[AAACE-NLA] Re: AAACE-NLA New Orleans

[Bickerton, Robert P]

 Andres, et al,

You know you're not being "paranoid" -- just calling it the way it is.  But
we cannot allow this to happen and we have to stop acting as if we don't
have the voice or the power to take on the massive responsibility of
stopping this madness.  The "Pres" already said he wasn't going to raise
taxes to fund the massive relief and rebuilding effort needed -- needed
precisely BECAUSE previous tax cuts transferred all the funding needed to
keep our infrastructure working over to the wealthiest top few percent of
OUR nation.  Was anyone surprised?  And who doubts that every program for
the poor and disenfranchised will be raided to correct the increasingly
visible and devastating impacts of such policies?  We now have a bill that's
10 to 20 times larger than the MOST EXPENSIVE prior estimates of what it
would have cost to re-engineer the levies and the storm drainage systems for
the entire area.  At this rate, not only the children of the poor, but the
children of the middle class as well will be living outside the guarded
doors of gated communities for the few who will escape the consequences of
these policies.  I, for one, will not accept this future for my
grandchildren.

However, I am asking -- HOPING -- for more than laments to this list.  Every
one of us has to roll up our sleeves and organize until the shortsighted are
gone and those who share our commitment to a fading American Dream prevail.
We have it in us -- let's join hands and lead the way.

take care,
bob bickertion, MA director of adult ed and chair, national council of state
directors of adult ed

-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
To: aaace-nla at lists.literacytent.org
Sent: 9/16/2005 10:05 AM
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] Re: AAACE-NLA New Orleans

Questions: Now that Katrina cleaned up NO of poor people, sort of like 
Rudolph cleaned Manhattan, Are speculators going to buy land for 
nothing, and are developers going to make huge profits and get juicy 
government contracts to rebuild? Is the poor part of NO going to become 
new ritzy neighbourhoods? The government already gave a big contract to 
halliburton as soon as Katrina hit. Here is the contradiction, we are 
being asked to open our hearts and our wallets and help the poor with 
food, supplies, English classes, etc. In the meanwhile, corporations 
are not being asked to open their hearts and help rebuild. Instead they 
are already making bucks. Are our taxes going to go up next year to 
help rebuild NO? Are more programs going to get cut to pay for the 
developers to rebuild? Is ABE going to go on the choping block again, 
together with Even start and other trio programs? Am I being paranoid?

Andres


Please take a look at my artwork: www.geocities.com/andresmuro/art.html


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