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The Unfairness of the Katrina Critics

Donkey1499

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I'm posting this thread in an unbias form (which for those of you who know me, know that I'm not usually unbias). But I just think that the Katrina critics (from the left AND the right) are just being unfair to each other, the victims, and the nation. They are missing the real issues at stake (Mmmm.... steak!) and people are suffering because of it.

Now, the Left and the Right are slamming each other constantly over this disaster. The Left attacks Dubya by saying that he didn't talk about the hurricane during his SOTUA (State of the Union Address); yet they have no room to criticize, since "School Bus" Nagin never deployed the school buses when he should have and he has already bought a house only a couple days after the storm hit. Then the right attacks by saying that the left wasted too much time by pointing fingers at the right instead of getting shiz done; yet Dubya was out playing golf while people were drowning.

And yet, the finger pointing continues to this day, and nothing is getting done because the politicians are too busy fussing about who's to blame for all the people drowning. That can all be solved within a minute, really. All the blame can't; and I repeat CAN'T; be laid all on one person, or group. [Except maybe that whole deal about the levees not being upgraded; but BOTH sides were together in getting that done, but some non-important thing became more important]. The forces of nature are to blame.

Could anyone have predicted the true path of the storm? Not precisely. Could anyone have predicted the amount of damage the storm itself would cause? Not precisely. Could anyone have predicted the amount of damage that the aftermath would cause? Not precisely. We're not prophets. We can't see the future. Yet during this whole ordeal, people were suffering while our "leaders" were quarreling. How childish! The people they (meaning the left/right leadership) were sworn to protect were suffering, because of politics. Politics should've been the last thing on anybody's mind. But no, certain individuals had to get their points across first.

And now on to the donations. I have a feeling that everyone on here probably donated money or supplies to the Katrina Aid; and as an American, I thank y'all for that. But who still has all the money? Hmm? Who has it? POLITICIANS. I'm not saying "Give all your money away, dammit!" But if you claim to support suffering Americans, then prove it! Let's say that Politician A has $20 million to his name. Yet Politician A only donated $3 million. I hate saying this, but that seems so small an amount. He could live off of $5 million at least, so $15 million in donations would have sufficed. But let them give little no money, it just shows their true level of concern.

And while I'm on about concern. Has anyone heard about all those trailer homes in Arkansas (I think) that are reserved for the Katrina victims? They have to stay in Arkansas for now because of gov't red tape. In the meantime, thousands of people are going to go homeless when the hotel aid crap runs out in a couple of days, if it hasn't run out already. So, as Bill O'Reilly would say "Who's looking out for you?"

And it may sound like I'm blaming the gov't for the storm, but I'm not. I'm blaming the gov't for being stupid. The whole system failed. It failed you, it failed me, and it especially failed those who live on the Gulf Coast.
 
The Republican issued report blames everyone. Basically everyone from city officials to the Whitehouse was extremely passive about the situation. Katrina also demonstrated that we are woefully unprepared for a terror attack.
 
scottyz said:
The Republican issued report blames everyone. Basically everyone from city officials to the Whitehouse was extremely passive about the situation. Katrina also demonstrated that we are woefully unprepared for a terror attack.

Hey, I blamed the Gov't for this tragedy, at least as far as the evacuations and the aid relief. Partisanship has no hold on either side of the political spectrum in this case. Although, so people should've just been smart and left while they had the chance instead of trying to ride out the hurricane. Unfortunately, common sense is a hard thing to come by these days.
 
The people on the left that blame Bush for Katrina are missing the point. Sure he is partly to blame, but the bigger point is that this disaster is a failure of conservative philosophy. Government isn't the problem here. Conservative government is the problem here. It's a matter of values and principles. This disaster strikes at the heart of the difference between conservatives and progressives. In the neo-con ownership society, you're on your own. Every man for himself. Sink or swim. Progressives believe in empathy, and the common good of our country. We expect our federal government to provide for our defense. The logical extension of the ownership society is to have every person responsible for their own militia.

