Common Cause wants your personal stories on how the government failed.

[Dem2theMax]

If this is a dupe, I'm sorry. Search function is down.

Here is the email I received a short time ago:


Like many Americans, we have been watching on TV the devastation from Hurricane Katrina that residents of New Orleans and the Gulf States are enduring, and thinking and praying for those affected by this tragedy.

Common Cause has state chapters in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi, and our thoughts are with our staff and volunteer leaders in those states, and their families and friends. We send our condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and wish the storm victims the courage and strength to rebuild their lives.

Many of us at Common Cause are responding to this national disaster in the same way as millions of other Americans: We are donating our money, we are volunteering our time and we are looking for ways to help make life bearable for the storm victims.

As an organization, we believe that what Common Cause can do best right now is to live up to its motto, "Holding power accountable." In the weeks and months ahead, Common Cause will be asking why federal, state and local governments' response to this disaster was so slow and inadequate. We will push for answers and solutions. We will hold government accountable.

We are also checking in with our members and supporters in the Gulf States. Yesterday, I sent them an e-mail extending our condolences and wishes for a fast recovery. I also asked them to share their storm stories. We want to hear examples of how government at all levels failed to do its job, before, during or after Katrina struck. We believe these stories will help us build a compelling case that we hope will lead to answers and solutions for the many problems that have become obvious in recent weeks.

So if you or someone you know has a story related to the government's role in this tragedy, please consider sharing it with us and the rest of the Common Cause community. You can post it here:

http://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/9/7/155439/2288