The debate is about the definition of "basic responsibilities". Funding the arts? Cell phones? These are Basic Societal Responsibilities? Drops in the bucket, as you'll no doubt say. But somehow the bucket is overflowing. And then some. Choices, and not very hard ones, need to be made.

It's America and I'm a White Man, so so no one is going to stop me from answering the FEMA thing in my own short bus way.

"Emergency" is the second word in the agency's name. They are never going to do it right. It's a far from perfect world, and we're just deluding ourselves if we think we're not at it's mercy. So no matter who is running the show, disaster aid- wise, there are going to be pissed off people. Nature of the beast.

Personally, I think things are set up just about as well as they're going to be. FEMA doesn't operate in a vacuum. There are churches, charities, big companies, small companies, NGOs...individuals who go to Costco and buy a skid of bottled water. Is it perfect? No way. It never will be.

But the proof is in the puddin, to coin a phrase. When there's an earthquake in some Third World hellhole, who gets the call? The Kenyans? Fuck no. It's the good ol' Great Satan. There's a reason for that. The System does the best it can in really terrible situation.

When we lived in God's Country, there was some major flooding and FEMA rolled in. When it was all done the biggest kerfuffle was over some local vendors getting together to rig the bidding process. No big deal. When they were done, FEMA left. I'm not a big buyer of the FEMA Shadow Government conspiracy stuff.

As for Romney wanting to privatize FEMA, I can't defend it. We probably also disagree on the weed issue. And whether to give our garbagemen just a fist bump or a full on sort of creepy slightly grinding hug. Who fucking cares? I held my nose to vote for him...unlike this McKenna cat that going to swipe the Wa. Governor's Mansion. You're never going to get a perfect candidate. Well, Chuck did. Black? Check. Post- colonial Socialist? Check. Completely unqualified? But Black? Check. Goddesses, this is great KoolAde.

Glad all you guys made it. We talk shit, but I certainly hope you all (all of you...and me too) die old and painlessly in our respective sleeps.