"By the time military brigades began rescuing people from rooftops, ordinary citizens had saved thousands with private boats."
NOt to sound like im only defending the military and the fed govt's choice of deploying them at the time they did. BUT; It is against the law to send federal troops or another state's Reserve troops into a state without THAT states approval first.
That is true (Posse Comitatus Act), though I think the point the author made comparing the sluggishness of government response to the efficiency of private response is very accurate.Originally Posted by HEATON
I remember it each time I have to argue with someone about the difference between private charity and compulsory altruism (government income redistribution via taxation).
2006 Cadillac CTS-V
the only people I ultimately blame are the people who stayed around in the first place, and then I blame the local govt.
my family from Slidell/St Tammany Parish all recieved automated calls on Thursday before the hurricane...
that idiot Mayor Naigan did not publically give the mandatory evacuation till Saturday night/Sunday Morning.
IF the Local Govt' was more organized and had their National Guard standing by or have them set up in Baton Rouge, things wouldve been alot different...but the fact remains that they were never called upon for a full mobilization, until AFTER the storm.
we can point fingers all day, and after watching the news.....every single politician who wants to get on TV is jumping out and pointing out how they "were the sole voice" for the people and tried to get everyone to move faster.
The people took their lives in their own hands when they stayed behind.
The local GOVT was not prepared and thought that the Federal GOVT would be ready to clean up their mess.
if I hear that Mayor Naigan try and act innocent or say that he begged for delegation, I'll drive to NO again and shoot him in the head. That guy is just trying to act like he was there for the people instead of telling the people that he's not fit to be a mayor.
Its the Reserve not the Guard, the guard is funding by and paid by the Fed Govt. Reserves are state funded,( not pickin on ya, jus enlighting..no worries)
and YEs PPL STAYED BEHIND.. WHY? and Yet they STILL want to stay behind..WTF? Even now when troops are going door to door to tell ppl hey lets go, they are like no thanks..DAMMNIT ppl.. dont bitch if your not even gonn follow.
sorry, that's what I meant.
on CNN the other day, there was a VERY righteous woman who got the chance to talk to the Senator of Louisiana...and her theory on what is going on...
crazy black lady:
"we are being treated like....like...SLAVES!!! I live in the United States, where the Declaration of Independence says I have the right to FREEDOM, and RIGHT TO MY HOME!"
senator:
"I understand your frustration, but sanitarily speaking, the area is not safe, and if something happens, we will not be able to send firemen, police, or medical help"
the lady was interrupting while he was speaking
crazy black lady
"Senator, Senator, Senator, just say what you really want to say...if you want us to stay off the streets, say so....if you are scared we are gonna loot, just say so, if you think we are animals, just say so"
senator:
"No one is trying to make this a black and white issue....we are just trying to clean up the area and make it safe for everyone to come back too, and I dont understand why you refer to yourself as a slave?"
crazy black lady:
"I feel like a slave because I'm a African American and you are kicking me out of my home and it displaces me and it upsets me, that's why I feel like a slave"
....when I saw that, I about spit out my water and I wonder how stupid some people can be.
THANK YOU.
in this country, its always political , and its always a race issue. had this happened in a "white" city in Louisiana, what would have been said then?
the fact is this, just like 9/11, it is the largest most destructive natural disaster in history. The local govt should have had better plans and procedures in place BEFORE this happened. the people that stayed behind, you were warned.
The people that couldnt afford to leave, im sorry, casualties of war. Its a asshole thing to say, but how do you evacuate people so fast with such little time, oh thats right, HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
my heart and money has gone out to the poeple that are less fortunate and that had no choice, but , i have yet to see someone answer the question of how do you help the homeless that had no money to go anywhere.
Its not a race thing , but people are making it out to be. Look at the numbers, NO is primarily black, so of course there is more footage of black people, DUH, its simple numbers. its not cause "bush doesnt care about black people" .
someone posted this on a local baord an i agree with it:
Kanye's comments?
