Save My Job!

In a post earlier today (sent to me by an Unnamed Senior White House Official), the Nonprofit Curmudgeon laments the fact that people will give money to Katrina relief efforts instead of his pet causes:

It's great that so many nations, individuals, and groups mobilize to help.Well, I can't argue with any of that...

At the same time, I can't help feeling a little annoyed by all this high-profile awfulizing. It's the long term problems, not the photogenic disasters, that worry me.

Which will kill more people (or ruin more lives) this year...environmental degradation, or hurricanes?...hunger, or tsunamis?...terrorist attacks, or AIDS? How many nonprofit organizations that fight long term problems will lose funding this year, because donors feel that it's more emotionally satisfying to give money for disaster relief?

Yes, victims of floods and hurricanes shouldn't be helped so that white, upper middle class liberals at nonprofits can keep their jobs. And god damn those selfish Americans that are saving hurricane victims for their own emotional satisfication when they could be saving the spotted owl!