I’m having a hard time keeping my mouth shut

Do you want socialism or not?

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

In the wake of our most recent catastrophic disaster, people are out squawking and posting utter nonsense.

I used to feel sorry for people who didn’t have the information needed to make fully formed opinions about how our government works. I don’t anymore.

People are desperate for something to be angry about, and our political circus is more than happy to keep serving up fresh outrage on a silver platter.

Before you rant on social media, you might want to consider some things about how the government isn’t helping.

Let’s start with the basics- most of the time, the government sucks at helping- regardless of which party is in the leadership role. Bureaucracy is slower than a sloth wading through molasses.

·      If you expect the government to step in and give you money and resources when disaster strikes- that’s socialism. You are a hypocrite if you only want it when it serves you.

·      The government has plenty of money to replace every house, business, and bridge if it chooses to, regardless of how much aid it gives to other countries. Why? Because money is pretty much a made-up construct used by politicians to divide people. If you don’t like how your state spends the money it gets- Blame your Governor and State legislature.

·      A lot of this is up to the states. You know how people like to complain that the federal government is overreaching? Well, guess what—the states control almost all of their disaster relief funding and operations. So, if your state isn’t engaging the National Guard, etc., blame your Governor.

·      If your infrastructure is failing—again, blame your governor. They, along with your State Legislature, decide which roads, bridges, etc., get fixed.

·      The National Weather Service (NWS), National Hurricane Center (NHC), and other agencies that track the weather get their funding from the federal government—until the Republican Party decides to ax them, which is in their current agenda, along with anything else that dares mention climate change. So, the next time you whine about people ignoring their warnings and then rant about federal overreach, congratulations, you're making a fool of yourself.

·      Regarding people not evacuating – Many of the areas where these events consistently occur lack resources to evacuate – why? Because the people in those areas don’t like socialism…until it serves them.

·      Why aren’t Biden or Kamala touring the disaster? Because dragging the so-called “leader of the free world” into a disaster zone right now would be like throwing gasoline on a fire. It just complicates things. Every one of our “leaders” has already checked the “Thoughts and Prayers” box—it’s meaningless, but hey, at least they’ve got their photo ops covered. Unless you’re desperate to see Biden play catch with a roll of paper towels, let them hang by the phone and release the disaster relief when your governor finally eats crow and asks for it.

What can you do instead of spreading fear, peddling ridiculous conspiracy theories, and flooding the internet with nonsense? Here’s an idea: actually help. Donate some money if you’re able, volunteer your time, or share posts about missing people and pets. You know, things that actually make a difference instead of just making noise.

Instead of adding more noise to the chaos, here are a few constructive ways to help those affected by disasters:

Ways to Help:

1. Donate Money:

   • Financial contributions are often the most effective because they allow organizations to buy exactly what’s needed.

2. Volunteer Your Time:

   • Help local shelters, food banks, or cleanup crews.

   • Offer support at community centers or shelters providing aid.

3. Share Information:

   • Share accurate and verified posts about missing people, pets, or safe evacuation routes.

   • Spread information about resources, local shelters, or organizations that are offering immediate support.

4. Provide Supplies:

   • Contribute needed items like bottled water, canned food, hygiene kits, diapers, and blankets.

   • Consider donating blood if medical emergencies are prevalent.

5. Offer Temporary Housing:

   • If it’s safe and you’re able to use platforms like Airbnb’s disaster response to provide temporary shelter for evacuees.

6. Support Local Businesses:

   • Purchase gift cards or services from local businesses in the affected area to help keep them afloat.

Trusted Organizations to Donate To:

1. American Red Cross

   • Website: RedCross.org

   • Provides disaster relief, emergency shelter, and medical assistance.

2. Direct Relief

   • Website: DirectRelief.org

   • Offers medical assistance to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.

3. Team Rubicon

   • Website: TeamRubiconUSA.org

   • A veteran-led organization that deploys disaster response teams to provide immediate relief.

4. World Central Kitchen

   • Website: WCK.org

   • Provides fresh meals in the wake of natural disasters.

5. GlobalGiving

   • Website: GlobalGiving.org

   • Connects donors to grassroots projects around the world to help communities recover.

6. Feeding America

   • Website: FeedingAmerica.org

   • Supplies food to local food banks and disaster relief programs.

7. Salvation Army

   • Website: SalvationArmyUSA.org

   • Supports victims with food, shelter, and recovery services.

8. Habitat for Humanity

   • Website: Habitat.org

   • Helps rebuild homes and provide long-term recovery solutions.

Other Places to Consider:

• Local Community Foundations: They often have specific disaster relief funds for the area.

• Mutual Aid Networks: Check out local social media groups or websites dedicated to coordinating mutual aid efforts.

• Animal Rescue Organizations: Donate to groups like the ASPCA or local animal shelters to help displaced pets.

By focusing on tangible actions, you’ll be doing a lot more good than any keyboard warrior rant ever could.