I wrote this raw, unfiltered, and from the heart — not to convince, but to express. Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t.
“Only a very evil person would ask a question like that.”👌🪃✌️
Context for the quote at the bottom.
Careful, this feels like an intentional deflection and I see it as a common tactic. To me there is nothing evil about the question “what do you say to the people who feel that they weren’t warned in time?”. It’s a very valid question. The appropriate answer is. “I can understand it must feel upsetting, to know this could have been prevented, the American people deserve answers and deserve better.” The fact that there is no transparency about it or even concern shows contempt for the American people. IMO
– and I go on, with how I’m feeling today….
The actual response given seems to me, a tactic avoiding the gross negligence due to uneducated and reckless decision making backed by ideology rooted in separatism. A battle shrouded in a cause to fight corruption in the government. And even more so to get you to distrust reporters, to align on enemies that keep you busy.
Unfortunately, if you believe in the gross manipulation within the fight for power, the class system is important. Keep the poor poorer and the rich, richer. “Hello, William Randolph Hearst.” People who need money are easy to control just as people who want it. I mean, let’s just take a look at all the favors this administration is getting. And, yes, I’m sure this was going on behind closed doors all this time, so “thanks for that illumination of how easy it is”, I feel that’s not right no matter who’s been doing it. The party I align with is not that important to me.
By the way, it’s most likely all Presidents did this, every single one of them. Leverage is useful for change. However, normalizing the ability to do these things openly, hmmm? That’s not the answer, the answer is more systems for fighting corruption, more accountability. Instead, it seems like a manipulation of the system so as to manipulate Americans more, under that guise of clearing out corruption.
I’ve heard the stories about the eight or so years, and to me, I can easily see folks who feel as though they are losing control, will spin stories and narratives exaggerated and tweaked to stimulate an uprising.
I can see this moment in time for government as a great reset and be thrilled about that, except that some concerning tactics are being used to change how we operate and attempting to set up something totally different than what was intended- and far from what I value. Our founders weren’t perfect in any way, “hello, stolen land and slavery”. However, they compromised, they met in the middle (most of them) and did what they needed to do to ensure they and the future they laid the foundation for would live in a free, inclusive (because the alternative was war and conflict) and peaceful world.
I once stumbled upon a church in Old City, Philadelphia, where our founders laid the groundwork for the nation. Outside is a historical plaque stating Philadelphia’s mission – starting in 1701 – to tolerate diversity of religions working together for religious freedoms. “Tolerance”, “Diversity.” Wow! In 1701? This mission should not just apply to religion. It should be a model of community in America. That to me is a powerful reflection of the foundation of America. It’s a meeting among minds to come together and seek a way for humanity to live equally.
This new stolen land didn’t belong to any one people, it now belonged to many. People seeking a better tomorrow — free from persecution by race, religion, or class. Free from authoritarian systems that defined their place in the world. A way to survive and thrive. It is the land of opportunity, after all. The hubris of that! No wonder we’re here today. SMH – No offense America, it’s just what it is and that’s okay. We aim better!
– So this sort of leads me to critical race theory and the fear from certain folks that it was indoctrinating our children into hating America, or white people.
NO, not to me. To me it’s teaching us the REAL history so we don’t do it again. So we don’t keep repeating the atrocities of the human condition. So we don’t try to erase an entire culture of people just to feel good about ourselves. So we evolve beyond the ego and into love. And the incredible thing – about manipulation, we are being led to believe that learning history is actual indoctrination. No better way to keep people numb to the realities.
Some people believe that the Holocaust never happened, the Earth is flat, and Tom Hanks is drinking baby’s blood. I’ve come to realize these belief systems are about belonging. & for some ridiculous reason, some belonging is separate, US VS THEM mentality. Even that is controled by those who define “THEM”. When you blindly accept an enemy, without due diligence? IDK, maybe you’re in a cult?
Say what you wish about me. I paid attention in history. And no i’m not defending the democrats, i’m speaking up for my values as an American. I’m speaking up for the teenage Jacque who won an award for a speech on the American dream of hope and freedom.
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
“The New Colossus” Emma Lazarus 1883 – A call to consciousness.
Emma was an immigrant who believed in America’s potential — not its perfection. And look, I get it: America isn’t an endless well of resources. Security and safety do matter. There are always a few who take advantage and ruin it for the rest.
But when fear becomes policy, we risk distorting the mission itself — the vision of a country built on shared opportunity, not exclusion.
Political party history cannot define, dictate or determine what’s needed now. Unfortunately, many of the folks leading our nation are holding onto something that does not serve humanity anymore, it serves a past that no longer works, or a system that only works for some and not many.
