New Orleans Flood Control Funding was Cut
According to this article from Der Spiegel New Orleans flood control funding was recently cut by 44% to pay for the Iraq War:
FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.
Update:
The Wasington Post also has an article about this entitled “Destroying FEMA”
Indeed, the advent of the Bush administration in January 2001 signaled the beginning of the end for FEMA. The newly appointed leadership of the agency showed little interest in its work or in the missions pursued by the departed Witt. Then came the Sept. 11 attacks and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Soon FEMA was being absorbed into the “homeland security borg.”
Thanks Jim for suggesting this article.
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September 1st, 2005 at 9:35 am
Do you really consider a GERMAN newspaper to be the best source of information about American politics???
September 1st, 2005 at 9:53 am
I don’t consider it the worst source - certainly Germany’s top paper might pass along news with a bit less propaganda thrown in than FauxNews. In any case, given that the story is making its way around the country now, we will soon be seeing if it is correct or not.
September 1st, 2005 at 9:59 am
Actually, BRITISH newspapers are the best source of information about American politics. But German ones are a close second. Thanks for the link to the story, Joel.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:00 am
Doesn’t have to be the best source, it’s no secret that the funding for the levee project was diverted to support the tax cuts and Iraq war.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:01 am
Actually, the Times Pic, a New Orleanean paper has been covering this issue for years. Our funding for preparations has been neglected for a while, and whether it has anything to do with the war is a question for the people punching numbers in Washington. But it’s a fact. Funding was cut. We’ve applied for more year after year and it has been denied. I’m not sure more funding would have stopped this though. However, there would probably be a lot more supplies on hand such as food, water, clothing and medicine for the survivors. Right now “survivors” are dying because of the lack of these supplies. And it did not have to be this way.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:11 am
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/12528135.htm
September 1st, 2005 at 10:15 am
This close enough to home for your jingoism, Sara?
washingtonpost.com
Destroying FEMA
By Eric Holdeman
Tuesday, August 30, 2005; A17
SEATTLE — In the days to come, as the nation and the people along the Gulf Coast work to cope with the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we will be reminded anew, how important it is to have a federal agency capable of dealing with natural catastrophes of this sort. This is an immense human tragedy, one that will work hardship on millions of people. It is beyond the capabilities of state and local government to deal with. It requires a national response.
Rest of Article
September 1st, 2005 at 10:44 am
yes, the story of the cut funding is showing up all over the place, the New York Times, the local Louisiana news, National Public Radio, the Washington Post. Der Spiegel is simply being a good newspaper.
and, besides, what does this have to do with politics? sounds like it has something more to do with economics than politics.
September 1st, 2005 at 10:56 am
Gee, did you thinks Sara bothered to notice who wrote the article. I wonder what she really means by ‘GERMAN’?
“Sidney Blumenthal, a former assistant and senior advisor to President Clinton and the author of “The Clinton Wars,” is writing a column for Salon and the Guardian of London.”
September 1st, 2005 at 11:09 am
Why don’t you all shut the hell up and send money to the red cross…like the good samaritans you are.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:48 am
Aside from the funding cuts in New Orleans, where is the national response from our federal government NOW? Maybe we have too many (inter)national guardsman deployed elsewhere. But lets not talk about that…Turn on the news and play a family game called count the water bottle. First one to see one that didn’t come from a reporter wins.
September 1st, 2005 at 12:03 pm
Sara, perhaps you should consider if an AMERICAN paper is the best source of information about American politics???
Greetings from “Old Europe”
September 1st, 2005 at 12:14 pm
We can bash Bush later lets concetrate on helping others right now….I don’t like Bush but we need to help not rant!
September 1st, 2005 at 12:52 pm
One of my long-time neighborhood friends told me after returning from Iraq, “I joined the national gaurd because I thought I’d be saving people, not killing them.” How are 200 national gaurds supposed to properly secure and facilitate 20,000 displaced civilians in a precarious football stadium? Maybe deploying 45% of them to the Middle East wasn’t the surest way to “make America a safer place.”
sixx1974, these comments are in response to an article we just read on the Bush Administration’s careless and partisan politics which directly affected New Orleans’ state of emergency. By all means, let the ranting begin!
September 1st, 2005 at 1:29 pm
See from Europe, Sara’s answer “Do you really consider a GERMAN newspaper to be the best source of information about American politics??? ” seems for me a new sort of “desesperate black humour” !
With such attitude, don’t be surpise that praticly all other THE REST OF THE WORLD is actually not very enthousistic with “American Way of Governing”
Yes, the USA have contributed for 30% of climate change so far.
Yes, Europe have ALSO contributed for 20 of climate change so far.
Yes, USA’s actual administration is hardly fighting ANY efforts to reduce global warming ( and is hardly working to generate huges differences between his own citizens.)
Yes some people seem to completly forget the fact that we ALL leave on the same planet
UNTIL WHEN ???
How many new climate disasters, we, rich countries, will need to understand ?
When will we stop ALLTOGETHER our “oil addiction” ?