This disaster shows us the need for smart government, as opposed to anti-government that puts private interests above all else. Instead of tax cuts for the rich, the levees could have been fixed. Now we all pay for the mistake financially, but more importantly, in the loss of human life. We need capable people in charge, not cronies. Conservatives used to be heartless, but at least competant and fiscally conservative. Now they are inept on all counts. When Americans needed the federal government to step up and respond to this disaster, the conservative government let us down. Do you really think it would be any different if Katrina was a dirty bomb or a biological, or chemical attack? I don't.

Conservatives pride themselves on strong defense, but we only see weakness, uncertainty and corruption in the response to Katrina. Certainly the situation would have been better controlled if our National Guard and Reserves were able to come in and take control of the situation, but of course, they're in Iraq. Hurricane season is a few months away, will anything be different if the Gulf Coast gets another hit? Yes - it will be worse. The levees still aren't fixed in N.O. They are more vulnerable than before Katrina.

Of course the levees weren't fixed before Katrina hit because funds were diverted to the war in Iraq. We're paying the price now.

The problem wasn't addressed because scientists that state that global warming will continue to cause more severe hurricanes in the Gulf Coast are ignored. Global warming is ignored by conservatives. We're paying the price now.

Bush's first head of FEMA - Joe Allbaugh, said that FEMA was an entitlement, and should be eliminated and/or privatized back in 2001. We're paying the price now.

Bush downgraded FEMA from a cabinet position and hired another crony with no experience to run it into the ground. We're paying the price now.

Fox news will have you believe that the whole disaster is Mayor Nagin's fault. Who will the neo-cons blame the next disaster on? Your mayor? You?...
 
These folks in New Orleans couldn't organize to help themselves from tragedy but they certainly can organize a party. I guess it's just a matter of priorities.

They had the money to update those levees but built a statue instead. Again, priorities.

Guard commanders, however, insist that their national network of state militias -- the only US forces authorized to enforce the law when local authorities are overwhelmed -- has more than enough forces to respond to the devastation caused by Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in US history. Of the estimated 400,000 members of the National Guard, about 175,000 have been called to active duty to support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the commanders said. That leaves plenty of manpower nationwide to respond to the chaos and misery along the Gulf Coast.

''Even though National Guard forces have been heavily engaged in the global war on terrorism, nearly 124,000 troops were available for duty in the 17 states along the storm's projected path," the National Guard Bureau said in a statement. ''That averages to 78 percent of those states' total Guard strength. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/w...ars_since_911_strain_national_guards_efforts/
 
hipsterdufus said:
The people on the left that blame Bush for Katrina are missing the point. Sure he is partly to blame, but the bigger point is that this disaster is a failure of conservative philosophy. Government isn't the problem here. Conservative government is the problem here. It's a matter of values and principles. This disaster strikes at the heart of the difference between conservatives and progressives. In the neo-con ownership society, you're on your own. Every man for himself. Sink or swim. Progressives believe in empathy, and the common good of our country. We expect our federal government to provide for our defense. The logical extension of the ownership society is to have every person responsible for their own militia.

This disaster shows us the need for smart government, as opposed to anti-government that puts private interests above all else. Instead of tax cuts for the rich, the levees could have been fixed. Now we all pay for the mistake financially, but more importantly, in the loss of human life. We need capable people in charge, not cronies. Conservatives used to be heartless, but at least competant and fiscally conservative. Now they are inept on all counts. When Americans needed the federal government to step up and respond to this disaster, the conservative government let us down. Do you really think it would be any different if Katrina was a dirty bomb or a biological, or chemical attack? I don't.

Conservatives pride themselves on strong defense, but we only see weakness, uncertainty and corruption in the response to Katrina. Certainly the situation would have been better controlled if our National Guard and Reserves were able to come in and take control of the situation, but of course, they're in Iraq. Hurricane season is a few months away, will anything be different if the Gulf Coast gets another hit? Yes - it will be worse. The levees still aren't fixed in N.O. They are more vulnerable than before Katrina.

