[identity profile] dwg.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] lkh_lashouts
Now that the [livejournal.com profile] lkh_blogfeed is up - I wondered how long it would take for people to start leaving comments on the feed, either because they think that LKH will read them (*laffs*) or just because they felt like it.

Well, after LKH's babbling about Katrina and loss of personal freedoms and...okay, that's when my eyes glazed over and I started to wish I has porn on my not!porn (read: work) filter because I don't have it in me to wade through all this stuff.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/lkh_blogfeed/7445.html - but I don't know how long the link will be up there (rss feeds don't have a permanent archive) - so this post sparked off the following comment:

I support freedom of speech. But I also support facts, which is why I have to dispute what you wrote in your latest blogfeed.

The lack of attention to those stranded has been argued countlessly since the recovery of New Orleans began. It is a common misconception that it is the Federal Government's fault that it took so long for help to arrive; in truth, it is the Mayor of N.O. and the Governor of L.A.'s fault.
In a published pamphlet to N.O. citizens in the beginning of the year, the Mayor told citizens that they were on their own in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster-- even those with no means of transportation. After the hurricane destroyed the city, the Mayor cried to the newspapers, asking why Bush didn't commandeer 500 Greyhound buses to rescue the refugees in N.O. He himself, before the hurricane, stated that he had 500 buses at his disposal, if needed, for an evacuation.
The President called the Governor immediately after the hurricane hit, asking permission for the federal government to enter N.O. (the Feds. can't enter a state without the Governor's permission) The Governor asked him for 24 hours to "decide". What did she have to decide? How many people to let die before rescuers can go in? Similarly, the Mayor of N.O. begged the Governor to declare a Mandatory Evacuation of N.O. when environmentalists declared the floodwaters "too toxic for human exposure". She, again, asked for more time. I'm sorry, but I don't think humans should be allowed near toxic waste. I just don't think it's safe. And, in the end, she didn't declare it-- allowing hundreds of citizens to stay in their homes to breathe in the toxic air.
Why did these two local officials allow the majority (aka the poorest and the most debilitated) of N.O.'s citizens to suffer? They didn't think the hurricane would be that bad. And, if it ended up being bad, they could just go to the Superdome.
I'm sure that they didn't anticipate (and I don't think they should have) the degradation of humanity that occurred after the hurricane-- looting, rapes, and murder-- but I think they should've anticipated the potential death toll. When the Mayor called for an evacuation, he should have evacuated the people who couldn't get themselves out-- and, the Governor should have made it mandatory so the stubborn citizens wouldn't kill themselves.
Not to mention the levee system that Fed. Money went to-- about ten years ago, the L.A. government decided that it would withstand a hurricane. So, they redirected their levee money to aid the tourism business-- the casinos and resorts.
At this time of human suffering, we should be doing all we can to help the citizens of N.O., not blindly pointing fingers at "who did it". I'll tell you who did it-- human nature. Who didn't stand up to her? The governments in New Orleans and Louisiana.
And I'm very disappointed in you, Ms. Hamilton, because you are in the eyes of your readers. If you're going to spout off a political rant, at least put a disclaimer: "This rant is purely opinion and are not fact-based".
One more thing-- you don't have to be a supporter of Bush to see that he's not at fault. You just have to hate him to automatically blame him.


*bes amused*

The Ivory Tower newsfeed - not fact-based since...was it ever?

>:)=

Date: 2005-09-12 03:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] harpergrey.livejournal.com
And her whole, "oh noes, you mean the government was restricting our rights and freedoms for evil?" spiel (which she repeated so many times that I had to go for several short breaks partway through in order to preserve my sanity) was just so... Urgh! *gestures in frustration*

You mean it took her this long to realize this?? Gyah!!

Date: 2005-09-12 03:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] holyschist.livejournal.com
I wouldn't call either of those rants particularly fact-based, myself....
From: [identity profile] saadiira.livejournal.com
Actually, she's not entirely incorrect. There was at least AS WELL a breakdown in what the federal government was doing (And add to that that Bush didn't exactly come rushing back from vacation for FOUR days, to push the bloody issue), and I believe that in the case of the INABILITY of the mayor or governor to get their shit together, the fed CAN actually override that in the case of a disaster such as this one. Too, anything excusing Bushbag's behaviour at this point is actually at least in part political maneuvering. For gods sake, CANADA beat our own federal government in aiding the survivors.

YES, the levee situation SHOULD have been fixed, and long ago. They apparently did a cost/benefit analasys, and someone screwed the pooch. NOT, apparently, the engineer who wrote the report a decade ago. (Someone I know actually spoke to him...the engineer's now retired...last week the person I know spoke with him. The report read that the levees needed to be upgraded to withstand anything over a category three, and recommended that funds be applied. They recieved funds, but applied them ELSEWHERE consistently.)
From: [identity profile] harpergrey.livejournal.com
For gods sake, CANADA beat our own federal government in aiding the survivors.

Yup, Canada rules when it comes to cleaning up after the weather. While everybody else's armies are out fighting and stuff, we make ours shovel snow in Toronto. (Though to be fair, it was a lot of freakin' snow.) *has proud Canuck moment* ;)
From: [identity profile] saadiira.livejournal.com
God bless Canadians.

Big, buff, snowshoveling 'ehsayers that they are! :).

(Serious. Canadians rock.)

-Dira-
From: [identity profile] magdollna.livejournal.com
Canada is just weird. You drive through detroit dirty , dirty, bum, freak with a lead pipe, drive faster. Then you go through the tunnel and its..clean and the locals will at lease help you out when you get lost. Hmmm... Maybe theres usa refugee program..

Mags
former detroit occupant

Ask and receive

Date: 2005-09-12 04:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] klmorgan.livejournal.com
Maybe theres usa refugee program...

http://www.marryanamerican.ca/pledge/

Goin' strong since November 2004.

Re: Ask and receive

Date: 2005-09-12 04:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magdollna.livejournal.com
Darn it.. I have a man.. for now...

mags

Re: Ask and receive

Date: 2005-09-12 04:59 pm (UTC)
pith: (machete)
From: [personal profile] pith
Plus we now have same-sex marriage, so that means our lovely "alternative lifestyle" neighbours to the south can be rescued too *g*
From: [identity profile] infidelkast.livejournal.com
A true "Canadian Heritage Moment" if I ever saw one. XD

Date: 2005-09-12 11:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magdollna.livejournal.com
The only way to scare big nasty presidents, with big scary rules is...sex.
He wont understand it, especially in a loving 3 some. Or with a complete stranger cause your compelled too, but lots of panty ripping off sex..with love.. or a general like. LKH taught me that.

mags

Date: 2005-09-14 12:28 am (UTC)
pith: (typeit!)
From: [personal profile] pith
a) I don't know enough of the facts, so I can't bitch for or against, but given her track record...

b) Is it bad that when she's giving a pseudo-impassioned plea about rights and freedoms, the only line my brain sees is "Jon and I have stood in a lot of airports with our arms out, and our legs spread", to which it promptly replies, "Consider yourself lucky: you've made Anita be a lot more places with her legs spread"?

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