When will we start ALLTOGETHER to protect seriously our only place to live: The Earth ?
Delphinus delphys, Marseille, France
September 1st, 2005 at 1:30 pm
Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen? Will Bunch (letters@editorandpublisher.com) is senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News.
Yet after 2003, the flow of federal dollars toward SELA dropped to a trickle. The Corps never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security — coming at the same time as federal tax cuts — was the reason for the strain. At least nine articles in the Times-Picayune from 2004 and 2005 specifically cite the cost of Iraq as a reason for the lack of hurricane- and flood-control dollars.
Newhouse News Service, in an article posted late Tuesday night at The Times-Picayune web site, reported: “No one can say they didn’t see it coming….Now in the wake of one of the worst storms ever, serious questions are being asked about the lack of preparation.”
In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain, according to a Feb. 16, 2004, article, in New Orleans CityBusiness.
On June 8, 2004, Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; told the Times-Picayune: 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. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can’t be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us.
Also that June, with the 2004 hurricane season starting, the Corps’ project manager Al Naomi went before a local agency, the East Jefferson Levee Authority, and essentially begged for $2 million for urgent work that Washington was now unable to pay for. From the June 18, 2004 Times-Picayune:
“The system is in great shape, but the levees are sinking. Everything is sinking, and if we don’t get the money fast enough to raise them, then we can’t stay ahead of the settlement,” he said. “The problem that we have isn’t that the levee is low, but that the federal funds have dried up so that we can’t raise them.”
The panel authorized that money, and on July 1, 2004, it had to pony up another $250,000 when it learned that stretches of the levee in Metairie had sunk by four feet. The agency had to pay for the work with higher property taxes. The levee board noted in October 2004 that the feds were also now not paying for a hoped-for $15 million project to better shore up the banks of Lake Pontchartrain.
September 1st, 2005 at 1:34 pm
in case anyone asks…
——————–
here’s one link to the Bunch piece: (and by the way, it’s not simply about bashing dubya; it’s about spreading facts to counter the mainstream media’s sensationalist digression from any analysis… but I digress… go bloggers!).
==========================
http://www.alternet.org/story/24871/
Why the Levee Broke
By Will Bunch, Attytood. Posted September 1, 2005.
Washington knew exactly what needed to be done to
protect the citizens of New Orleans from disasters
like Katrina. Yet federal funding for Louisiana flood
control projects was diverted to pay for the war in
Iraq….
September 1st, 2005 at 3:58 pm
Congress decides the budgets, not President Bush. No amount of reporter ignorance, nor American apathy for learning how our system of government works, will change that essential fact. Want to place blame? Stare at that person in the mirror. You sent your Congressmen and Senators to Washington that created these budgets. Bush merely signed that budget, which had this levee item as one of millions of items.
While it is currently an unpopular opinion, the state of Louisiana and City of New Orleans has been completely incompetent by any measure as first responders. If you want heads to roll, look there. FEMA and other federal government agencies are springing into action quickly, but Ray Nagin and Governor Blanco have failed their people by fumbling the ball from teh very beginning.
Another unpopular opinion nonetheless true: New Orleans is a money pit.
It was built in a hole, and human arroganceand pride over 300 years caused the condition which are to this very day making it deeper while at the same time building the sides higher. In 40 years the city will be another 1-4 lower below sea level. New Orleans is sinking, a fact no amount of blame-passing will solve. As time goes on, the problem will only grow worse and the potential for mass casualties will further increase past the 9/11-type casualties many expect fromt this event.
Want to see 10,000 die in a hurricane? How about 20,000?
Arrogantly rebuild New Orleans in the same fetid hole in a Louisiana swamp. You’ll get the bodycount you desire soon enough.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:50 pm
Don’t kid yourself. Congress may be the body making the decision, but Bush is the catalyst. No one doubts that he has his lobbyists making deals with the various congressmen and senators that he needs in order to get this or that put into the budget.
One has to wonder if the flood funds mentioned above would have been cut had New Orleans been located in Florida a.k.a. Bush-land. This just makes my suspicion that the war in Iraq is more important to Dubya than the fate of Americans in America.
The funding would not have stopped Katrina, but might have kept her from taking as many victims.
Please remember that the Red Cross is NOT the only charity organization that will be in the region in the wake of Katrina.
The United Methodist Church will send EVERY PENNY of donations to the area that is designated by the donor to go there. It is one of the charities if not the best charity to send your money to for missions and to help in these situations as it has the least overhead taken out before sending the funds to actually help. I have done my research (I’m Catholic) and this was what I discovered. Please give to the charity of your choice and don’t limit yourself to just the Red Cross.
My prayers are with all those who are struggling in the wake of Katrina. God help them!