Yeah "the media" is portraying blacks in such a harsh light dude. Showing black people with stacks of Jordans and arms full of designer clothes that they otherwise could not afford to buy isn't "real" is it? I guess the media planted those people there, eh? What about black dudes carrying big-ass TVs that they can't even plug in anywhere?
How is that shit NOT looting?
It's called REALITY and the media shows that, along with a lot of shit that they spin to their own likings for ratings, but it's still real guys.
It also depends on which media outlets you're looking at too, because I've seen a lot of compassion for the people getting needed supplies, and very little slack for the true looters.
It's probably the law of averages though - how many white people stayed? How many black people stayed and were forced to wade through flood waters? Naturally if you have 95% blacks left, well we'll only see blacks looting, right?
Also I don't see Kanye's ass out there in the shelters offering up moral support to "his people" do you guys? It's easy for him to go on a telethon and donate money since he's filthy rich, but come on bro get real! Go mingle with "your people" as you call them, and mix it up with them and see if you don't get mugged and beat down for your riches and fine jewelry.
Hell medi-vac choppers and contractors trying to rebuild the city are being shot at, why shouldn't a guy like Kanye get the beatdown for $50,000.00 worth of jewelry?
Lastly just for fun, someone find and post a pic of a white person with a TV or a stack of designer clothes please, thanks.
Could it be that there are no white looters, or just no pictures taken of them because of a media conspiracy? You don't think black reporters want to expose white looters just to prove a point? Do I think that whites would not be looting? Hell no, poor whites will do dastardly things just as quickly as poor blacks, hispanics, whatever. Point is the law of averages shows us more blacks looting because there's more blacks there - it's a fact people. Oh and if you were a poor white dude would you even venture out in NO to loot? Hell no! you'd be afraid that an angry black mob would kill you, because god knows it's turned into a racial thing already!!!
I'm just curious...
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People were told to EVACUATE, even in Tampa and the west coast of Florida, where it didn't hit too hard. Yes, they told New Orleans to evacuate. So, whoever stayed had to face the consequences, POINT BLANK. As for those of you talking shit about the Military, have you ever served???? Do you know what it takes to mobilize units, or even onesies and twosies? I will defend my Military brothers until the end. Have any of you running your mouths donated? Have I? Yes, I have. I would love to go down there and lend a hand too, have any of you even thought of volunteering to assist? You cannot put all this on "Our Government." When something as catastrophic as this occurs it is our duty as either citizens or soldiers to lend any help we can. Before all of you start talking about our governments short comings on this or any matter, ask yourselves: What have I done to rectify, resolve or lend a helping hand on this subject? I am sick and tired of people who just have negativity without solutions. Do something about it! Just a Veteran Soldiers point of view.
My other car is a UP-ARMOR HMMWV(Humvee)
w/ a MK-19 mounted on top
I dont think anyone bashed the military here?
and to anwser your questions...
yes, yes, yes.
I've donated, AND I've been, was there last week delivering supplies.
well to all you govt haters i got a little news for ya ..... read this
its quite lengthy but if you want to change ur opinion then.....
Louisiana Officials Could Lose the Katrina Blame Game
By Jeff Johnson
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
September 07, 2005
(CNSNews.com) - The Bush administration is being widely criticized for the emergency response to Hurricane Katrina and the allegedly inadequate protection for "the big one" that residents had long feared would hit New Orleans. But research into more than ten years of reporting on hurricane and flood damage mitigation efforts in and around New Orleans indicates that local and state officials did not use federal money that was available for levee improvements or coastal reinforcement and often did not secure local matching funds that would have generated even more federal funding.
In December of 1995, the Orleans Levee Board, the local government entity that oversees the levees and floodgates designed to protect New Orleans and the surrounding areas from rising waters, bragged in a supplement to the Times-Picayune newspaper about federal money received to protect the region from hurricanes.
"In the past four years, the Orleans Levee Board has built up its arsenal. The additional defenses are so critical that Levee Commissioners marched into Congress and brought back almost $60 million to help pay for protection," the pamphlet declared. "The most ambitious flood-fighting plan in generations was drafted. An unprecedented $140 million building campaign launched 41 projects."
