Indifference and Empathy
Apparently, Homeland Security are not allowing the Red Cross into New Orleans. There are thousands of people at the convention center stranded without proper supplies. Their rationale?
To paraphrase: "If we provide supplies to the displaced victims, they will want to stay, rather than be evacuated."
So, thousands are suffering at this moment - starving to death in unspeakable conditions which could be rectified, as a result of a disaster which could have been abated. How could it have been abated? A number of ways:
Found online:
FACTS & FIGURES:
+ Number of dollars spent in Iraq since Katrina struck = $1 billion+
+ Number of people evacuated in the face of Typhoon Talim in China = 1 million -- number of fatalities = 45
+ Number of years since FEMA war-gamed a Katrina scenario in New Orleans = 1+
+ Number of dollars Bush administration proposed in fiscal 2005 budget for east bank hurricane project = $3.9 million -- number of dollars requested = $22.5 million
Yes, even though Bush insists that nobody could have predicted Katrina's devastation, FEMA has had a history of exercising in preparation of just such an event. If that fails to raise eyebrows, perhaps we should turn down the volume on the faith-based community and start listening to the scientific community a bit more. They have been discussing the realities of an event of this magnitude since at least 2001. Scientific American - October 2001 - Drowning New Orleans
Some prominent Republicans and Democrats have managed to intersect their ideologies at this crucial point. The Federal government's slow response has been an absolute embarrassment, and is, unfortunately, one of many instances during the Bush presidency where the casual observer must ask himself, "Could a foul-up of such proportions ever be possible? Or is this deliberate?"
For instance, in a discussion with Wolf Blitzer yesterday, Jack Cafferty inquired: "Do you suppose, Wolf, that the arrival of the relief convoys and the political photo ops on the Gulf Coast happening at the same time were a coincidence today?" (Direct Link to Video)
"George Bush doesn't care about black people."
Kanye West may not be the most eloquent ad-libber on behalf of African American rights and equality, and his comments during NBC's Concert for Hurricane Relief were bumbling and nervous at best. However, you've got to give the guy a hand for straying from the script and injecting a molecule of real emotion into the usually sterile and meaningless public discourse. For this, naturally, he was promptly censored in NBC's west-coast re-broadcast. (Direct Link to Video)
As a matter of fact, if you're interested in seeing any recent controversial footage, just go directly to Crooks and Liars. Odds are, they have it.
To paraphrase: "If we provide supplies to the displaced victims, they will want to stay, rather than be evacuated."
So, thousands are suffering at this moment - starving to death in unspeakable conditions which could be rectified, as a result of a disaster which could have been abated. How could it have been abated? A number of ways:
Found online:
FACTS & FIGURES:
+ Number of dollars spent in Iraq since Katrina struck = $1 billion+
+ Number of people evacuated in the face of Typhoon Talim in China = 1 million -- number of fatalities = 45
+ Number of years since FEMA war-gamed a Katrina scenario in New Orleans = 1+
+ Number of dollars Bush administration proposed in fiscal 2005 budget for east bank hurricane project = $3.9 million -- number of dollars requested = $22.5 million
Yes, even though Bush insists that nobody could have predicted Katrina's devastation, FEMA has had a history of exercising in preparation of just such an event. If that fails to raise eyebrows, perhaps we should turn down the volume on the faith-based community and start listening to the scientific community a bit more. They have been discussing the realities of an event of this magnitude since at least 2001. Scientific American - October 2001 - Drowning New Orleans
Some prominent Republicans and Democrats have managed to intersect their ideologies at this crucial point. The Federal government's slow response has been an absolute embarrassment, and is, unfortunately, one of many instances during the Bush presidency where the casual observer must ask himself, "Could a foul-up of such proportions ever be possible? Or is this deliberate?"
For instance, in a discussion with Wolf Blitzer yesterday, Jack Cafferty inquired: "Do you suppose, Wolf, that the arrival of the relief convoys and the political photo ops on the Gulf Coast happening at the same time were a coincidence today?" (Direct Link to Video)
"George Bush doesn't care about black people."
Kanye West may not be the most eloquent ad-libber on behalf of African American rights and equality, and his comments during NBC's Concert for Hurricane Relief were bumbling and nervous at best. However, you've got to give the guy a hand for straying from the script and injecting a molecule of real emotion into the usually sterile and meaningless public discourse. For this, naturally, he was promptly censored in NBC's west-coast re-broadcast. (Direct Link to Video)
As a matter of fact, if you're interested in seeing any recent controversial footage, just go directly to Crooks and Liars. Odds are, they have it.