September 1st, 2005 at 5:46 pm
I did not realize that bush was in office when the levees were built. I also did not realize that there was a war in IRAQ that Bush was trying to fund when the leeves were built. I am so glad to know that when the Army Corps built the levees at 30 feet in the 1930’s that all this political turmoil was going on then. Oh wait I guess even in the 1970’s when the Army Corps redid the levees because of breches in it that caused flooding it was Bushes fault then. Wake up and smell the coffee. Accidents are going to happen, Mistakes are going to be made, even wrong decisions are going to be made. But, don’t put all the blame on one person. I am not naieve enough to think that if a Democrat was in office this same thing would have happened, I hope you all are not either. THe real story here should not be about wheather someone was right or worng it should be on concentrating on helping those that need help. Praying for those that need help, that have lost loved ones, and yes even praying for our Comander in Chief so he, will, make the right decisions. This is too big of a tragety to make it political at this time. I have one other question. We help financially with problems all over the world tsunamis, earthquakes, floods. Where is our help from them? We are always one of the first to help others but almost always the last to be given any…
September 1st, 2005 at 6:10 pm
The prioritories in the political arena have been unbalanced for many years now, and time is catching up with us. Money has been paid to elected officials at unconsciousable amounts with life long retirements, and lets not forget the mlti-million dollar salaries made to CEOs and money wasted, used for special interest. The country is at one of the lowest points in recent years. Financially,the burden is high, gasoline prices soaring, the costly unneccessary war in Iraq and the natural
disasters are takinga toll on working Americans. Mssissippi, Alabama residents of Lousianna, and Florida are paying a very high personal cost for the unfair balance of the American System of Politcs and Finance.
September 1st, 2005 at 6:59 pm
Avis: stick to renting cars.
September 1st, 2005 at 7:15 pm
We can pass the blame on and on. People were warned to leave and chose not to, they still need help. The government and people around the work are trying to help. Even that has been halted, with the violence born of desperation of the people still trapped in the areas hardest hit. Would we be teh same angry, blaming people like that, who are preventing help from getting to those who need it and aren’t reacting in anger? Are we now people who give time, money, food and prayers for peace, or do we just sit around blaming the government for not doing more?
September 1st, 2005 at 9:58 pm
Bush: “Who would have thought a levee would break?”
September 1st, 2005 at 10:36 pm
Civics Brief on Blame:
The US Constitution was deliberatey written to make majority rule and the interests of small factions (including state interests) difficult to legislate. Our founding fathers were not democratic heroes, they were federalists, and brilliantly so. Given how little the constituion is read, I’m guessing no one has even heard of Federalist #10. Democratization of the government has been an often bloody fight from the beginning. Civil rights reform was amazingly recent in modern history. I’m all for passion and participation in politics and government but I have to implore many of you to get educated before you get angry. Or at least get educated as a result of your anger.
It is unfathomably naive to blame any one branch of governement for any given problem, and flat out stupid to blame any one person. We have checks and balances for a reason, people. And please, remember that we live in a REPUBLIC. We ELECT representatives by VOTING who then make decisions on our behalf. If you don’t like what is happening, get educated and start making a difference by encouraging others to learn as well.
A good example of what I’m trying to relay here is the overwhelming republican victory of both the House and Senate after Clinton was elected President. How much of their “readical” legislation made it to the law books? Very little. Clinton vetoed most of it. The point is that power is SHARED. I am further making the point that citizens are ultimately responsible for VOTING in favor of their interests. Calling for the death of POTUS because individual opinions are not enacted into law is ridiculous. Thank goodness James Madison was more insightful than that.
It’s great to see public outrage about levee repairs etc. in NOLA, but why do you think it wasn’t enough of a priority for state public officials? How could they have rearranged the state budget when federal monies were not available? What do you think the role of federal governement should be when states are unable to manage their own affairs adequately? Who gets to make that decision? Is NOLA more important than other US danger zones? Who decides? Is FEMA more important than public education? If decreasing the size of the military is the best way to redistribute funds, can you think of historical examples where similar thinking resulted in disaster?
The blame game is useless unless it results in organization and action. How involved are you in local, state, and national politics? The REASON the interests of so few people seem to be adequately represented is because so few people participate in the process.
After you get educated, spread the word, involve others, make a difference, elect good representatives of your interests, and give it all you’ve got, guess what? The constitution makes it REALLY hard for large groups to make sweeping change. Not only that, but the people you elected are not perfect and mistakes will be made. You will never live in a perfect world.
The good news is that you are a protected citizen with the most comprehensive bill of rights and civil liberties known to planet Earth. What you decide to do with that is up to you. Good luck.
September 1st, 2005 at 11:29 pm
Want to place blame? Blame the so-called God.
When something good happens God gets the credit. When something bad happens it’s everyone elses fault. But according to relegion, God creates everything. According to that logic, God created Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and left it in chaos. If you believe in God then blame him.
Bottom line, no one could have done anything, at any time, that would have prevented this disaster. What happens, happens.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:24 am
I half agree with you, John. There was something that could have prevented this disaster…perhaps not building a city below sea-level, in a swamp, surrounded by water on three sides, in hurricane country?
Quite frankly, it is a miracle it hasn’t happened before, with a much higher loss of life. That only a few thousand died from such a massive storm that blow up seemingly out of nowhere and hit a major metro area seems to be enough evidence of a divine intervention for me.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:49 am
Democracy is not a perfect method and I’m pretty sure that anybody trying to change the “natural” order will not be elected, except in movies of course. But if you vote again and again the same buch of hypocrites managed by corporations what do you expect?