Of course the levees weren't fixed before Katrina hit because funds were diverted to the war in Iraq. We're paying the price now.

The problem wasn't addressed because scientists that state that global warming will continue to cause more severe hurricanes in the Gulf Coast are ignored. Global warming is ignored by conservatives. We're paying the price now.

Bush's first head of FEMA - Joe Allbaugh, said that FEMA was an entitlement, and should be eliminated and/or privatized back in 2001. We're paying the price now.

Bush downgraded FEMA from a cabinet position and hired another crony with no experience to run it into the ground. We're paying the price now.

Fox news will have you believe that the whole disaster is Mayor Nagin's fault. Who will the neo-cons blame the next disaster on? Your mayor? You?...

How the fudge can you blame this on a philosophy? The democrats didn't fare much better during the whole disaster either. The weight of blame rests on Nature, the Gov't (ALL OF IT!!!), and the morons who could've evacuated, but decided not to (for whatever their dumb reasons were).
 
There is enough blame to go around:

1. Local/State Corruption:
Millions being given to La/N.O. for Levies was stolen and NOT used for what they were meant for. The Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) said when they examined some levies they found that they had been filled with sand and cracked shells! The ACE had built the levies and the local authorities were supposed to finish the job, filling them with cement NOT sand and crushed seas shells, which quickly ran out of the damaged levies in the hurricane, weakening them further!

2. Local/State Ineptness:
a. Not calling it a disaster soon enough. They kept saying they could handle it until a few hours out then called in an emergency, triggering a Federal response, too late!
b. A prime example was the photo os all those buses sitting stranded, un-moved, that could have been used to get people out. The response when asked about them: 'Those weren't good enough. We had requested Greyhound bring in luxury tour buses but they never showed.' THAT was because Greyhound had gotten their buses out of the area hours and hours earlier - they weren't coming back. So, I guess it was better to leave people in jeopardy than ofer them a ride on a school bus.

3. People's trust in the Federal govt to solve all their problems:
Everytime there is a problem, people NOW look to the federal Govt to solve all their problems. Look at the Govt's track record: Social security, Medic-care, public schools....do you REALLY think they are capable of making much of ANYTHING better? Once N.O. finally declared a disaster, it took the goverment quite a while to mobilize! Unless the govt. pre-positions suppplies around the country in preparation of future disasters, the same thing will happen again. Then again, if supplies were pre-positioned, people would just loot the cr@p out of them!

4. Bush OR Presidential Custom of giving your Buddies a Job:
Every president elected into office gets to appoint people to cabinet and other positions just like the FEMA jobthat failed miserably. Bush has not been the st President to do it, and he won't be the last. The guy he placed into that position was not the 1st guy to be rewarded with a job by a newly elected President, and certainly not the 1st guy not qualified for the job he was given. It was just Bush's, and most importantly the PEOPLE of N.O.'s, bad luck that such a disaster that would expose the practice as a horrible idea would fall during Bush's administration. giving a guy a job simply because he did something to help you become President is Ok - make him the vice-Ambassador of Jamaica...but DON'T give him a job where he can so horribly affect people's lives and blow millions of tax payer dollars getting so little accomplished!

5. FEMA Director:
Unqualified, broke protocol, failed miserably!

And the list goes on and on......

1. People had known a Hurricane could hit head on to N.O., and they knew THIS could happen if it did. They are partly to blame because they knew it could happen and still chose to remain there. (See #5)

2. Their leaders stole much of the money that was supposed to be spent preventing this outcome! Tar and feather these guys - re-elect them if you are STUPID!

3. People are suing the Army Corp of Engineers - that is stupid! These guys built the levy structures, but the local goverments were supposed to finishthem...and cut the corners in order to steal part of the money. The ACE even told the goverment that, as N.O. is below sea level, that is a hurricane hit N.O. head on that this would happen. Want to sue someone, sue the local goverment and Mother Nature! Oh, and how N.O. has been plowing down houses without letting people go back in and collect mementos/whatever and not telling them they were doing is WRONG! Again, there's yur targets to sue if you feel you MUST!

