Help

In these times when more and more people are in need of help we have forgotten how to ask or what even to ask for. Most of us after living through the New Deal, Fair Deal, New Frontier and the War of Poverty realize that governmental bureaucratic or socialized solutions such as the welfare system, housing projects, school busing and racially targeted affirmative action are doomed to failure. We mistakenly embraced the Reagan doctrine that essentially left us out in the cold and on our own without union support, governmental backing or effective regulation of industries, banking or marketplaces. Reagan did cut the cord on many successful social programs; such as Head Start, VISTA and the Peace Corps. In times of false prosperity such as the days of Clinton we adopted personal indebtedness, deficit spending, bubble markets and a national non-savings plan. We believed in good times without end and the ability to buy or borrow ourselves out of trouble. The ensuing Bush republicans adopted this as policy and America became an unfetter kite wildly winging its way through economic, political and natural bad times.

I was lucky to spend 30 years as a chef in busy kitchens. Here I learned to ask for help and was always ready to pitch in when needed. Jay used to say, "I'm up to my ass in alligators." Mario would cry, "Skid, I'm in the shit." And tall Rodney would call out, "I'm in the high weeds, I can't see." If you slipped in the shit, let the alligators bite or got lost in the weeds your shift was headed for a miserable end. The chef had to heed the calls, he had to know when and where the crew was understaffed, who called in sick, who wasn't up to snuff and always be ready for the unexpected. You would find yourself making salads, plating desserts for a banquet, expediting hot entrées or washing pots and pans. It not just the supervisor covering the bases but the whole crew pitches in to get over the rough spots. Help is the ultimate example of cooperation, team play and the brotherhood of hard times. We see it on the flooded streets of Iowa, in the tornado wrecked towns of Kansas, after every fire, crime or tragedy. People who care will be there.

We have also seen that efficient governmental assistance is essential. When a agency like FEMA does not respond (Katrina) death, suffering and damage ensues and the bungling takes months to straighten out. Help on a national and international scales must be highly coordinated and enacted by professional teams who know how to avoid the scams, corruption and thievery associated with all charitable endeavors. The world wide effort applied after the 2004 Tsunami was a thing of beauty.

So, if you find yourself in need, call out. Expect, even demand a response. Never cry wolf. Always work the hardest to save yourself but when you reach solid ground look around to help someone close by. Help and heroism are a natural state, a state of grace.