From: Wes Knettle (wsknettl@centurytel.net)
Date: Fri Sep 02 2005 - 08:52:46 PDT
Saw some really idiot replies to that issue here. Rebuilding in flood
zones ahs been denied in hundreds of areas across the US over the years.
The City of New Orleans made it's bed 2 hundred years ago. It chose it's
own building site. It was and still is a bad choice. The City unloaded
it's flood water problem on the the state years ago. And the state
dumped it on the Army Corp of Engineers a few years later. Local
government still has the primary responsibility for the safety of it's
own residents. The mayor of New Orleans should have had an indigent's
evacuation transportation plan on the table over 50 years ago. Or do you
folks expect the Air Force and the Army to have all the necessary
transportation posted on standby nearby. If you do then speak up and
fund the Army and the Air Force for that task. Other wise direct your
gripe at the local leadership who's task it was to insure a plan was in
place and to implement it when needed in a timely manner. Just as the
governor of Mississippi Haley commented "I pleaded with these folks to
evacuate friday, Saturday and Sunday" his staff and the local
communities should have been canvassing door to door to find those in
need of transportation and provide the transportation. Or do you guys
really expect the US Government to have been standing tall in line in
every gulf state city with bussess and troop carriers knocking on doors
for the local officials.
Law prohibits the federal government from interfering with a state's
problem without the state's consent unless it's an act of war against
the entire US or a breech of one's US constitutional rights. I sure
didn't see either one of these happen until 2 days ago when lawless
individuals accosted peaceful bystanders.
Keep in mind the two most important resources in everyone's possesion.
Their MONEY and their RIGHTS. Most people, most cities and most states
will not easily give up either. So each level from the starnded private
individual on up to the US congress are waiting to see who (further up
the food chain) they can force to act and PAY for the rescue.
For those rather loud folks who want the Army to go back in shooting.
This is quickly tempered by the thing we are all afraid of. The blood
and money thirsty Attorneys who will file the long list of class action
law suits agianst the US Government (The American Tax payer for those of
you who don't really know who the US Government is) for any pain and
suffering caused to a poor upset local with a rifle who is exercising
his God given right to express himself at any cost to any other person.
Had the local law enforcement acted with more lethal force against
looters and gangs not involved in foraging for life saving staples there
would have been a different outcome.
A liberal democrat once said "Ask not what your country can do for you,
Ask what you can do for your country".
Rather than spending all this energy bad mouthing the US government, the
armed forces of the US and the Army Corp of engineers you guys should be
asking for and/or offering solutions to the current pressing problem.
Rescue and placement. Go help or invite displaced families to your home
or your church or your city.
Wes Knettle
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