I am so ashamed of my country and our government's ineffectual response to the misery in New Orleans, which is absolutely beyond the pale. The level of suffering is so high and our government is moving at a snail's pace. Why the hell can't we do more? Lots of folks have been discussing the race and class issues and I have to wonder whether they might be right about both. These are poor blacks with absolutely nothing, expendable in the eyes of many. We're sitting up here in our beautiful homes in well tended neighborhoods assuaging our guilt by giving money to the Red Cross , but we have no idea of the reality of the situation. It's awful. Our government needs to swing into serious action NOW.