Katrina Response Mismanagement

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Scrooge McSam

Oh geez, you're killing me over here LOL

Why in the world would anybody need to congratulate Bush because portions of the city that only saw slight damage are re-opening?

OK... I'm game. I'll give it a shot.

Thank you, Mr. President, for insuring that the original French settlement that became New Orleans was constructed on high ground hundreds of years before your birth. Way to plan ahead there, guy!

Feel better?

Well, in that case, why is it the problem of the feds that so much of it was built below sea level? If it weren't, there would be no disaster. My post was primarily out of sarcasm - the thing that is frustrating to me is that the feds get no credit for anything that goes well, only criticism for what does not.

And actually, I find it sad that I expect that the feds should get any credit for anything that goes well. I am a states rights guy - but I am also a state responsibility kind of guy.

I take it upon myself to be as prepared as I can be. I honestly do not expect anything from the government should there be a disaster. I buy insurance - health, home, blanket liability. I have tried to be as prepared as possible by always having a few cases of water in the garage, the cars tuned up, etc. Can everyone afford to do this? Certainly not.

I expect my state to be prepared. I expect the city of Phoenix to be prepared. I do not expect that the feds should have to come rescue me.

This is why I have so much more disdain for the governor and mayor than i have concern about the preparedness of the feds. To me, it is about their lack of preparation rather than the feds being slower than they should have to respond. And to see them whining like the immature brats that they are makes me ill. "Where's the help?", screamed the mayor, while the people he failed are the ones requiring it. "why is FEMA so slow collecting the dead?", whined the governor, while the dead are there because of her irresponsibility.

To me, it isn't about whether the feds will be able to save me next time. To me, it's about the morons who were so unprepared that hundreds are dead because of it. And they themselves turned away much of the humanitarian aid (from the red cross) that they were whining wasn't there to help them.

That is what make me ill.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I take it upon myself to be as prepared as I can be. I honestly do not expect anything from the government should there be a disaster. I buy insurance...
I expect my state to be prepared. I expect the city of Phoenix to be prepared.

So what's the difference between you buying insurance and expecting your insurance company to fulfill the promise you paid them for should something befall your home that's too catostrpohic to pay for out of your own pocket vs. a state/state's residents sending tax money that fund FEMA and expecting FEMA to fulfill the promise to support them when something happens that's too catostrophic for them to handle?

Yeah, the state dropped the ball and didn't pay their deductible, but if your home colapsed tomorrow, would you rather your insurance company squabbled with you about deductibles that morning, or start the process of getting things taken care of and deal with that crap later?

[wendybeth]

What was the state to do? Strong-arm the feds for the funding? Here is an article that lays out much of what I've been reading and hearing about these past few weeks: Did it have to happen?

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

This is why I have so much more disdain for the governor and mayor than i have concern about the preparedness of the feds. To me, it is about their lack of preparation rather than the feds being slower than they should have to respond. And to see them whining like the immature brats that they are makes me ill. "Where's the help?", screamed the mayor, while the people he failed are the ones requiring it. "why is FEMA so slow collecting the dead?", whined the governor, while the dead are there because of her irresponsibility.

Isn't it funny how 2 people can read a situation so differently.

My take... A couple of year before the storm, the city's laid out the plan and it's insufficient. Right there in black and white. The city is telling the fed in no uncertain terms "We do not have the resources to handle a disaster of this magnitude". Period.

NO CITY ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH CAN HANDLE ITS OWN FORCED EVACUATION.

Try to imagine a forced evacuation of Los Angeles. Go on, try! Move on to New York and give it a good think. That one will bust your head open. Now we have options. We can fix these levees, but it's gonna cost a few million. I know "Freedom's on the march" and all and money's tight, but we could sure use it.

[PanTheMan]

Bush Takes Responsibility....Good for him..... Now IMPEACH the Moron.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by PanTheMan

Bush Takes Responsibility....Good for him..... Now IMPEACH the Moron.

We're gonna get along just fine, Pan.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

So what's the difference between you buying insurance and expecting your insurance company to fulfill the promise you paid them for should something befall your home that's too catostrpohic to pay for out of your own pocket vs. a state/state's residents sending tax money that fund FEMA and expecting FEMA to fulfill the promise to support them when something happens that's too catostrophic for them to handle?

I mentioned I'm a states rights/responsibility kind of guy.

I look at the federal government - regardless of which party or who is in charge - and see incompetence. This is why I support a smaller federal government, and this is where GWBush has failed me. Sadly, the republicans are no longer the party of smaller government. I can't say the dems are either. I'd go libertarian if they didn't have primarily whackos as their candidates, but that's another story.

Scrooge mentions that no city can handle its own forced evacuation. How, then, are the feds to do it? The feds have no right to do it, and in fact weren't asked to help in the evacuation. I could be wrong - I have vague recollection that some help was requested 12 hours or so before it hit, but that's enough time? I would guess using the literally hundreds of busses might have been a good way to start helping those who couldn't get out. Yes, there was certainly traffic congestion trying to get out of NO, but there weren't people dying on the highways because they couldn't wait the traffic out.

The feds cannot be responsible nor expected to plan/prepare for the events can take place in any municipality. This is what local government is for. I believe that everything is managed - or at least should be - better at the local level.

Anyway, back to the GD quote -
The government is not an insurance agency. They have no obligation to protect me as an individual. There was a case a while ago - some may recall it, but I can't site the time period or even where - regarding a law suit of someone who had called 911, but the police didn't get there in time to prevent the crime. The supreme court, I believe - and again, it might have been an appeals court - ruled that the police force is not a private security force and cannot be expected nor required to be there in time to assist you in your time of need. There are broader implications of this rulig going across government.

And regarding the comparison to an insurance company, I would say the feds are acting a lot like one - bailing out a lot of people who would be losing everything. I don't think they are reneging on their commitment whatsoever.

While slow in response, the failure here was not on the part of the feds. It was on the part of the locals. Sure, I hope the next time they are faster, but I am not counting on it. Nor should anyone. It is a local responsibility.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

We're gonna get along just fine, Pan.

Yeah, speak for yourself. I'm outnumbered enough around here already by all you liberal nutjobs.

[innerSpaceman]

State and local responsibility, blah, blah, blah. How much of your dollar earned does to state and local taxes, and how much goes to federal taxes?

Now tell me who should bear the burden of paying for the massive disaster management?



(though I will admit that it appears money going back from the feds to New Orleans for disaster prep was spent on something else. Feh, what else is new in the wonderful world of government? A pox on all their houses!)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Yeah, speak for yourself. I'm outnumbered enough around here already by all you liberal nutjobs.

Obviously time for another Carville therapy session. The last one must not have been strong enough.

Here, lie down and take this pill. We'll have you chanting "universal health care for all!" in no time.