The only citizen chance is his vote use intelligently and don’t vote again the same people and I mean both, look for other option.
September 2nd, 2005 at 12:54 am
This is a tragedy of horrific proportions; we can not blame someone for this. We must realize that this is the price we pay for being human. A life of amazing prospects but fraught with dangers that we can not completely eliminate. We must learn and move on.
September 2nd, 2005 at 2:20 am
Not many of you may know that one third of the Netherlands is below sea level protected by levees. They would have had flooding would they have been as careless as authorities in New Orleans. Knowing that there is a major risk and putting the lifes of thousands of people in danger by not making flood protection a priority is a scandal. I hope we see some reaction there.
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:07 am
Bottom line forget the blame game and help the victims of this storm. We forget that we can not control Mother Nature or our environment. Anytime we build a city on the gulf coast below sea level we have to expect that this will happen. Perhaps we will remember this the next time and evacuate everyone before the storm. My heart felt sympathies to all those affect by this hurrincane. I will do what I can to help these people, unfortunately due to the increase in gas prices I can’t afford much. In response to John; on earth there are two forces at work good (God) and evil (Devil). Why do you choose to blame the good?
September 2nd, 2005 at 4:45 am
Like i said on another thread, President Bush must be one HELLUVA man to create such havoc in one state,and be miles away when it takes place.All you people that can do better,hopefully we”ll see yall”s names on the next election ballot.
September 2nd, 2005 at 5:32 am
Nice Guy?
or the Devil’s Spawn?
He snorted cocaine … He dodged the draft….His friends knew him as an alcoholic womanizer with a bad temper….a complete failure at business until his wealthy friends rescued him. Yet within a few short years he was elected Governor of Texas, and quickly catapulted into the White House in spite of losing the popular vote. Then he was re-elected with last minute help from Osama Bin Laden, in spite of high disapproval ratings. He still couldn’t think his way out of a wet paper bag without the advice of his staff …..and yet he’s been able to declare an endless war and institute some of the most radical changes in American history ….
……. How has He done it?
I submit to you that George Walker Bush is the ANTI-CHRIST. The violence and destruction that began when Bush first entered office, is now certain to culminate in the apocalypse, as predicted in the Bible over 2,000 years ago
September 2nd, 2005 at 8:58 am
The way your description started off i thought you were talking about William Jefferson Clinton. Thank goodness that during his term in office the greatest national crisis was trying to keep a sperm-stained dress out of the media!
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:31 am
I realize luckylady’s post is in gest, but my conscious won’t allow me to miss this opportunity to remind everyone that in our Republic we do not elect our President by popular vote. This myth just won’t die. It was never intended to be that way. Only in modern times has the popular vote been tied to the electoral college, which confuses the hell out of people. Our constitution was written specifically to prevent majority rule.
But I digress… luckylady is on to something BIG.
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:11 am
I don’t think Bush cares about the victims of Katrina at all. Why? Because they are poor and black and therefore mean nothing to the Republican agenda. Maybe next time the poor and disenfranchised will remember this injustice and vote this evil administration out of office. And before all you flamers start posting - no, you are wrong - I’m white and from Texas where we know the true legacy of the Bush regime!
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:40 am
BOTH the Clinton and Bush adminstrations under funded the Army Corps of Engineers requests for flood control programs in NOLA.
Futhermore there has been plenty of pork laden projects funded for BOTH sides of the isle.
Our current system does not always do what is needed most but often does what the lobbiest want.
You and me we just pay for it all.
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:16 am
Xiola… poor black people are not the only ones impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, not all poor people are black. Similarly, not all black people are poor. I will assume therefore since you are making such sweeping generalizations that by saying Bush doesn’t care for Katrina victims, you mean the entire Bush administration and the voters that support him, including me. Do you see how silly your thinking is now? I give it a 9 out of 10 stars on the silly scale.
By the way, being white and from Texas doesn’t excuse you from being ignorant. Good luck helping the poor and disenfranchised with remembering to vote. You have your work cut out for you! We can’t even get the not poor and totally franchised to vote!!!
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:04 pm
Ryan… Bush has blinded you. Watch your TV, read the newspaper, look at your skid row or your county jail. The majority of the poor population is black. There’s no gray area for debate. Just black and white. Have you not noticed that 99% of the Katrina victims or black? Well, I assure you, it’s not an optical illusion. This is not a “sweeping generalization.” And I’m embarassed of your claim that Bush dictates your feelings and beliefs simply because you voted for him. Are you sure you believe that?
And Ryan, this isn’t 1775. Our founding fathers would be ashamed of empirical wars and neglected VOTES (which, I know James Madison wouldn’t have cared, but they were mostly BLACK votes). You speak of words and semantics, I speak of meaning and context. Just admit it everyone, Bush’s “national” interest don’t match the electoral vote’s interest no more.