4. From now on, know the Federal Govt is not, I repeat NOT, going to swoop in and save the day. They will call the MILITARY, and it takes us a while to mobilize. PREPARE!

5. If you live in an are on the coast that lies below the seas level and there is a huge hurricane heading towards ou AND you have been told to evacuate....EVACUATE! (Yes, I know it is shocking, but I am actually advocating Personal Responsibility! :shock: )
 
easyt65 said:
There is enough blame to go around:

1. Local/State Corruption:
Millions being given to La/N.O. for Levies was stolen and NOT used for what they were meant for. The Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) said when they examined some levies they found that they had been filled with sand and cracked shells! The ACE had built the levies and the local authorities were supposed to finish the job, filling them with cement NOT sand and crushed seas shells, which quickly ran out of the damaged levies in the hurricane, weakening them further!

2. Local/State Ineptness:
a. Not calling it a disaster soon enough. They kept saying they could handle it until a few hours out then called in an emergency, triggering a Federal response, too late!
b. A prime example was the photo os all those buses sitting stranded, un-moved, that could have been used to get people out. The response when asked about them: 'Those weren't good enough. We had requested Greyhound bring in luxury tour buses but they never showed.' THAT was because Greyhound had gotten their buses out of the area hours and hours earlier - they weren't coming back. So, I guess it was better to leave people in jeopardy than ofer them a ride on a school bus.

3. People's trust in the Federal govt to solve all their problems:
Everytime there is a problem, people NOW look to the federal Govt to solve all their problems. Look at the Govt's track record: Social security, Medic-care, public schools....do you REALLY think they are capable of making much of ANYTHING better? Once N.O. finally declared a disaster, it took the goverment quite a while to mobilize! Unless the govt. pre-positions suppplies around the country in preparation of future disasters, the same thing will happen again. Then again, if supplies were pre-positioned, people would just loot the cr@p out of them!

4. Bush OR Presidential Custom of giving your Buddies a Job:
Every president elected into office gets to appoint people to cabinet and other positions just like the FEMA jobthat failed miserably. Bush has not been the st President to do it, and he won't be the last. The guy he placed into that position was not the 1st guy to be rewarded with a job by a newly elected President, and certainly not the 1st guy not qualified for the job he was given. It was just Bush's, and most importantly the PEOPLE of N.O.'s, bad luck that such a disaster that would expose the practice as a horrible idea would fall during Bush's administration. giving a guy a job simply because he did something to help you become President is Ok - make him the vice-Ambassador of Jamaica...but DON'T give him a job where he can so horribly affect people's lives and blow millions of tax payer dollars getting so little accomplished!

5. FEMA Director:
Unqualified, broke protocol, failed miserably!

And the list goes on and on......

1. People had known a Hurricane could hit head on to N.O., and they knew THIS could happen if it did. They are partly to blame because they knew it could happen and still chose to remain there. (See #5)

2. Their leaders stole much of the money that was supposed to be spent preventing this outcome! Tar and feather these guys - re-elect them if you are STUPID!

3. People are suing the Army Corp of Engineers - that is stupid! These guys built the levy structures, but the local goverments were supposed to finishthem...and cut the corners in order to steal part of the money. The ACE even told the goverment that, as N.O. is below sea level, that is a hurricane hit N.O. head on that this would happen. Want to sue someone, sue the local goverment and Mother Nature! Oh, and how N.O. has been plowing down houses without letting people go back in and collect mementos/whatever and not telling them they were doing is WRONG! Again, there's yur targets to sue if you feel you MUST!

4. From now on, know the Federal Govt is not, I repeat NOT, going to swoop in and save the day. They will call the MILITARY, and it takes us a while to mobilize. PREPARE!

5. If you live in an are on the coast that lies below the seas level and there is a huge hurricane heading towards ou AND you have been told to evacuate....EVACUATE! (Yes, I know it is shocking, but I am actually advocating Personal Responsibility! :shock: )

Well writ........
 
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