Politicising Katrina

[nicwhite86]

I'm having trouble articulating just how angry I am at pundits, both in the media and the blogosphere, who are capitalising on this disaster to score political or ideological points. It's everywhere, the crisis is still unfolding and the first thing the keyboard warriors do is seek out someone to blame - and who more convenient than their favourite

Comments

[nicwhite86]

The blame can be handed out, the reasons can be examined and preventitive measures can be debated later.

[nicwhite86]

Because the government's policies made the disaster worse. For prevention of the next one, the causes need to be examined and therefore blame has to be appropriated so you know what needs fixing.

sorry this isn't worded very well, in a ibt of a rush

[duckling118]

i haven't read under the cut yet, but as i read CNN's headlines, i'm really happy. it says: Military to send home 300 troops from Iraq, Afghanistan.
my mom and i discussed what you said (gasp, discussing this with my mom) and the pundits are a somewhat important, though obnoxious and unsensitive, their blaming of people and politicians puts pressure on, well, bush to send back troops.
and one of the reasons we're so mad at bush is:
"In 2001, 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."
well, i do think you've made a good point, but i don't agree with all of it, some people truly do care about the people. our past two presidents, george bush senior (r) and bill clinton (d) have teamed together again to help raise money for this disaster.

Read the rest of it

[nicwhite86]

My point is that now is not the time to be examining the causes, including those you mentioned, because it is not relelvant to the rescue efforts, which are the priority right now and far more important. The causes can be examined and people can be held accountable after the rescue effort has been completed and/or the bipartizan inquiry begins. For now, lets just worry about stopping people from dying and getting them help.

Re: Read the rest of it

[duckling118]

true true. i agree.
from cnn.com:
Declining to answer questions about criticism of the government's response to the disaster, Chertoff said his focus is making sure "we are doing everything possible, as quickly as possible, to prevent further misfortune and loss of life and distress."

"I'm not going to take one minute away from that to answer questions about things which we will have time to visit later," he said.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.impact/index.html