Our Own Gulf
We leaped to the aid of the Persian Gulf; why can’t we rush to the aid of our own gulf coast residents? We dropped food from helicopters all over a foreign country, where is the food and water for our own citizens? This is the fifth day—babies are dehydrated, the elderly and the sick are dying. People are trapped without provisions in shelters, herded there by authorities promising protection. It's unbelievable! Staggering! These American people have been abandoned. These people are desperate. In the middle of this maelstrom, a high-profile politician has been quoted as saying there’s no reason to rebuild New Orleans. How helpless is our government? Or is it heartless? I don’t want to believe that this is racial or political, but think back to 9/11--politicians were all over that scene in a heartbeat! Impending danger wasn't an issue! What are we to conclude about our leaders’ attitudes toward Democratic New Orleans? Or toward human life for that matter? The response (or lack of it) speaks volumes...
posted by Lois Flynn @ 9:32 AM
1 Comments:
The blame can be spread out more than it is.
Anyone living at or below sea level should have a family disaster plan ready. It doesn't cost anything to think ahead. But when you see a Category 4 hurricane waiting on your doorstep, don't wait for it to knock down the door before you head out the back. Those who are now choosing to stay in their homes, when those homes will most likely be demolished as a result of contamination and lack of structural integrity, are putting not only their own lives but the lives of rescuers at risk.
The nursing homes and retirement facilities should have had disaster plans in place to evacuate residents BEFORE the hurricane hit.
The cities and towns should have had resources and agencies ready to act BEFORE the hurricane hit. There should have been a plan to identify and assist those who couldn't leave the city on their own. Instead, some of the officials spent an awful lot of energy at press conferences blaming the Federal government.
Whatever happened to "better safe than sorry"? Being proactive shouldn't have to be a budget line item. But it is. And unfortunately, that part of the budget seems to have been diverted by the Federal government.
And Wolf Blitzer needs some sleep.
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