This is a brainstorming diary.
I am in full agreement with Chris Bowers brilliant diary which calls for the liberal blogosphere to make massive donations to existing charities. I also feel that very shortly it will begin to become apparent that the scale of this disaster is one in which this government and these charities alone are not equipped to address.
The lowest estimate I have heard discussed via the media for a safe return to New Orleans is three months. It is also clear that upwards of one million Americans are suddenly homeless, jobless, and in a state of shock at this time. To my knowledge, this has never happened in America. It is now time we admit that this is the largest catastrophe to ever occur within the United States.
This means that our friends from the blog community are going to have some very difficult choices to make over the next several days and weeks. We as a community can be of some assistance. Our friends have just lost their homes, their valuables and records, their jobs, their communities, their churches, perhaps some loved ones and pets, their day to day functions of being. We, the liberal blogosphere, have a great deal more than money to offer our friends and loved ones who we know by so many different handles. Let’s get it done!
More on the flip.
What am I discussing?
* Food
* Clothing
* Shelter
* Employment
* Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Support
* What am I missing?
Why us? Why not leave it all to the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, and the federal government? Primarily because I am convinced that the collective I.Q. talent, skill, and passion on these blogs is greater than anywhere else in this nation. We have doctors, lawyers, educators, carpenters, social workers, preachers, chief executive officers, painters, artists, musicians, programmers, etc., etc. With the collaboration of the talent within the liberal blogosphere we have nearly turned this nation from deep red to nice shade of blue in two and a half years. Imagine what we can do for the survivors of this disaster.
I can’t accept the concept that our brothers and sisters will be left unprotected, unsheltered, unfed, and unfurled as they begin to emerge from the shock they are currently experiencing. We have tens of thousand of people in this community with the personal and professional resources that can offer long term solutions to the problems our cyber friends and families are facing. Let’s use them!
We need to begin planning now.
Crossposted at My Left Wing and DailyKos