The levee board promised Times-Picayune readers that the "few manageable gaps" in the walls protecting the city from Mother Nature's waters "will be sealed within four years (1999) completing our circle of protection."
But less than a year later, that same levee board was denied the authority to refinance its debts. Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle "repeatedly faulted the Levee Board for the way it awards contracts, spends money and ignores public bid laws," according to the Times-Picayune. The newspaper quoted Kyle as saying that the board was near bankruptcy and should not be allowed to refinance any bonds, or issue new ones, until it submitted an acceptable plan to achieve solvency.
Blocked from financing the local portion of the flood fighting efforts, the levee board was unable to spend the federal matching funds that had been designated for the project.
By 1998, Louisiana's state government had a $2 billion construction budget, but less than one tenth of one percent of that -- $1.98 million -- was dedicated to levee improvements in the New Orleans area. State appropriators were able to find $22 million that year to renovate a new home for the Louisiana Supreme Court and $35 million for one phase of an expansion to the New Orleans convention center.
The following year, the state legislature did appropriate $49.5 million for levee improvements, but the proposed spending had to be allocated by the State Bond Commission before the projects could receive financing. The commission placed the levee improvements in the "Priority 5" category, among the projects least likely to receive full or immediate funding.
The Orleans Levee Board was also forced to defer $3.7 million in capital improvement projects in its 2001 budget after residents of the area rejected a proposed tax increase to fund its expanding operations. Long term deferments to nearly 60 projects, based on the revenue shortfall, totaled $47 million worth of work, including projects to shore up the floodwalls.
No new state money had been allocated to the area's hurricane protection projects as of October of 2002, leaving the available 65 percent federal matching funds for such construction untouched.
"The problem is money is real tight in Baton Rouge right now," state Sen. Francis Heitmeier (D-Algiers) told the Times-Picayune. "We have to do with what we can get."
Louisiana Commissioner of Administration Mark Drennen told local officials that, if they reduced their requests for state funding in other, less critical areas, they would have a better chance of getting the requested funds for levee improvements. The newspaper reported that in 2000 and 2001, "the Bond Commission has approved or pledged millions of dollars for projects in Jefferson Parish, including construction of the Tournament Players Club golf course near Westwego, the relocation of Hickory Avenue in Jefferson (Parish) and historic district development in Westwego."
There is no record of such discretionary funding requests being reduced or withdrawn, but in October of 2003, nearby St. Charles Parish did receive a federal grant for $475,000 to build bike paths on top of its levees.
Democrats blame Bush administration
Congressional Democrats have been quick to blame the White House for poor preparation and then a weak response related to Hurricane Katrina. U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, joined two of his colleagues from the Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees Tuesday in a letter requesting hearings into what the trio called a "woefully inadequate" federal response.
"Hurricane Katrina was an unstoppable force of nature," Waxman wrote along with Reps. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). "But it is plain that the federal government could have done more, sooner, to respond to the immediate survival needs of the residents of Louisiana and Mississippi.
"In fact, different choices for funding and planning to protect New Orleans may even have mitigated the flooding of the city," the Democrats added.
But Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) suggested that Waxman "overlooks many other questions that need to be asked, and prematurely faults the federal government for all governmental shortcomings; in fact, local and state government failures are not mentioned at all in [Waxman's] letter."
Davis wrote that Waxman's questions about issues such as the lack of federal plans for evacuating residents without access to vehicles and the alleged failure of the Department of Homeland Security to ensure basic communications capacity for first responders might "prematurely paint the picture that these are solely, or even primarily, federal government responsibilities.
"This is not the time to attack or defend government entities for political purposes. Rather, this is a time to do the oversight we're charged with doing," Davis continued. "Our Committee will aggressively investigate what went wrong and what went right. We'll do it by the book, and let the chips fall where they may."
The House Government Reform Committee will begin hearings on federal disaster preparations and the response to Hurricane Katrina the week of Sept. 12. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is schedule to hold hearings on the economic recovery from Katrina beginning Wednesday morning.
EF SQUAD FTMFW!!!!
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