Katy Perry and her billionaire companion’s recent 11-minute trip to space reminded me of the idea of Bourbanism and the “let them eat cake” mentality that we read about this week. This “space flight” - or more accurately, billionaire amusement ride - seems to mark the beginnings of space tourism for the extremely wealthy - something that is highly exclusive, very expensive, and environmentally damaging. Yet, it seems that America values investing money in things that entertain the wealthy moreso than investing in the needs of the most disadvantaged communities. This reminded me of what Professor Cohen said about the potential for colonizing outer space. Even if this were a possibility, only the elites would be able to go, leaving everyone else to suffer in Earth’s damaged climate. This is exactly what happened with Katrina. Not only was there an intentional neglect in helping the most vulnerable populations, but also a severe disconnect between the privileged elites and working-class citizens that prevented these elites from being able to grasp the full scope of the issue. For example - in When the Levees Broke, when George Bush’s mother said how the displaced citizens sleeping in relief shelters were “better off” than they were living in New Orleans. The combination of intentional racist policies and the mentality of elites who are so out of touch that they cannot recognize their own privilege and prejudice is what continues to allow Bourbanism to thrive in America. Another example that struck me was the part in the episode when Bush came to New Orleans to give a speech and the power turned back on briefly so they could create a media event for him that made the city look like it was on the mend. After Bush left, the power turned back off. This is just one example of how performative climate politics can be and has been - as evidenced by the aftermath of Katrina. This is why music traditions like the Blues can be so powerful, because they contain the reality of those who have lived under systemic oppression and serve as a form of resistance to that oppression.