Katrina Ire

As the billions of dollars add up and the press reveals the finger-pointing and blamestorming that has ensued, the caring response of the American people has been wonderful. One can't open a magazine, turn on a television or listen to the radio without hearing about individuals who are donating time, money or goods to the relief effort.

While I applaud the motivation of these Samaritans, the reality that middle-class families are sacrificing (yet again) to underwrite the cleanup as wealthier Americans enjoy their tax-cuts and profit-swollen corporations make haste to dismantle remaining environmental restrictions, remains our dirty, little secret. Already spending into deficit, the Bush Administration and the Republican controlled congress are likely quite satisfied with this turn of events. If our federal government were doing its job and adequately financing prevention as it taxed appropriately, the "little guy" would not need to send his hard-earned hundred dollars to the Red Cross. It would mean, however, that the tax cuts and corporate welfare would not be so appealing. The system is broken and, just as we did with the New Orleans canals, we refuse to fix it.

What will the breach look like when it finally and inevitably comes. Riots in the streets? Economic revolution and collapse? I don't have those answers. Nevertheless, fear of the solution is rarely a good reason to avoid confronting a problem. Instead of finding someone to blame for the mess, this country needs to wake up and look to the future.