Bring the National Gaurd home! Immediately. They belong in New Orleans, not Baghdad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 2nd, 2005 at 8:27 pm
I am so tired of listening to this ongoing battle in our country about who is right and who is wrong and who is to balme for everything little negative thing we can imagine. Does the word RESPECT mean anything to anyone anymore? Is being right more important than doing the right thing? People are dying all over the world, children are being raped and sold like cattle; women are oppressed beyond belief in most other countries and men don’t seem to know what it means to be a man anymore. Who cares who’s fault it is, we’re all to blame. One person didn’t cause all of the world’s problems and it’s going to take a lot more than one president of one country to resolve even one issue. Look in the mirror people, ask yourself “have I done something to change the things I don’t like in a positive way?” Then take a moment to consider the amount of work that has gone into giving you the RIGHT the rant on and on like a bunch of spolied, self-centered, way to much time on your hands, infants who feel entitled to everything whether you’ve earned it or not!!!! Grow some character people and do something other than sit at your computer and complain, get away from your desks and go make a difference and forget about who’s fault it is.
September 2nd, 2005 at 9:47 pm
I am disappointed in those people who have taken this opportunity to turn this into a politic debate and Bush bashing. Enough already this helps no one, but your own selfish causes. Bush and the Bush administration is not to blame. The official of New Orleans never really beleive this would happen to the extend that is has and did not have a plan to deal with this situation. Their only crime was under estimating Mother Nature, whihc humanity does on a regular basis. If you need to blame someone for the lack of aid in New Orleans blame the people who are hampering the rescue efforts by causing the violence and shooting at the Helicopters/semis/buses/etc and preventing help from reaching the hospitals and people who need help. Every person that is needed to control the violence and protect the rescue personel is one less person who could be helping with the resuce efforts.
September 2nd, 2005 at 10:37 pm
Der Spiegel is one of the most serious magazines in existence world wide. German or not it has nothing to do with it.
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:28 pm
iguess this would not have happened if clinton or another democrat were pres. because we all know that rebuilding the levee shitstem was tops on his list
September 2nd, 2005 at 11:46 pm
Tony,
If Clinton or another democrat were in office we would not be using all our money in an ilegal war!
September 3rd, 2005 at 12:44 am
bosnia
September 3rd, 2005 at 1:49 am
Misa,
“The official of New Orleans never really beleive this would happen to the extend that is has”??!
Read the article:
“a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S”. This was written in a 2001 report from the FEMA.
Not number 151 or even 24. Number 3.
How clearer could it possibly be?
Enough of people blaming unpredictable nature of natural disasters to escape having to respond for their actions.
September 3rd, 2005 at 1:50 am
William in Cincinnati your ignorance and hate is showing. Try actually reading the consitution and laws of the United States, before you speak.
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:01 am
FEMA believed it, but did the Mayor of New Orleans or the Governor? People choose to believe what they want to believe. Just read the remarks left here about Bush and Clinton. You can not expect the federal goverment to take responsibleity for each and every city in the United States, it is unrealistic to expect this. Each city should have a plan in place for natural disasters. I live in a city where the city officals for years didn’t beleive a tornado could hit, but they were told it could happen. We had no shelters avaliable or anything when it hit or after.
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:27 am
I am utterly appalled and ashamed that ANYONE would attempt to turn a tragedy such as that along the Gulf Coast into a political statement! I am proud of the government of the United States of America for it’s quick and expansive response to one of our nation’s worst historical tragedies. It wouldn’t matter if it had been Bill Clinton or George Bush in the Presidency….the difficulty of the evacuation process would have been the same.
The remaining citizens of New Orleans weren’t all gathered together in one place to be attended to and transported to a safe haven with medical assistance and warm food. These fine rescuers had to SEARCH the entire city for the living (and dying) to be rescued. Those who were on high ground could have been attended to immediately had it not been for those who had chosen to stay in their own homes for one reason or another. Many - maybe most - of these New Orleaners would surely have died without the difficult rescue efforts.
I am proud of the loving Americans who were Republicans and Democrats, black and white, who are giving from the bottom of their hearts to assist. And I haven’t heard these giving Americans say “things would have been different if President Bush had done things differently”!
I am ashamed of those individuals who live in our fine country that chooses to point fingers and criticize government during a time of (national) crisis. It is too bad they aren’t the ones who - in the end - are the last to leave the City.
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:45 am
In response to Shirley Brown, Thank you for saying what needed to be said and supporting the United States. It may not be prefect, but it’s still the best.
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:23 am
Misa, let’s not be arrogant. And Shirley, how was U.S. response quick? We’ve got half our National Gaurd hellicopters, hum-v’s, and weaponry overseas. And 40% of National Gaurd troops In Iraq. It has become a universal truth that the response was not quick, much do to this lack in homeland military resources.
