There is no doubt that the effects of hurricane Katrina (I'm sure glad they're female again) will, in some way, impact everyone in the country. The storm has already destroyed billions of dollars of personal property and left thousands devastated and homeless. If you have not yet made a donation a good place to start is with the American Red Cross.

There is a movement across the United States to help house those affected by this tragedy. Many all over the country are generously willing to donate homes, apartments and mobile homes to those in immediate need. It has been suggested that some care in the selection of recipients may be in order to keep folks from finding out that they are actually housing looters and rapists instead of distressed flood victims. At first glance, that may seem reasonable enough. But if you think about it, here's a chance to rise way above just one disaster.

The crime rate in some urban areas is staggering. Imagine redistributing some of the burden to more rural areas. The place to start is New Orleans. Imagine a small town official calling the mayor of New Orleans with an offer to take a half dozen looters off his hands. "We've got a good police force and we can handle 'em even if they have baseball bats." he might say. A local civic organization could volunteer to take an arsonist or two. The offers to help evenly distribute the crime rate would pour in, not only for New Orleans but other crime ridden communities.

The mayor of Crystal Forks, North Dakota would dial up the mayor of say...New York City. "We'll take a dozen of anything ya' got except murderers. We don't need none o' them murderers!" The potential here is unlimited.

This could evolve into a national crime barter system. One rapist is worth six jay walkers or two cat burglars for one armed robber. You get the idea. Rural America reaches out to the beleaguered cities to help share the national disaster of rising crime. Now that would be humanitarian relief.