As far as Gov Perry requesting aid for West, Texas, a plea for some humanity.
(Expanded from a Facebook post)
Gov Goodhair Perry, one of the biggest d-bag governors in our country along with our radically right Reps and Senators, is requesting aid for West, Texas after the massive explosion. These wonderful folks voted against Hurricane Sandy relief, to the disgust of blue, moderate, and just plain human Texans (of which I'm one).
And the liberal political sphere is screaming "No! You t-bag secessionist arseholes who won't even help their own residents with Medicare, you morans who voted against relief for the ebil NY liberals after Sandy, can just suck it and go to hell."
I enjoy the irony as much as anyone. The thought of Perry having to swallow his pride (which is only eclipsed by his hair) does bring a warm feeling to my heart. Seeing that President Obama reached out to him (such a red state, and some parts are really moronically red) to offer any aid also brings a warm glow, but for different reasons. But as folks laugh and snicker and scream "Hell No", a few things to remember, please.
The fertilizer factory was there before the neighborhood - it's been there at least 50 years and probably more. West, Texas is a town of 2800, of which more than 50 homes were destroyed, as was the school and a nursing home. At least 100 injured, upwards of 15 dead and some still missing - 1/10 of the town has been injured or killed, including first responders (many of whom were volunteer Fire Dept).
Yes, Texas has a miserable workplace safety record because of lax or nonexistent regulations. Yes,Texas treats zoning as something only slightly more palatable than atheistic communistic socialism. Yes, the lax regulations, lack of inspections, and nonexistent zoning that has been taken advantage of by real estate developers has led to this disaster. However, this town has been utterly devastated. Just as it was reprehensible that the Radical GOP voted against Hurricane Sandy relief (and especially reprehensible coming from Hurricane-prone areas like Texas), this community, these people need help that only the Fed Gov't has the resources to provide. I don't think the business will survive - and then no one affected will get help.
Rail against Perry all you want (I am working to get him out of office myself), rail at the radical GOP that currently represent Texas (I certainly do, constantly), rail at the voters who put them into office (which is not everyone in Texas, believe it or not), but please don't rail against the actual victims in this disaster (red or blue, they're people too). Just as with Hurricane Sandy, it's wrong, it's unAmerican, and frankly, it's tacky as hell.
End of rant