor negligence is present.  But honor and dignity don't blend well with American politics.

Right on Katrina's trail, there is another hurricane taking shape. It has been breeding for two decades over the unnaturally warm economy, picking up momentum in the last four years, and poised to takeoff with gale force.  A hurricane wide and deep enough to cover the far reaches of the nation in one direct hit: a horrific, magnitude five, economic hurricane that could redefine the standard of living for most Americans.

And just as Katrina has been measured against Camille; Alan will be measured against the "Great Depression" of seven decades ago.  Using the "D" word is not intended as alarming or prophetic, and definitely not apocalyptic; but only as a realistic scenario of what awaits the US economy after a generation under Mr. Greenspan's baton.  

Alan; can anyone think of a more befitting name?  A name that will forever honor (dishonor, really) the man who has made a stew of economics and political scatology. feeding it to us in a bowl of optimism, while playing the clarinet and, like a snake charmer, making the economy dance to the rhythm of politicians. and the special interests they serve.  Yes, Alan Greenspan, the naked emperor whom to-date so many economists in the US still see fully clothed, and dare not challenge.  And those who do tread warily, as if afraid to antagonize the politically-herded, lied-to masses.

Perhaps America's Economist-Emeritus is hoping that this economic hurricane will not take place until after his retirement in January 2006. In fact, he is beginning of late to sound an amber alert. years after the fact.  Here is a man who for years when staring at an extremely obese individual, pauses; then, incredibly, in a professorial low-talker fashion, makes the solemn pronouncement that such person "might be overweight." Wow!  A level of tauro-scatology [read: bullshit] that elevates him to the BS-stature of a Bill Clinton, a Rafael Palmeiro. or other influential, powerful people who feel they can color humility and honesty as they see fit. because, like L'Oreal users, they are important: "they are worth it."

In fairness to Mr. Greenspan, he did not compose or orchestrate this Opus that for many will turn out to be an economic funeral march.  Predatory capitalism, self-serving politicians, and insatiable greed in people, co-orchestrated this state of the economy. all the Fed Chairman did was to give his imprimatur to their whims with an ill-advised monetary policy. As a result, and because of what he did, or failed to do, during his tenure, Americans are ending up.

• Disregarding a priori huge foreign trade imbalances, unlimited foreign debt, and globalization. without any discussion at the "people" level of how this foreign dependence may impact everyone's future in the US, not just the privileged class.
• Welcoming overvaluation of assets, particularly real estate and corporate stocks, at inflated levels that promote "fictitious" wealth which in turn brings irrational economic behavior, such as acquisition of unnecessary debt and wasteful spending.
• Accepting grossly misleading government data on inflation, unemployment and other "filtered" indicators that portray the economy through politically-colored glasses.

Unlike Katrina, which for the most part will only prove catastrophic to the have-nots of a vast region along the Gulf Coast, Alan will play economic havoc with everyone but a few very wealthy Americans.  It should prove to be an equal opportunity economic disaster.

Whether or not Katrina is the precursor to Alan remains to be seen; but at day's end, whether next month or next year, Katrina will prove to be a manmade disaster, and so will Alan.

© 2005 Ben Tanosborn

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/324157.shtml

Richard Hoagland reports Ham Radio operators ordered by FEMA excluded from relief effort
author: Impeach Bush NOW!
Tuned into 1190 AM radio right now, yes it's clearchannel, but coasttocoast has become a better source than Pacifica for critical reporting on the Bush administration and both the Democrat and Republican complicity with its imperialist agenda and war on our Bill of Rights.
Hoagland also says that after he heard Mayor Nagin's Thurs interview "saying things that needed to be said", Hoagland and some associates organized a convoy of rented trucks with supplies, food and water and drove them to New Orleans, along a route obtained from the New Orleans police by phone, but the convoy was turned away by the Red Cross, Nat'l Guard and FEMA.
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

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ARRL President Urges Orderly Amateur Radio Response to Katrina: 03.Sep.2005 23:41

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Impeach Bush NOW! link


Now, how is it that Ham Radio operators are being told by their own organization's head that they can't be trusted to do what they've done for every other major disaster for decades now, including 911, which is to move quickly and independently into concerted action to save lives?

ARRL President Urges Orderly Amateur Radio Response to Katrina:
http://www.eham.net/articles/11850


Here are his comments - in context 04.Sep.2005 04:35

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I was actually tuning in to listen to the segment with Matt Savinar but I happened to record the last few minutes where he discused the radio operators. He's conclusion, that it points to a "manufactured"/"managed" disaster. I'm not sure what to make of it as I didn't hear the rest of the show. I'm just tossing this out here so that it's more clear what the guy said. Make of it what you will.

-ziggy

Richard_Hoagland_Coast_to_Coast_Sept-3-2005



what don't you get? 04.Sep.2005 06:45

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FEMA from 1979 has been America's road to fascism. The U.S. has to destroy FEMA, period. It has to be removed entirely and made into preparation frameworks for emergencies instad of generic "lock down" justifications that support martial law. Remove its media blackout powers as well. Fascists have taken root in the USA and they are using FEMA to redesign the whole politics of the USA.


weather modification bill introduced to US Senate 04.Sep.2005 10:37

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Dumplin' link


http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:1:./temp/~r109pNox5s

.... By Mrs. HUTCHISON:
S . 517 . A bill to establish a Weather Modification Operations and Research Board, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

....

The debate about the ability to manipulate the weather or not, will soon be ending with the conclusion that governments have the ability to change the weather. Dumplin'


FEMA is a Front 04.Sep.2005 12:22

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potomac link


http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/324039.shtml#194095


confrontational attitude 04.Sep.2005 14:13

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Back off buddy.

I know all about FEMA and the role it plays within the population control system. I'm just not convinced that the hurricane was a manufactured/managed weather event, and that is what Richard Hoagland appears to be suggesting (and yes, I'm also very familiar weather modification and weather warfare technologies as well and its history). Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. I haven't made any conclusion w/ respect to that and healthy skepticism is a good thing.

If you want to advocate your points of view, you would be wise to first present those viewpoints without excessive assumptions about the knowledge of your audience or the person you are "speaking" to.

-ziggy