Presidential response to Gulf Coast tragedy

I want to know the same thing and I have always mostly supported our President. Why?! It doesn't make sense to me. I just posted in another thread if they weren't mostly poor and black would that have made a difference?

 

Roger, please see my penultimate post on the 'Failure of government' thread in the Politics Forum - you will see that I'm wondering the same thing; how can the richest nation on earth be producing scenes and a response more reminiscent of the Third World???

[ETA - interesting:-

Letter in today's Guardian, from an American woman:

"Why should hundreds die, mostly African-Americans, in a predicted disaster in the richest nation on earth? Did city, state or federal government make any efforts at all to transport these people to safety? They had days in which to do it, but only now are they erecting tent cities.

The poor in the US are, at best, unconsidered, unthought of, mostly invisible. Too often they are despised as lazy parasites: an ugly blemish on America's self-image. Obviously, nobody gave them much thought in this disaster. The whole country should do some rigorous soul searching - not least those evangelical Christians so quick in their condemnation of others. I am, incidentally, American-born and bred.
Anne Williams
London"]

 

As a member of the Armed Forces, I can tell you it does take some time to mobilize relief.

That being said, prior to landfall, President Bush declared Louisina and surrounding areas a disaster area which released money and resources for the area. A move that was applauded by all. Unfortunately, many of the early response teams were trapped because of the devastation and were not able to get to where they needed to be.

The response teams, as most of you know, are now being hindered by gunfire, fire, open hostility, etc. Fox News is now reporting New Orleans policemen are turning in their badges and quitting because what they are now doing is more dangerous than their regular police work and they fear for their lives.

I find it interesting that our military sometimes feel the same way, often in fear for their lives, yet the call of duty is stronger than the fear.

Relief is coming, but it takes time.

 

There are several things many of you are missing.

1. The news that is being reported is selective and worst case scenarios. Just like Iraq, the Good News and the Best News is not being reported.

2. Much of it is being chosen to put on the airwaves because it sheds a bad light on the Bush Administration. ABC's special last night was a prime example. The ABC Reporter did her best to get Sen. Landreau (d) of La. to blame this on the Bush Administration.

3. The situation in Mississippi is vastly different and more positive than the situation in New Orleans and this is directly attributable to the BETTER GOVERNMENT in that STATE and in those AFFECTED CITIES.

4. Having lived in New Orleans I can testify to this fact. New Orleans has always been a violent city. The city government of New Orleans and the Police Department has for as long as I can remember had a reputation for being corrupt. They have long tolerated behavior and crime that other cities would have deemed unacceptable. The Violent element in N.O. only needed a push to explode into anarchy. Katrina provided that push.

5. Regardless of the Evacuation Order there was no way to get everyone out of New Orleans before the storm hit. It was a physical impossibility. There are limited escape routes (essentially three) This has been known for decades.

6. The Blame for the escalating disaster after the Hurricane Hit rests solely on the shoulders of the Mayor and officials of N.O. and the Governor of Louisiana. It was their unpreparedness and their lack of leadership that caused this fiasco. The Federal Government is not there to take over but to assist and you cannot assist something that is broken.

[ September 02, 2005, 07:50 AM: Message edited by: Hardsheller ]