Dear Blue State America,

[Stinky The Clown]

A part of this country is facing a catastrophe that may well turn out to be unprecedented in the history of our country. Surely the Dust Bowl can be considered of a similar consequence.

The Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are in very deep shit. In parts of those states, it is literally true that every means by which one can earn a living have been taken away. Many small, family businesses are about to go belly up. The immigrant Vietnamese families who work the same boats as multiple generation centuries long residents face the same perils. Shrimp and fishing grounds closed. Family restaurants and big chains alike are letting help go and maybe not paying their mortgages. The oil drillers and oil service workers have no work to go to.

The moron who was our last president suggested we help by going shopping. He was a moron, indeed and that advice was the product of a moron's mind. But shopping, for us in Blue State America, is exactly the right thing to do. Visit the area if you can. Not all of the attractions are directly affected by the mess BP created. If you can't go there, consider buying Gulf seafood. While some fishing areas are, rightly, closed, much if the Gulf remains open. The fish is some of the best there is. The shrimp is arguably the best in the entire world. Buy it.

Ask for Gulf caught species when you have the chance.

But whatever you do, do it with the health and welfare of this important region held close at heart and hand. When it is all said and done, they are a big part of *US*. A critical part of *WE*.

Lots of people here claim to lean toward socialism. Here's a chance to put your money where your mouth is. Act your socialist tendencies.

And maybe, just maybe, a few minds can be changed along the way. That can never hurt.

[Redstone]

1. "this important region held close at heart and hand". Thank you, STC.

You said that well, indeed.

Redstone

[socialist_n_TN]

2. Hey, I grew up on the Gulf coast..............

and I'll be back sometime this Summer to see my Mom and my brother if for no other reason.

I just hope you lefties down there are HAMMERING on the "Republicans did this" idea.

[JoeyT]

6. Don't worry, we are.

More or less non-stop.
That and "See, you assholes! This is why deregulation is a bad idea!"

[noamnety]

3. Sorry, stinky

I can't do that. I don't have faith in the safety of the food there, I don't have faith that the assessments of which areas are clean for fishing are honest at all. I don't have faith in the US government to be straight with the american people, just as they weren't straight about air quality after 9/11. I know that was a previous administration, but the agency employees and the dynamics of politics and PR have proven to be the same. I understood that as BP was dumping unknown chemicals into the gulf with government approval, and the government wouldn't tell us what those chemicals were. Trade secrets. And while I sympathize with the shrimpers and fishermen who are in the area, the profits they would get from my shrimp consumption aren't something I'm willing to stake my health on. :(

[PearliePoo2]

5. I sadly agree with you too.

There are already incidents of shrimpers fishing in closed waters and their shrimp was jettisoned. These are just the ones that have been caught so far.
People are desperate and they will do desperate things, including selling tainted shellfish.
I don't have faith in man always doing the right thing when money is involved.
As far as inspections and safe food?
The embedded "Bushies" have gutted and corrupted Federal agencies (think Melamine and the other poisons that were allowed in from fucking China)
People and animals have already died.
Sorry...I'm buying my shellfish from the west coast.

[HockeyMom]

4. Gulf seafood

I live on the gulf coast of Florida. I have bought gulf shrimp locally many, many times. I am now in NY visiting my family. We were in Whole Foods yesterday and they had gulf shrimp. It was $19/lb. and looked absolutely HORRIBLE. Fresh quality gulf shrimp is PINK. This stuff was turning(?) black. Given the look of the stuff and the price, no way would I buy that and give it to my family. I bought local flounder instead.

My daughter and son-in-law are coming down to visit in a few weeks. We will be going to local establishments and attractions. However, I seriously doubt we will be going to any local seafood restaurants there; or the BEACH. There are still POOLS if they want to go swimming.

Sorry.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I am still seeing Gulf shrimp in our stores and it is under $10 lb and looks and tastes great.

[noamnety]

8. has it been tested for dispersant chemicals? (nt)

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I don't know n/t

eom

n/t

[Selatius]

12. It's easy to tell if the shrimp is oiled or has been in oily sheen. Not so with dispersants.

This is why I stopped eating local seafood. I live a few miles east of Biloxi, MS, here on the gulf coast. It is tragic, but the dispersants being sprayed are probably as bad if not worse than the crude oil itself, and it's more insidious because you can't see it like crude oil.

[SJC55]

10. Great post

I rec'd it.

[taught_me_patience]

11. I'm not going to visit states that elect governors

who are still chanting drill baby drill.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. States that elect governors who chant "drill, baby, drill" have just a percentage . . . . .

. . . . point or three more nutjobs than blue states. That attitude isn't really helpful.