Monday, May 08, 2006

Domino, butterfly effects and relativity

Well, relatives anyhow.

So my brother's truck broke down last week. The head gasket blew, what anyone would call an "act of god" since there is no way to prevent or predict such an occurrence. He maintains his equipment well, changes oil frequently drives reasonably etc. but variations in manufacturing, wear-and-tear and weather conditions lead to such events at random intervals.

Here's what I don't get. No one is going to bail my brother out. No government agency is going to pay for repairs, labor, a new truck or anything. And yet how is his case any different than those who decided every day to keep living in a city built 30 feet below sea level in the path of recurring hurricanes? They were warned again and again for decades that what did happen would happen. My brother had no such warning but he'll get no help and no free support.

My brother works very hard, he is a sincere, honest person. He has been struggling to get his own welding business going (he's an excellent welder) but the state licensing board, bonding agencies and insurance companies have been throwing out roadblocks every step of the way. The same sort of people who will be paying to rebuild New Orleans are not only not helping my brother, they are actually actively participating in slowing his progress. What in the H&l! ?

These regulations, constraints, and irrational methods of operation are a product of 40 years of democratic ideological dominance which barely if ever reflected reality followed by a restrictive republican control that leverages influence to large financial concerns while currying favor from large voting blocks.

Our government has gone insane.

1 comment:

Rae Ann said...

Amen, Amen!!

funny word verification= tthhccig