Substantial Commentary

On February 15, 2008 an editorial was published from the New York Times describing formaldehyde contamination in trailers supplied to hundreds of thousands of New Orleans residents made homeless by the storm. FEMA, the agency sent to help those in need, has failed to provide a correct response again. Yet the government's attention is misdirected, focused on things that are significantly less important. How do you leave an issue unfinished then jump to another? The Bush administration is so dedicated in sending out a stimulus package in order to build the countries economy. But we have we have citizens still facing issues from Hurricane Katrina having health issues in the comfort of their own home. It is ironic that the president has taken his sweet time to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina when it occurred, but he won't hesitate to send troops to Iraq. Isn't the purpose of our government to preserve our lives?


It is like the government is so fixated on helping countries out of its own reach. How are we going to help others if we can't even solve our own problems? It is a lot easier, cheaper, and smarter to help those that are within in your own ball park. When someone's health is in danger, time is a big factor and it's only logical that it become our government's top priority. The victims of hurricane Katrina are not going to set roadside bombs for the government to take action, and they shouldn't have to in order to get the government's attention.


The editorial titled FEMA's Formaldehyde Foul-Up stated that in 2006 a man had complained about formaldehyde fumes and died. The government talks about helping building the economy and those that are in serious need. What about the real priority and those that are serious need? The people who are most at risk, for reasons of age, illness or poverty; are the least able to defend themselves. Instead of our tax dollars being spent on highways and how pretty we can make a city, how about the money go toward new housing, because there are still about 35,000 homes that are still being affected.


If you would like to follow up on the article, the link is located below.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/opinion/15fri2.html