I’m sorry to those who feel blogging about politics in a state of national emergency is wrong, but sometimes it takes a Hurricane to unveil our political and social ills. 30 percent of New Orleans residents live below the poverty line, mostly black. There were 37 million poor Americans in 2004. After Katrina, add another million to that. Law makers refuse to raise the minimum wage which has been stuck at $5.15 an hour since 1997. 45.8 million Americans are without health insurance. 50.1 percent of income goes to the top 20 percent of households (2004).
If you are utterly appalled with political conversations at the one rare time mainstream America will actually see some of her socio-economic imbalances, then please ignore them. If you see a light in this perilous time to openly express progressive ideas which could improve this country we all share, then I beg of you to open your hearts and minds while ears are listening and eyes are open wide. And do it now, while America sits naked for the world to see.
September 3rd, 2005 at 6:32 am
Hey…
I’m from Austria and we’ve been getting anti-Bush propaganda for ages
… sort of…
from here it seems as though he’s been heading in the wrong direction pretty much since the start…
I can see that and i’m only Grade 12
from here it doesn’t really look as though many of you have caught on to Bush’s incompetence and lack of credibility
why you all keep putting your faith back in his arms is beyond me
quite possibly you should all consider this your final straw and force him into exile…
or at least vote him out the next chance you get
take it from me…
he’s making you ALL look bad…
well… him and Hollywood…
they’re infecting OUR minds as well…
anyway…
you should stop him the next chance you get…
otherwise your WHOLE country will fall
mail me:
big_almo@hotmail.com
September 3rd, 2005 at 6:43 am
Actually, American’s CANT vote him out at the next election, because US presidents can only stand for 2 terms in office.
Oh yeah, people should stop referring to the situation in New Orleans as ‘Anarchy’ - it ISN’T!
September 3rd, 2005 at 8:01 pm
New Orleans was not built in a big hole, people. Louisianians are nowhere near as stupid as other states stroke their egos to believe. I am from Acadiana. I’m 36 years old, and all my life I’ve heard horror stories about the Army Corps of Engineers screwing Louisiana. Among our greatest concerns has been the fact that the rerouting of the Mississippi River stopped the annual replenishing of land mass beneath New Orleans. As for whether George W. deserves some blame, consider this: the Republican government as we know it today spent billions redistricting many states in such a way that the most prevalently Democratic districts were badly weakened in the electoral college, in preparation for the last “election.” I’ve lived in Houston for the last 10 years. In the last “election,” I saw Tejanos (usually Democrats) threatened bodily when they tried to enter their polling facilities, by people who proudly bragged that they were Republicans and that it was “unAmerican” not to be, as they had been told by Prince Georg. I’ve got two terms for anyone who has actually been paying attention to what goes on in D.C.: Thomas and Scalia.
I am a graduate student in social psychology, by the way, and much research has suggested strong coprevalences of Republicanism, authoritarian parenting, undereducation, low cognitive functioning, strict nationalism in the guise of patriotism, ehnic and gender biggotry, open anti-gay sentiment…the list goes on (see Gregory Herek’s work, among others). I would argue that these people are also the most easily brainwashed. Historians have found substantial evidence that the Republican party have spent many years studying the Nazi regime and mimicking many of their techniques. Coincidence? Yeah, right!
The majoriy of New Orleaneans are black and Democrats, and about 1/3 of their population live below the poverty level – folks who are not usually treated as valuable citizens by either of our two viable political parties. The Miss River Delta used to be fabulously beautiful, especially Grand Isle. Now it is a toxic sludge pond with government signs warning us not to eat the fish, because of the Corps of Engineers and the federal government’s many, many years of neglect of that region. Louisiana has been begging for help for many decades. It is an empoverished state in a union that cares little, and yes, Louisianians are pissed off about it. We have been for a very long time.
Cliff Says:
September 1st, 2005 at 9:58 pm
Bush: “Who would have thought a levee would break?”
Answer: Everyone from Houston to Pensacola. It was built, and rebuilt, to withstand up to a cat 3 hurricane.
To Confederate Yankee: Learn what a swamp is.
Xiola: Go, Baby, go. Texans have spent the last six years scared to say anything in public about how many of us learned to hate that bastard when he was crapping all over Texas.
In my opinion, Bush-bashing helps everyone.
Shirley Brown Says:
September 3rd, 2005 at 2:27 am
“…It wouldn’t matter if it had been Bill Clinton or George Bush in the Presidency….the difficulty of the evacuation process would have been the same.”
Bullcrap. Have you seen the film footage of that idiot when he was told about the strike on the WTC? Name me one former, or legitimately elected U.S. president who would have acted like that. I have enough pride in my country to acknowledge that we haven’t had such a self-righteous, egomaniacal dumb-ass in the white house before.
I am also very proud of the American people and their responses to this disaster, but I haven’t been proud of our government since the day before I picked up my first book written by a real historian.
As for this being the best country on the planet, gosh darnit…where have I heard that before? The nice thing about a cliche is that no one has to bother thinking before speaking. The unfortunate thing about a cliche is that no one has to bother thinking before speaking…and it makes brain-washing so much easier.
joseph t. Says:
September 3rd, 2005 at 5:23 am
“If you are utterly appalled with political conversations at the one rare time mainstream America will actually see some of her socio-economic imbalances, then please ignore them. If you see a light in this perilous time to openly express progressive ideas which could improve this country we all share, then I beg of you to open your hearts and minds while ears are listening and eyes are open wide. And do it now, while America sits naked for the world to see.”