You can’t take America with you when you die, so let go already. Let the future decide. Say what you want about protestors, looters, disruptors. Please keep in mind that, A) people are angry, and B) people in power know exactly what makes you angry, scared and willing to be extreme and C) our founders were protestors. That is why we hold onto our freedom of speech. They can’t take that away, however, they can convince you that what is being said is untrue, invalid and “EVIL”.
I recognize I’m just as susceptible as anyone else. However, I am not delusional that the party I align with is infallible , can do no wrong. I am not delusional that a few bad apples will rot a whole barrel. In fact, in produce delivery, if a whole pallet shows one bad apple, the whole lot of em (like hundreds of them) gets thrown away by corporations who distribute, and still (thank the Lord), there are people out there who say, “NO, that’s not right, one bad apple does not ruin the whole bunch”, it’s just cheaper and more lucrative to discard and dismiss the whole bushel. – To discard sustenance that people are desperate for, this is cruel and at a great cost to humanity. It’s without compassion and a great reflection of what’s wrong with capitalism.
There ARE people out there who say, “please, give me the pallet, I’ll do the work so that I can feed more people”. That’s community, that’s serving people, ALL the people. That’s… Jesus.
We’re being sold a story that our only hope is weeding the Garden. Freedom in a garden is wild! It’s organic, wonderful and completely connected to the natural world, the world in which gives us life. So, how is weeding and taming freedom?
Systems and infrastructure must always be evolving to serve the Garden’s ability to grow free. We see this with designations of natural land, protection of wildlife, water conservation, civil engineering, renewable and sustainable energy sources. And in how we care for people, including humanitarian immigration policies.
Some people say that Tesla created free energy by tapping into the Earth’s natural vibration, and it was erased, because someone wanted to benefit by gatekeeping. That’s all that this world is right now, folks who were gate kept, just repeating the system they learned. They’ve lost sight on the point and are just playing the game to win. Again, you can’t take that with you, all that remains after this life is returning to the whole. How foolish that will feel for some. IMO
The Earth will react to us, just as we react to it. If you force evolution to serve man, evolution will remind you that you cannot control a force that is bigger than humanity. We’re guests here.
And by “weeding” I’m not just talking about the immigration tactics, or cuts to important civil and social programs, I’m talking about the constant doubt and distrust that is instilled on us so that we can’t form clear belief systems. Then we are easily influenced so that we’ll accept every injustice that occurs as being “for the cause”.
“Could it be, SATAN!” ~ Dana Carvey’s Church Lady – SNL
Stay safe out there.
CONTEXT FOR THE POST:
The question that triggered this harsh dismissal referenced above was something along the lines of:
“Several families we heard from are upset because they say those warnings, those alerts didn’t go out in time, and they also say that people could have been saved. What do you say to those families?”
🛡️ FEMA
- Staffing & funding: By July 2025, FEMA had lost about 20% of its workforce from 2017, along with the suspension of training for over 7,000 personnel The Daily Beast+15Wikipedia+15The Guardian+15.
- Contract issues during the floods: Call center contracts were not renewed right after the flooding began, reducing FEMA’s ability to respond. Call-answer rates dropped to 5% until reinstated days later The Wall Street Journal+3The Daily Beast+3Wikipedia+3.
These challenges likely slowed down FEMA’s capacity to field calls, deploy search-and-rescue operations, and provide immediate aid.
🌦️ NOAA & National Weather Service (NWS)
- Staffing cuts at NOAA/NWS:
- NOAA lost hundreds of jobs by late June 2025 under Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), removing around 850–880 employees and over 1,000 buyouts across NOAAWikipediaReuters+15Wikipedia+15Axios+15.
- NWS itself experienced about 600 job losses (roughly 17% of staff) from terminations and buyouts. Some key roles—like warning coordination meteorologists—were vacant in Texas at the time of the flood The Guardian+15PolitiFact+15Axios+15.
- Impact on forecasting capabilities:
- Critics argue that these cuts weakened forecasting and coordination, especially in flash-flood-prone areasHouston Chronicle+6The Guardian+6PolitiFact+6.
- Supporters of the cuts highlight that while research and labs were slashed, NWS’s operational forecasting budget actually increased by 6.7%, and the agency claimed they maintained adequate staffing for the eventPolitiFact.
MY FINAL THOUGHT:
This question and answer quoted is on video – so you can’t discredit that this happened.
We know that NOAA and FEMA were scaled back per the data above. You minimize our systems functions and there are bound to be consequences. It’s hard not to think that there is disregard for people when these kinds of actions take place. One bad apple does not ruin the whole bushel. I cannot get on board with the cause.
Jacque Arend 
Comments? Questions? Now’s your chance…