Hurricane Katrina

[VisibilityMissing]

In some ways we're already there, but martial law may be the only way to get some of this chaos under control.

[Rooster]

<!--QuoteBegin-Octan+Sep 1 2005, 07:55 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Octan @ Sep 1 2005, 07:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> <!--QuoteBegin-Rooster+Sep 1 2005, 01:33 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Rooster @ Sep 1 2005, 01:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I haven't replied yet because it doesn't effect me. Harsh but true.<br><br>It's a tradgedy, but at this moment in time I have more personal things to be worrying about than how many people are effected in the world's richest country. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br><i>Ouch.</i> That... wasn't very nice. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ns/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--><br><br>And you seemed to care when you posted about this on the Freefall forum. <!--emo&:meh:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ns/meh.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='meh.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> That was about a week ago.<br><br>I'm also not saying that I don't care, only that there are things, personal things, happening at the moment that are a little more important to me than a city under water.

[rogue-kun]

<!--QuoteBegin-Arloest+Sep 1 2005, 03:33 AM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Arloest @ Sep 1 2005, 03:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I fully believe that the government could be helping out a LOT more than they're currently helping. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Well here is a Time line for you to ponder<br><br><a href='http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archiv ... 007023.php' target='_blank'>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archiv ... egin-Kevin Drum+--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Kevin Drum)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> CHRONOLOGY....Here's a timeline that outlines the fate of both FEMA and flood control projects in New Orleans under the Bush administration. Read it and weep:<ul><br></li><li>January 2001: Bush appoints Joe Allbaugh, a crony from Texas, as head of FEMA. Allbaugh has no previous experience in disaster management.<br></li><li>April 2001: Budget Director Mitch Daniels announces the Bush administration's goal of privatizing much of FEMA's work. In May, Allbaugh confirms that FEMA will be downsized: "Many are concerned that federal disaster assistance may have evolved into both an oversized entitlement program...." he said. "Expectations of when the federal government should be involved and the degree of involvement may have ballooned beyond what is an appropriate level."<br></li><li>2001: FEMA designates a major hurricane hitting New Orleans as one of the three "likeliest, most catastrophic disasters facing this country."<br></li><li>December 2002: After less than two years at FEMA, Allbaugh announces he is leaving to start up a consulting firm that advises companies seeking to do business in Iraq. He is succeeded by his deputy, Michael Brown, who, like Allbaugh, has no previous experience in disaster management.<br></li><li>March 2003: FEMA is downgraded from a cabinet level position and folded into the Department of Homeland Security. Its mission is refocused on fighting acts of terrorism.<br></li><li>2003: Under its new organization chart within DHS, FEMA's preparation and planning functions are reassigned to a new Office of Preparedness and Response. FEMA will henceforth focus only on response and recovery.<br></li><li>Summer 2004: FEMA denies Louisiana's pre-disaster mitigation funding requests. Says Jefferson Parish flood zone manager Tom Rodrigue: "You would think we would get maximum consideration....This is what the grant program called for. We were more than qualified for it."<br></li><li>June 2004: The Army Corps of Engineers budget for levee construction in New Orleans is slashed. Jefferson Parish emergency management chiefs Walter Maestri comments: "It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that's the price we pay."<br></li><li>June 2005: Funding for the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is cut by a record $71.2 million. One of the hardest-hit areas is the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, which was created after the May 1995 flood to improve drainage in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes.<br></li><li>August 2005: While New Orleans is undergoing a slow motion catastrophe, Bush mugs for the cameras, cuts a cake for John McCain, plays the guitar for Mark Wills, delivers an address about V-J day, and continues with his vacation. When he finally gets around to acknowledging the scope of the unfolding disaster, he delivers only a photo op on Air Force One and a flat, defensive, laundry list speech in the Rose Garden.</li></ul><br><br>So: A crony with no relevant experience was installed as head of FEMA. Mitigation budgets for New Orleans were slashed even though it was known to be one of the top three risks in the country. FEMA was deliberately downsized as part of the Bush administration's conservative agenda to reduce the role of government. After DHS was created, FEMA's preparation and planning functions were taken away.<br><br>Actions have consequences. No one could predict that a hurricane the size of Katrina would hit this year, but the slow federal response when it did happen was no accident. It was the result of four years of deliberate Republican policy and budget choices that favor ideology and partisan loyalty at the expense of operational competence. It's the Bush administration in a nutshell.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br><br>Before This crissues I though the EPA was the worst hit, [where i was working untill bush slashed their budget in 1/2 in his first Budget] look like FEMA was even worset hit. so much for be a "Compastionate Conservitive"

[Steve the Pocket]

