The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 18)

, as well as Neumayr's Masques of Death and this week's Reader Mail postings: /p>

I agree, somewhat!

First, how many people did the state fail by not providing public transportation out of New Orleans. After, we live in a society that worships the auto but not all have a working one. Therefore, when a government official orders an evacuation from an area due to natural activities, he/she needs to be able to provide all those unable to leave under their own power the means to do so!

Second, if as good citizens with more than usual common sense, people prepare themselves and their abode to ride out emergencies for an extended period, then they should be able to thumb their noses at government officials ordering a forced evacuation. If Joe Citizen, et al., has taken the time to locate his house on an accessible hill that is above most conceivable flood zones, built an abode that can withstand high winds, provision it to supply them for several months, without any assistance from outside sources -- to include solar power, generators, water supply and treatment, sewage disposal (composting toilets) and pest control, then he is right to be very reluctant to believe or follow any order the politicians may give concerning his remaining there. In fact this self-reliant individual is more uniquely qualified to provide for himself than his elected leader and deserves to be let alone. If government can't leave him alone, then **** the government, forcefully.

p>Third, if the media spent more time examining the real issues and reporting them in a manner that most of the constituents can understand, then the precursors that contributed to severity the present problem could have possibly be prevented. br> -- Tom Pendleton /p> p> Thank you for your article, and for speaking the "obvious" truth of things. Of course for those of us steeped in the Christian faith, this is nothing new. When God held Adam responsible for his own sin, his response was, "The woman you gave to me, she gave me fruit from the tree and I ate." Owning responsibility is a sign of tremendous personal and moral courage. It is also a constant struggle. As John Calvin said, "Man's capacity to deceive himself knows no bounds." We too often look to someone else to blame rather that taking responsibility for ourselves and of our own situation. At the same time I am amazed at our ability to simply endure an unacceptable situation in life. Far too often it is easier just to trudge along, often in mediocrity, or worse, rather than take the effort to dig deep, see ourselves honestly, face the apathy we have acquiesced to, and to do the work that is need to make a better life for ourselves. That is the crime of the welfare state. With the honorable goal of "helping the poor," the state removes the incentive of "bottoming out" as a spur to personal renewal and change while providing a perfect target at which to point our fingers, the government. How tragic that much of the culture of a whole city had descended into aecidia. How tragic that finger pointing, name calling and politicking has replaced concupiscence. br> -- Rev. Steve Baarda br> Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

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