by Linda Beale
As we deal with the many situations that arose because of Katrina--our lack of preparedness, our failure to heed warning signs about environmental degradation, the inhumanity of some towards the weak and defenseless, the needless suffering, in these last few days, the inhumane separation of stressed people from their beloved pets by the agencies that are supposedly "rescuing" the people--there are many questions that we must ask. How did we let poverty go so unheeded in this wealthiest of all countries? Why do some people have so much--the richest 400 in America earn an average of $174 million a year--when some people have so little? What could possibly have been thought to justify the outrageous tax policies forwarded by Congress and the Bush Administration over the last five years--giveaways to wealthy industries and owners, paid for off the backs of ordinary working Americans and future generations? What values that we have developed over the centuries supported these wealthy scions who inherited their millions and lobby for tax breaks and subsidies, yet talk the talk of free markets and individual enterprise when it comes to providing safety nets, health care, old age security and opportunity for the poor?
Congress must step back and reassess its direction. Estate tax repeal never was justifiable. Now it would be an obscene gesture directed against the poor. The 2001-2004 tax cuts were sold to the public with the same misleading rhetoric as the need for a war in Iraq to save us from Saddam's WMD. To make those cuts permanent now, when we face realistic costs of $60 billion a year for our occupation of Iraq and $200 billion or more for the care of the displaced thousands of the Gulf Coast, would be a tragedy. At the least, the tax cuts benefitting the wealthiest 20% must be allowed to elapse, and the millionaire's estate tax must not be repealed.
But money matters, while immensely important, are not the only issues that we must consider. The gross inability of FEMA to cope with a disaster of this dimension must be addressed. The federal government that has been promising us it is developing emergency plans to protect us must now do more than promise--it must act. And we can no longer ignore the perils from global warming. Katrina must at the least be a clarion call to action on energy conservation and environmental protection. For a thoughtful piece on this issue by a prominent environmentalist, click here. We may not agree with every proposal, but we must set aside the willful blinders and deal with these issues now.
Comments