Sweet honey baby, Joseph. A man with brains AND kind-hearted diplomacy! Will you marry me?
Muchofnothing: You, too, with the marriage proposal. Know this, though, before we wed: the great majority of U.S. media sources are owned by Republicans, and our present administration has been preaching that it is “unAmerican” to question them, since before Georg’s first “election.” Most citizens of the U.S. who dislike what has been going on in our federal government have been afraid to speak out publicly, because their people have had the right-wingers so empassioned by rhetoric and lies. The good news is that, as this administration has shown its own true stripes more and more vividly, more of us have been speaking up and getting something done about the way those people do business, including many, many Republicans who can no longer deny what those turkeys are up to. Around Houston, it feels like the Democrats are coming out of the woodwork, and they are delighted to express opinions they’ve had to bottle up for years. A first hand view of the rape of our democratic process, brutalized as Democrats tried to vote and were turned away, had their registration cards conveniently lost in the mail, and just as in Florida the first time, had their delivered ballots conveniently overlooked or lost…that put the fear of God into a lot of Texans. At the very least, we have reason to believe that we will, in fact, keep the Republicans from changing the federal law that prohibits his “running” yet again.
Take note, Paulie, they have been trying to do that.
I would argue that news reported in the U.S. is the least reliable source of information about the U.S. I would argue the exact same thing with regard to any country on this planet. That’s what governments do. They keep us appeased and happy with pretty pictures that belie the realities of war and famine and life on Earth.
September 6th, 2005 at 12:42 pm
To Misa and “FEMA believed it, but did the Mayor of New Orleans or the Governor? People choose to believe what they want to believe”.
What’s your point? My initial post was that such statements as “nobody believed it could happen” are bs and dishonest. There were tons of reports out there.
In addition, people are free to believe what they want. But they should not try to escape their responsibilities by pleading ignorance. “duty”, “accountability”… does that ring a bell?
I do not argue that some people might have taken their decisions in good faith. But for christ’s sake, stop invoking ignorance - once and for all.
To Wat2be and “This is a tragedy of horrific proportions; we can not blame someone for this. We must realize that this is the price we pay for being human.”.
Yes, and let’s also stop retrofitting our buildings and structures for earthquakes. Let’s just be humans and ignore centuries of sciences…
Come on!
Natural disasters will always be with us and take their toll - this is a given.
That doesn’t mean we should just hide our heads in the sand and stop thinking about how to minimize their impact. The question is where do you want to see your “tax dollars at work”.
To Shirley and “I am ashamed of those individuals who live in our fine country that chooses to point fingers and criticize government during a time of (national) crisis”.
Some people pride themselves as responsible citizens and not just political bigots.
Citizens need to follow their elected leaders’ decisions; regardless of whether they voted or not for them - it’s called democracy (and civil obedience).
But they should also question their decisions; regardless of whether they voted or not for them - it’s called democracy (and freedom of speech).
What harm can that criticizing exercise do?
Prevent someone from sleeping tight tonight in the white house?
What good can this do?
What about raising the right questions and lessening the impact of the next crisis? And if that means even just one less casualty, don’t you think it’s worth it?
(And no, I do not just question decisions originating from the republicans’ side of the fence.)
September 6th, 2005 at 7:27 pm
This site should be called the US/FEMA/Bush/etc. bashing site. Most of you have forgotten the hurricane victims and used the hurricane for your own selfish agendas. By the way Joesph you have no understanding of economics.
Good luck and God bless to the hurricane victums. My heart goes out to all of you!
September 6th, 2005 at 10:25 pm
Misa: Criticizing our administration is no US bashing. Criticizing our preparedness (or lack of) is no disregard to the tragedy. It is complacency that would be an offense to the memory of the victims.
Are you listening to the anger of residents from the affected area?
Nothing gives you the right to discount others’ feelings and compassion. Nothing.
September 7th, 2005 at 1:10 am
Dave, for you information I am not discounting anyone feelings or compassion, just because I don’t agree with bashing or name calling. Nor do I have a problem with constructive criticism. I see a lot of blameing, name calling, anger, etc, but no questions or suggestions for improvmente. That is a very simplistic description of the difference between bashing and constructive cristicism.
I, presently, am desperately waiting for news from friends in the area affected by this hurricane. I have family and friends who have been in the hurricanes in Florida and my own husband who was on the hurricane team at the hospital in Florida. So don’t attack me about compassion or feelings.
In addition, Dave, anger is one of the stage of grieving. I certainly would expect anyone in this situation to feel that way at some point towards someone or something. However, this does not give people who are not direclty affected by the hurricane the right to use this as an excuse to bash any administration/poltical party they don’t agree with.
Good Luck Dave. As far as compassion goes I have plenty for these people and have done what I can to help them. Have you?
