Katrina's aftermath

ok for example, in Russia, the biggest country geographically in the world, if shit goes down in Vladivostok, if there was a terrorist attack or earthquake or something, then what would happen is that local resources would be pathetically unequipped to deal with the situation, and assistance on a national scale would be necessary. its a 10 day train ride, maybe a 7 hr flight from moscow to vladivostok, so that gives a rough time frame of travel times. but in russia nothing would be done anyway by central gov. or very little. two years ago, all power was lost in many cities in siberia in winter, there was no heating, in -50c temperatures. what did the gov. do? putin said the governor of the provice was a prat, or something. some lame ass officical said h was going to negotiate with the energy company to get them to put the power back on. that was about it. the thing is, in russia, i would expect that response. but in a situation which is a lot worse, i get the impression of a similar response from the US government. so i repeat: what exactly are they thinking? and is what they are doing all that is possible given the logistics of organising support, given that this has been an active situation since tuesday? im not asking those with predjudice, or a mocking euro-sneer, im asking those in the US know.

This thread has become massive.. and I blame myself most for bringing up the political side.. hence why I started that thread.

There are ILXORs unaccounted for... we need a clearer way for such info to be brought to attention here.. information about the state of things should remain here, as usual.

What you don't understand is that the party currently in power wants to shrink the federal government and "reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."

How do I set that, again?

They say "come get us" and expect it to happen. I don't know if that's an unreasonable expectation, but I don't think it is, in the richest nation on earth. That the help isn't coming is a tragic, tragic fuckup by selfish, foolish politicians.

time for "show only 50 newest messages"

this thread is getting too large too quickly. it's easy to step away from the computer for an hour and see over a hundred new messages when you get back -- setting it to show only the 50 newest means there are several others we're not seeing. a sequel thread would be nice.

Analysis: When is looting okay?

Searching for former Red Sox pitcher
Name: Dick Bresciani

Phone: 617-226-6710

e-mail: [email protected]

I am a vp of the Boston Red Sox. One of our ex great people and pitchers Mel Parnell lives on 700 Turquoise St. We are unable to reach him by phone and are concerned. Is there any way you can contact him for us? is my direct line. Thank you.

read some interesting stuff about how the government's practice of allowing wetlands to be developed has hurt too, wetlands help stem the tide in nature i guess.

i love it when a plan comes together. go america.

this sucks.

Meanwhile, to give you an idea of what kind of charming people are out there:

Name: Paula Drake

Phone: 630-513-6245

I have as much sympathy as anyone for what you are going through. I have family and friends both in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. But What I am seeing on the news with the looting, shooting at the police, shooting at the people trying to help, really makes me sick. What part of ''You need to get out of town'' did these people not understand? Both the Gov. and mayor told the people that it was going to be a bad storm and they needed to leave. As I tell my children when they talk back to me, ''What part of NO do you not understand, and at 10 and 11 they know where the line is drawn. These people that decided to stay home put not just their lives, but the national guard and the coast guard who then had to go out and try to save them at what cost to the tax payer. Then when they do get picked up they complain about the ''service'' at the dome as if it a hotel. This is a deaster area, they don't get room service. Then when I see the people looting for TVs and racks of clothing I wonder, what are they doing, are they planning a yard sale? I saw a lady yesterday yelling at a newman, ''Its hot here in the projects, and I needs me some water and some food''....I really did expect her to complain about her power being off and her welfare check being late....Give me a break, It sad and its a mess and I will help the in the areas where I can see people trying to help themselves. But I will not help gang members be relocated to another city....If the shoot at a police officer they should be shoot, If they shoot at a gardsman the same.....There should be NO TOLERANCE for this trpe of behavior. I'd sound like a racist if I said this is WHY they needed a master....

Yeah, you would, wouldn't you.

http://theposies.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=134

: /

I'd sound like a racist if I said this is WHY they needed a master....

funny, she didn't really sound like an out-and-out racist until that unfortunate last sentence.

chris from tav falco's panther burns is missing.

ah ok. i didn't realize you could set it for more than 50. thanks.

where was that posted ned?

Thursday, September 01, 2005

House Speaker: Rebuilding N.O. doesn't make sense
Thursday, 2:55 p.m.

By Bill Walsh
Washington bureau

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Dennis Hastert dropped a bombshell on flood-ravaged New Orleans on Thursday by suggesting that it isn’t sensible to rebuild the city.

"It doesn't make sense to me," Hastert told the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago in editions published today. "And it's a question that certainly we should ask."

Hastert's comments came as Congress cut short its summer recess and raced back to Washington to take up an emergency aid package expected to be $10 billion or more. Details of the legislation are still emerging, but it is expected to target critical items such as buses to evacuate the city, reinforcing existing flood protection and providing food and shelter for a growing population of refugees.

The Illinois Republican’s comments drew an immediate rebuke from Louisiana officials.

“That’s like saying we should shut down Los Angeles because it’s built in an earthquake zone,” former Sen. John Breaux, D-La., said. “Or like saying that after the Great Chicago fire of 1871, the U.S. government should have just abandoned the city.”

Hastert said that he supports an emergency bailout, but raised questions about a long-term rebuilding effort. As the most powerful voice in the Republican-controlled House, Hastert is in a position to block any legislation that he opposes.

"We help replace, we help relieve disaster," Hastert said. "But I think federal insurance and everything that goes along with it... we ought to take a second look at that."

The speaker’s comments were in stark contrast to those delivered by President Bush during an appearance this morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

“I want the people of New Orleans to know that after rescuing them and stabilizing the situation, there will be plans in place to help this great city get back on its feet,” Bush said. “There is no doubt in my mind that New Orleans is going to rise up again as a great city.”

Insurance industry executives estimated that claims from the storm could range up to $19 billion. Rebuilding the city, which is more than 80 percent submerged, could cost tens of billions of dollars more, experts projected.

Hastert questioned the wisdom of rebuilding a city below sea level that will continue to be in the path of powerful hurricanes.

"You know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake issures and they rebuild, too. Stubbornness," he said.

Hastert wasn't the only one questioning the rebuilding of New Orleans. The Waterbury, Conn., Republican-American newspaper wrote an editorial Wednesday entitled, "Is New Orleans worth reclaiming?"

"Americans' hearts go out to the people in Katrina's path," it said. "But if the people of New Orleans and other low-lying areas insist on living in harm's way, they ought to accept responsibility for what happens to them and their property."

xpost to that last article

Rap producer Master P's parents and "countless relatives" live in New Orleans, and the family has "lost all of their homes," spokeswoman Donna Torrence said.

On Wednesday, he announced plans for Team Rescue, a relief venture formed by him, his wife, Sonya, and rapper son, Romeo. "My family has set out to save and rebuild our neighborhoods and help our inner-city brothers and sisters who have lost everything in this disaster," he said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-31-katrina-roof-message_x.htm

xpost re:rebuilding: It wouldn't surprise me if the rebuilding push becomes centered on expanding the port and making the entire thing a prefab industrial zone -- it would certainly make sense in terms of being able to integrate the numerous new technologies involved in the screening of cargo.

someplace really fucking boring.

also, tornados, snow storms.

the problem there isn't the natural disasters, but the human disasters.