<!--QuoteBegin-Rooster+Sep 2 2005, 12:20 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Rooster @ Sep 2 2005, 12:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I'm also not saying that I don't care, only that there are things, personal things, happening at the moment that are a little more important to me than a city under water. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> I understand that perfectly, I'm not terribly brought down by the news either, but I'm sure there must have been a better way to put it. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... lleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo--> <br><br>Oh well. 'Sall right. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Dr. Dos]

<a href='http://www.livejournal.com/users/rain_l ... 0#t5255170' target='_blank'>http://www.livejournal.com/users/rain_l ... br>Simpson has agreed to donate some art for this <a href='http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandom_aid_auct/' target='_blank'>online charity auction thingy</a>.<br><br>I figured here would be a nice place to mention it.

[GhostWay]

More on that auction: the pages are up now.<br><br><a href='http://www.livejournal.com/community/fa ... /1590.html' target='_blank'>Book 4 - Authentic Banana Dye</a><br><a href='http://www.livejournal.com/community/fa ... /1590.html' target='_blank'>Book 5 - Om</a>

[Richard K Niner]

<!--QuoteBegin-GhostWay+Sep 2 2005, 11:11 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (GhostWay @ Sep 2 2005, 11:11 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> <a href='http://www.livejournal.com/community/fa ... /1807.html' target='_blank'>Book 5 - Om</a><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>Link fixed. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Ankaris]

<!--QuoteBegin-Arloest+Sep 1 2005, 03:33 AM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Arloest @ Sep 1 2005, 03:33 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Also, it really irks me that possible one of America's greatest tragedies just struck and only James has replied so far. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Well, I feel sorry for the people affected (be it physically, emotionally, or... homelessly? Let's settle for economically), but there's not too much more I can say.<br><br>How's it go?<br><br>"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."<br><br>And the only other feeling aside from sympathy that I have about this whole event is frustration at the preventability of it all. Frustration that might make me... less than tactful if I got into a larger discussion about it.

[Rooster]

<!--QuoteBegin-Octan+Sep 2 2005, 06:46 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Octan @ Sep 2 2005, 06:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> <!--QuoteBegin-Rooster+Sep 2 2005, 12:20 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Rooster @ Sep 2 2005, 12:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I'm also not saying that I don't care, only that there are things, personal things, happening at the moment that are a little more important to me than a city under water. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>I understand that perfectly, I'm not terribly brought down by the news either, but I'm sure there must have been a better way to put it. <!--emo&:rolleyes:--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... lleyes.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rolleyes.gif' /><!--endemo--> <br><br>Oh well. 'Sall right. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Yeah, I'm not really one for getting my point accross well.<br><br><br>By the way, I heard the 82nd Airborne had been deployed there. I thought there were laws in the US against the Army being deployed in country, and that that is what the National Guard are for.

[VisibilityMissing]

<!--QuoteBegin-Rooster+Sep 4 2005, 02:59 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Rooster @ Sep 4 2005, 02:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> By the way, I heard the 82nd Airborne had been deployed there. I thought there were laws in the US against the Army being deployed in country, and that that is what the National Guard are for. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Well, it's not constitutional for the military to sieze personal property or quarter soldiers in private dwellings without compensation. (<a href='http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explo ... ndex.shtml' target='_blank'>Amendments III and IV</a>)<br><br>However, it is normal in a large scale disaster for the regular military to be deployed to supplement national guard troops.

[Softpaw]

Especially when the National Guard has been mostly deployed overseas... *COUGH*IRAQ*COUGH*

[Bocaj Claw]

Question: If they're the <i>National</i> Guard what are they doing in international matters? <!--emo&<_<--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ns/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Rooster]

Especially since the National Guard are more or less "weekend warriors", or "boyscouts with guns" (That's what the regulars call us TA soldiers), and the 82nd Airborne is a Parachute Assault division with many long years of history ranging back from the civil war.<br><br>Seems like someone got the papers mixed up.

[Bocaj Claw]

So lets see: <br> - unpreparedness in the face of prior warning (the three greatest disasters document)<br> - Poor handling of the crisis and an aloof appearence similar to Nero fiddling while Rome burned<br> - Some of the people who are supposed to deal with disasters like this are overseas.<br><br>Baaaaaad judgement is one thing but...

[Steve the Pocket]

<!--QuoteBegin-Bocaj Claw+Sep 4 2005, 05:53 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Bocaj Claw @ Sep 4 2005, 05:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Question: If they're the <i>National</i> Guard what are they doing in international matters? <!--emo&<_<--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ns/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> Even more puzzling, what is the <i>army</i> still doing <i>here</i> then?