Re: [RC] News from Louisiana - VERY OT - Sky Ranch
There is something else that is being overlooked --
the 'government' CUT funding to help build up the wetlands / swamps in southern
Louisiana that would have helped to reduce the storm surge -- also, they CUT
funding to repair and build up the levee system around New Orleans. This
catastrophe was forecast by scientists years ago. Not just the coastal
areas, but the infrastructure of our entire country is in dire need of updating,
repair, and new construction.
Also, all of you who are saying 'people should have
left' apparently don't realize what it's like to be poor, living paycheck to
paycheck, to be old and infirm, and even to be afraid to leave your home.
There should have been more of an effort BEFORE the storm hit to bring in the
National Guard and military troops, with their big trucks, helicopters, boats,
to evacuate the helpless. Yes, there were people who thought they could
ride out the storm, and didn't leave. But I think more, especially in New
Orleans, had no way out, no car, no money, nowhere to go.
Just my opinion, folks, but I can't read all these
e-mails criticizing the people for not leaving, when it is obvious
that many could not leave.
I do hold our Commander in Chief ultimately
responsible for the failure -- he should have been in charge of this from Day
One - last Sunday, when it was known the cat. 5 storm was targeting the
area. He took too long to get started, and it's inexcusable.
One more thing - saying people should not live on
the coast is pretty funny. What about the entire Mississippi and Missouri
and Ohio drainages, which flooded a few years ago? What about the Tornado
Alley areas of our country? What about California and the entire west
coast, vulnerable to earthquakes, mud slides, catastrophic
fires. What about the forested areas, vulnerable to fires? Where
exactly is a 'safe' place to live?
Juli wrote:I don't understand why people are so
angry about the governments rescue efforts, especially when they knew for
days that the hurricane was coming.
Okay, I tried hard to stay out of
this, but as a second generation government employee, I have to weigh in
here. The government knew the hurricane was coming and that the levies
were vulnerable. The government knew it better than any profoundly poor
person in N.O. knew it. This was a disaster they did or should have
prepared for. It's not an earthquake or even a terrorist event.
The government knew it was coming. The government
failed...miserably. Pathetic leadership.