September 8th, 2005 at 2:17 am
a high school teacher of mine left me with one of the most useful and unused guidelines to politics. he said: “don’t vote unless you know the issues”. it’s sad that most americans haven’t a clue in the voting booth. they’re too busy talking to learn anything.
September 8th, 2005 at 3:58 am
Misa, I think you mean I have no understanding of supply-side economics (FYI, Bush’s economic policy). And you’re right! I can’t understand why anyone would aid the rich with tax cuts while the poor get poorer. I could care less if it stimulates the economy, people deserve better. You keep speaking of compassion. Where’s the compassion in supply side economics? this socially darwinistic policy — survival of the fittest? I personally find our leader to be quiet an UNcompassionate man. sorry, but you invite the “bashing.”
September 8th, 2005 at 4:01 am
My favorite quote is from a 20 something year old New York computer information specialist ” I don’t like George Bush or Al Gore as they are both Republicans.” He voted in that presidential election, and I have to wonder if he read the voting ballet. Now that’s uninformed.
September 8th, 2005 at 4:47 am
Karl Rove the grand architect is at it again. Here are the new Republican talking points in case you aren’t paying attention.
1. What I intend to do is lead an investigation to find out what went right and what went wrong (emphasis - right is always said first and wrong is always last - voice should be positive and upbeat on right - trail off on wrong)
really people do we need this? wouldn’t this tax money be better spent on helping the victims?
2. We want to make sure we can respond properly if there is a WMD (weapons of mass destruction) attack or another major storm.”
a WMD attack is gonna get ya - well before natural disaster
3. The BLAME GAME - be sure to use this catch phrase as many times as you can - hey it’s catchy and that’s what people watching TV will walk away remembering - those liberals are playing the BLAME GAME
One of the things people want us to do here is play the blame game,” he said. “We got to solve problems. There will be ample time to figure out what went right and what went wrong.” (again note the order of right and wrong)
You get it yet people??
“Naturally the common people don’t want war. But after all, it is the
leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it’s always a
simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy or a
fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.
Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of
the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are
being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and
for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every
country.”
— Hermann Goering, Hitler’s Reich Marshall, at the Nuremberg
Trials after World War II.
And here we are in 2005 swallowing it again - hook, line, and sinker.
September 8th, 2005 at 7:18 am
josehp t, I not referring to the supply-side of econmics. I’m referring to a lot of different issues. One in particular is the minium wage, which was never a wage meant to live on. Raising the minimum wage will only increase the cost of a product to the consumer, therefore minimum wage earners will be in the same situtation they are now. Unfortunaly we do not live in a perfect world, which is why there will allways be proverty.
As far as health care goes I don’t have an answer, but governmentalizing it is not the answer. If this happened no one would have access to decent health care. In addition, requiring businesses to provide health insurance will bankrupt most small businesses and increase the cost of products to consumers.
I didn’t invite bashing, intelligent discussion maybe, but not attacks, bashing or name calling.
Food for thought “Give a man a fish he eats for a day, show him how to fish and he eats for the rest of his life”.
September 8th, 2005 at 7:54 am
OK, I understand what you’re saying about minimum wage; however, if the CEO of McDonalds could take a small percentage out of his paycheck, his employees could receive more pay. This goes for all major corporations. There needs to be a socially responsible balance in income distribution.
As far as health care goes, Bill Clinton proposed some good ideas. He didn’t call for government controlled health care, but rather wanted to offer businesses incentives such as tax write offs to provide all employees with health care. Thus, health care would still be run by the private sector, but in agreement with government benefits. It would be similar to the tax write offs you can claim when you donate to the Red Cross, except your donating health care.
These are some options. I’m not saying any are the perfect answers, but at least some ideas to think about.
September 8th, 2005 at 9:03 am
Joseph t. You are dreaming, I have yet to see a CEO take a pay cut. However, I do agree with you that they should, but it’ll never happen. The only thing we can do is support small business. Unfortunately, most small business can only afford minimium wage.
One action our government could do to help with health care in the short run is allow us to deduct 100% of what we pay out of pocket for health care wheather or not a person itemizes and should not be subject to 7.5% of AGI. Medical savings accounts and Health Saving accounts are not the answer. In addition, many states do not adopt these federal tax incentives. Presently, you can deduct a 100% of your donation to Red Cross if you can itemize. However, you can only deduct out of pocket health care cost that exceed 7.5% of your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income).
October 4th, 2005 at 11:20 pm
awesome
October 5th, 2005 at 12:23 am
I love you
December 8th, 2005 at 3:04 am
i am a new orleans evacuee and i am looking for funds from someone anyone to help my family and i because i was misplaced twice due two both hurricanes first i went to Texas to find shealter and a nice lady took my one son, my unborn child and myself in along with 3 other familys.I evacuated Texas after staying there 1 month and i came to georgia.fema is not binging to much of a help and the red cross gave me a check of 665 dollars. that only went so far i am calling any one that has a heart to please help me and my family. please e mail me at tweetyn2u@yahoo.com god bless