So how did the destruction of New Orleans happen?

[mrmitchell]

Result = Big Big Bad.
(and throwing more money at it would not, I don't believe, have made much difference)

Throwing money at problems always helps. With enough money they probably could've just got it all in pennies and used the huge mountains of pennies to reinforce the levees.

[Velociryx]

-=Vel=-

[Rufus T. Firefly]

One other aspect of this question has only begun to be discussed: the decision to place FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security. DHS has got to be the most completely fubarred entity in the US Government -- and I say that knowing how very stiff the competition is for that title. The argument is beginning to emerge, in the Washington Post among other places, that giving FEMA to DHS may have contributed to this crisis because (1) DHS had FEMA prioritize terrorist attack scenarios, at the expense of planning for more likely (and predictable) natural catastrophies, and besides (2) DHS screws up everything it touches.

So there's another father for ya.

[:) Smiley]

Physical damage can at best be mitigated.

Anarchy on the other hand is inexcusable.

[Jack_www]

I agree that a lot of the destruction in New Orleans is man made. I just hope we learn from this diaster.

[SlowwHand]

If, as someone said, good luck would save them, then conversely, one would have to assume it was bad luck that didin't.

[Patroklos]

So, yeah, throwing money at the problem might not have fixed it -- but don't you wish we had at least tried?

Thanks for the blank check for Iraq.

I think the point here is the opposite Rufus, that givin the tens of billions poorted into the NO levies, it accomplished nothing. There is absolutely no reason what so ever to believe more money would have done anything but created a larger broken levy.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Patroklos


Thanks for the blank check for Iraq.

I think the point here is the opposite Rufus, that givin the tens of billions poorted into the NO levies, it accomplished nothing. There is absolutely no reason what so ever to believe more money would have done anything but created a larger broken levy.

That's an absurd argument. USACE indiated that the levees needed shoring up, adn indicated what it would cost. The Administration gave them 20% of that. How does that prove that the original amount of money wouldn't have solved the problem?

Currently I need $5000 to repoint my chimney. If I only have $1000, and thus can't repoint it properly, and the chimney subsequently collapses, does that prove that the $5000 repointing job wouldn't have accomplished anything?

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by Rufus T. Firefly
One other aspect of this question has only begun to be discussed: the decision to place FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security. DHS has got to be the most completely fubarred entity in the US Government -- and I say that knowing how very stiff the competition is for that title. The argument is beginning to emerge, in the Washington Post among other places, that giving FEMA to DHS may have contributed to this crisis because (1) DHS had FEMA prioritize terrorist attack scenarios, at the expense of planning for more likely (and predictable) natural catastrophies, and besides (2) DHS screws up everything it touches.

So there's another father for ya.

The response to this tragedy so far from the Federal government has been horrible and outrageous.

Those people should have been evactuated days ago.

Then Bush gets on tv and says, "the private sector must do their part."

HELLO??? This isn't the time to advance your privatization dream when people need help NOW!!!!!!!

[Jack_www]

Originally posted by Ted Striker


The response to this tragedy so far from the Federal government has been horrible and outrageous.

Those people should have been evactuated days ago.

Then Bush gets on tv and says, "the private sector must do their part."

HELLO??? This isn't the time to advance your privatization dream when people need help NOW!!!!!!!

I think you missed the point when he said, "the private sector must do their part." I think it was to get as many people as possible to give money and whatever else is need to help the people in need. It was not to advance the pricatization dream. I do believe their are mistakes being made. The problem is not the money, the Senate just approved a 10.5 billion dollar aid package for the victoms. The problem is first their is total lawessness in New Orleans. As a result aid workers and FEMA dont want to go into the area when their are gangs of thugs that are armed shooting at them and ect. Also their is no communication in the area, so no one on the ground knows what in the world is going on.

Just now the National Guard has finally started to arive into the City with 3000 troops with more on the way. Once they can gain controll again, it will be much easier to evacute the city of the remaining people there.

[Ted Striker]

You have far more trust in his altruistic motives than I do.

On top of that, alot of the lawlessness can be blamed on the lack of response at the Federal level. People are desparate and doing desparate things, they need supplies and they needed them days ago. They needed law and order established days ago.


But this doesn't surprise me given the track record of incompetence with this Administration.

Bush isn't even in the damn area. A true leader would have gone there and demanded whatever it takes to save those people.


Why is it that CNN can stand there and film people dying right in front of the camera, but the most powerful and richest government on the face of the earth is taking its time to save these people?????

[Ninot]

Originally posted by Ted Striker

Why is it that CNN can stand there and film people dying right in front of the camera, but the most powerful and richest government on the face of the earth is taking its time to save these people?????

It always amazes me that big media corporations can get cameras in front of these people, and not help them in the process.

I guess that would ruin the story or something.

[Jack_www]

There is no way in the world that FEMA is going to be privatized. I think that diasters like this bring out the best in people most of the time any ways.

[Ted Striker]

We already have thousands of mercenaries running around Iraq, I wouldn't count on anything being safe.

[Shi Huangdi]

The Army Corps of Engineer leader recently made a statement saying the project wouldn't have saved NO.