Friday, December 31, 2004

perspective

I wasn't going to write anymore until after the new year, but I had to say something about this:

The U.S. originally pledged $15 million in aid for tsunami relief. They rapidly upped that figure to $35 million after being accused of stinginess, hand-waving all the way about how we were the most generous nation in the world.

The tab for President Bush's 3-day inaugeration festivities (including the swearing-in ceremony, the parade, and the black-tie gala) is expected to exeed $40 million dollars.

Helping the millions of survivors of the worst natural disaster in history? Or a really good party? I guess the party wins.

Or how about this? The White House announced that Secretary of State Colin Powell will tour the affected countries next week to assess the need for aid, along with Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida.

Jeb Bush? The Governor of Florida? Why would the governer of Florida be asked to travel with the Secretary of State to assess the status of this international relief effort? You'd almost think he was campaigning for something, or getting ready to run for some higher office...

Oh, shit.

Currently reading: The New York Times, in a quasi-obsessive way.

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