The US Federal Government's Lack of Action, New Orleans & The South USA Options

[Guest_Jox_*]

Lori suggested porting this here - so I have done so...

What I don't understand from this side of the Pond is the US Federal Government's (lack of) reaction. I saw GW Bush on tv asking people to give donations to Sally Army and Red Cross. Why? Shouldn't the Government get on and rescue people. I'm completely bewildered that the richest nation on Earth should just abandon people for four or five days whilst society breaks down. Of course, going in is not easy but no attempts at much were made for so long. Many people are saying that the rich powerful men in Washington (at best) don't have a clue about the urban poor of the south - let along the racial issue which is being discussed by the hour on tv over here.

However, that was me being gentle over in that tile. Here I would like to know why the US Government should not be charged with negligent homicide and crimes against humanity. It has presided over many deaths which were preventable. Most people are poor and many black. How much does that tell us about the powerful white Republican establishment in DC?

If the people in this disaster had been New England white liberals, would help have come quicker? There is much discussion on UK tv that this represents a major racial schist in the USA and that the black poor don’t matter to the white republicans. I’m not actually sure I agree with that - as far as I can see this simply looks like massive incompetence. I marvel at the fact that Clinton was impeached for having an affair with his associate simply to attack his liberal regime - using Star as the battering ram - but GWB will probably serve-out his time in office after precising over what seems tantamount to mass murder.

The weather situation was known. But why were the urban poor (mainly black) populations not evacuated? Because they couldn’t afford it? Because they had no cars? Because no one cared?

OK to be logical for a moment we have split responsibilities here. It is hard for a Brit to appreciate that States and local governments do not appreciate having their jurisdictions infringed by the US Federal Government. The US is a federation: to a large degree individual states are politically independent. So the initial failure may be fairly charged at the New Orleans and Louisiana authorities; they must have cases to answer. Of course, they may have asked for Federal assistance then - I don’t know yet.

But from the moment the weather system hit the US State had a responsibility. Instead it has allowed people to thirst to death, to die from lack of medical care, from violence in a society which has partially dived into anarchy. TV showed the New Orleans Police giving up I believe. One can’t blame them - the disaster was overwhelming.

Overwhelming is that a defence? Nope. Because the US could deploy people far faster; break-out reserves of water, food, medicine far faster. The European Union (including the UK) have asked the US if they would like humanitarian assistance. None (to my knowledge) has been taken up. Why? Because the US can cope? Well it should be able to and may be it can but it has not hitherto. Is there a political fear that such aid would be politically damaging to this dreadful President? Important to save the No1 skin, of course.

Troops had to be diverted from humanitarian relief to tackle looters, violent criminals, murderers. Why has that city broken down so quickly? Might existing poverty and deprivation have been factors? Hour upon hour here in the UK we’re seeing women plea that gangs are raping people, others hold babies aloft to the camera, pleading for their lives to be spared from disease and thirst. These are scenes fit for Dante’s Inferno, played out in the Southern swamplands of Louisiana.

Those of us who regard the US as one of our very top international friends are horrified at the state of affairs. Globally, everyone will be appalled at the humanitarian catastrophe that has suddenly happened. As a friend we should be ready to give any human assistance at all which is needed - and we are.  But we should also make sure the utter disgust and contempt, which we feel towards the appalling way in which this crisis has been allowed to fester, over the rotting corpses of New Orleans especially, is voiced. (There are many other places too but their situation - terrible as it is - is not quite as awful). The US Federal Government is only responsible to the US people - I do hope they let no one in the Administration off the hook. But, also, there is a wider responsibility in terms of human care - we are all concerned about that. So we can all, in our own ways, try to help hold the US Federal Government to account.,, if only to maintain pressure to help those that still desperately need it.
J.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi J.

You are upset and appear to be bent on Bush bashing. Remember what I said above, it's not like any of this is unprecidented. Inthe Galviston, TX storm of 1900 there was looting, people with boats charging exorbinant fees to rescue, and a lot of other social behaviors that mirror what is happening in New Orleans (and what happened in Florida afte Andrew ht just to name 2 examples.

The Mayor is the first call to action, not the US President, who did BTW make a ground visit yesterday. The over-flight in AF1 was done solely to stay out of the way of the low-flying helicopters and other rescue aircraft while on route to Washington. And besides, where would AF1 land? All the strips are under water.

I'm sorry, but your reply above is WAY too political for me to respond in much further detail. You know I don't like this debating stuff.

Let me just say this:

Clinton did the same thing when Andrew hit Florida in 1992.

The Mayer of NO did call for evacuation, but only within 24 hours of it hitting.  And yes, it is illegal NOT to evacuate once the orders have been given, but in this country we don't send the police door to door to drag people away if they fail to obey the order. What it means in effect, is that if you do stay, what you will not have any help from the authorities who have left the area for the duration of the storm and will be back when they are able to.

I don't think Jeb B was there 13 year ago when Andrew hit?

There was no way even with trains, planes, automobiles, buses etc.. that the New Orleans area could have escaped with less than a 24 hour notice, with or without FEMA/Fed Gov assistance.

Armed Forces equipment still require pilots, landing strips and time to mobilize...

As for the rest of your comments, I do not wish to reply.

I will keep my eyes and ears posted as this tragedy continues with the HOPE that those in the the most dire need are served first and that the others 'play nice' while help is offered. Convouys have arrived at least...

~Cleo