Not at all- it falls under mismanagement. I edited the post rather than clutter up with another one- seemed easier that way.

But I'm done...clearly I bring the wrong toys to the party. Tell me though- you said at the outset that some of the links may offend people- and as I read over the posts again there is ALOT of blame being laid. Why single me out?

Maybe it's that toy thing again?

Mostly, I think, its important to hold to the fire the feet of the people who are in charge right now. As our Secretary of Defense so astutely put it, "You go to war with the army you have." Its important to note the disorganization, the callousness, the attitude of privilege and wealth, the lack of qualification for the job, the bald-faced lies, and the excuses. Blaming those who did not prepare is not the same as exposing the utter ineptitude displayed during the response. As soon as things are put somewhat to rights, as soon as families have been re-united, as soon as bodies are identified and laid to rest, as soon as these things are done, I'm all for firing everybody who had a hand in this shameful mess.

You asked me a direct question, I was under the impression that we had engaged in conversation.

I don't get the "toys" reference. What do you mean by "toys?"

OK - I see your point. I'm not sure, though, why pointing out the lies or excuses or lack of qualification is any different than pointing out a lack of preparedness. It would seem that that could wait until after all the important things you listed as well.

I will say, that during the first three days of the operation, it was very important to point out all of those things you mentioned to....encourage improvement. I think, though, that since that general was put in charge, things have been going much, much better, if not close to as well as could be expected. Mistakes? Sure. The plane that went to the wrong place? Indicative of the problems, certainly. It is a massive operation at present and there will be logistical problems and errors in any such large scale project. I think that the initial overall ineptitude has passed.

Progress is being made very rapidly. Instead of 80% of the city under water, aren't they down to about 45% now? The huge break in the levee has been fixed. The superdome debacle was remedied rather quickly when the general took charge. The lawlessness is coming under control.

Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, this title of the thread and the first couple of posts by the OP set the tone that has followed throughout this thread. You've gotten exactly what you asked for!

Because I have not read the specific articles posted, I "haven't bothered to educate [my]self"? Puh-leese

Am I not intelligent enough to see the context of an article without analyzing every possible word? I am intelligent enough to recognize immediately the gist of the articles. I have enough experience in life to see that it is the same blame game going that I have already read about. You can call it defecation, poo-poo, #2, excrement, feces, whatever. But in the end, it's all just **** (BTW, this was used for an alegory, not as a commentary on the content - really; I mean it!).

Whether someone reads specifically what you want them to does not render them educated ot not.

And that I (and others) am not interested in the blame game - which is what this thread was about since the very first post - to me indicates a higher level of thought process. Sorry for sounding arrogant, but I firmly believe that.

Are you a part of the problem or part of the solution? I prefer the latter.

See above.

Okay, I did not see this before I posted my response above. But I am leaving it there anyways as I am happy with what I wrote.

Why? We already have it here!

Because you brought the wrong toy? :D

Some of us can walk and chew gum at the same time. Yes, things are going better now, and people who are in a position to help need to continue to do what they can. But just because there's a job to do now and it's being done right doesn't mean I'm going to ignore the fact that severe errors cost many many many people their lives. And not in an effort to place blame or get people fired (though that may be the result), but to make sure it doesn't freaking happen again.

heehee, or the wrong batteries? :snap: