From: MV (MV@dc9.tzo.com)
Date: Fri Sep 02 2005 - 09:57:13 PDT
Since when did logic ever apply to where cities, housing, factories, and
high rises were built?
If this country actually used logic to plan the avoidance of disasters,
there would be little to no buildings on the shores of Florida, mobile
homes would be banned in Florida, no one would be allowed to build near
the San Andreas fault which runs through several major cities in
California, no buildings would be allowed on the sand bars off the
mainland of the east coast, no buildings would be allowed to be built in
Denver where they are sure to run out of fresh water in the next 10
years, etc.
This country is propelled by money - and that makes for decisions that
are based on the best "return on investment" instead of logic.
Regarding armchair commmentary on the US response to Katrina. We are
fair game. We blew this one big time. If you think this disaster is
bad, wait until the big one happens in California. This could be
considered a minor blip compared to the devastation that is possible in
CA. Storms like this will hit the US again. In fact it is a fairly
common occurence if you look at history.
National preparedness is not there. Troops and National Guard should
have been put on the alert and preparations readied while Katrina was
still offshore. A lack of water and food 5 days after this mess? Shame
on us. What about our national stock piles?
If Walmart had diverted 5% of the trucks they own loaded with basic
supplies to the ravaged areas, there would be no food or water shortages
period. Although some of you may still be in denial, Walmart has become
our national food storage and supply center by default. One check
written to Walmart with instructions attached would have done the trick.
Some armed NG guards guys riding along with the trucks would have
maintained safety.
Where is the NG? I suspect in Iraq. Shortage of trucks? Iraq? We
have a ton of stuff sitting overseas guarding other hotspots like
Germany? Japan? (yeah right!) and other countries, but we can't get
significant assets to the southern part of the country in 5 days. That
is totally pathetic and unacceptable. No local communications? What
about our network of sattelite based military radio systems - ah - in Iraq?
My 12 year old daughter could have planned a better response than this
mess. The reponse is simply embarrassing.
I just about hurled when I heard Bush ask for our support of the Red
Cross and faith based assistance, but little to no mention of what the
military was doing to assist. Yeah, I'm sure that the Red Cross is
going to mobilize their fleet of helicopters, MVs, and heavy equipment
to move in and help out. Likewise the Catholic church must have an
underground supply of a few million pounds of food that I was not aware
of stuck in a few chuches. Pathetic.
I saw one M35 rolling along in NO on CNN and I was wondering where Sarge is?
Dave
Wes Knettle wrote:
> 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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