[Aduladi]

Originally posted by Coramoor


Meterologists knew what was coming and there was an evacuation called. Many people stayed b/c they didn't want to leave. On the other hand many more people actually did leave. How is it anyone's fault but their own that they stayed against the warnings.

I just want to remind you that the majority of the people in the states hit the hardest are some of the poorest people in our country. The news reports stated that many of them didn't even have cars. And for those that did have cars it didn't really help them much when they were stranded on the CLOSED interstates. I disagree with your assertion that they could just leave. For all intents and purposes these are society's throw-aways with few resources or support.

Originally posted by Coramoor

Wait...so the elected authorities of the state don't have any responsibility to protect their citizens?

Sorry, that's not how it works. If the governor of the state didn't have someone qualified for disaster relief that's their fault-not the Feds or Bush.

In my mind the point is not that the governor did not have someone qualified. It is that once again-when poor people are involved-people don't care and feel they have the right to ignore the problem. It is very easy to say help yourself, but if you have very few resources with which to do that then you are basically wasting your breath. Also, if memory serves me correctly, when a less powerful tornado hit Florida last year-you know the part of the state that houses the white elderly rich-relief was there almost before the storm was, so the response by the government in this case is inexcusible.

Originally posted by Coramoor

Additionally from reading what credible stuff is coming from down there-no one was in charge. Police quitting their job, Firefighters held hostage, no one to even send word up to higher authorities to come down and take over. That's the root of the problem.

So the next time you are in a flood or any other natural disaster, let's see how easily you are able to cast judgement. Does it matter really in the final analysis? Disaster hit. Relief should have been there sooner. Why should THOUSANDS of people die while the politicians play politics? When disaster hits, the autorities-who knew it was coming, should have had relief there immediately. They knew that the levees would not be able to withstand a storm this large and Homeland Security did NOTHING to remedy the levee problem or respond to the incident to save as many lives as possible.

Originally posted by Coramoor

There are over 124,000 national guard troops on their way. Which by the way is the point of having a NG-state military forces.

I guess it's pointless to even argue when other's already have their mind made up. Nevermind objectivity or credibility of the sources.

They should have BEEN THERE. and you point about people's mind set is well taken, you are clearly pro-government, but I am looking at the track record of facts. I dont think any of this can be looked at as an isolated incident. I saw very clearly an image of Bush shaking hands and hugging crying white evacuees and the one black man in the crowd got patted on the shoulder as if to say "now, now there black man". That fact is hard to avoid and I personally applaud Kanye for saying what he did and giving a voice to the general frustration and sentiment that many people looking at this tragedy are feeling. It is racism and classism at it's very worst and we have clearly demonstrated to the rest of the world what we are. For goodness sake-when Fidel starts offering us help you know we are looking bad on the world's stage.