Sunday, September 04, 2005

Good Morning New Orleans!

The situation in New Orleans looks like a total breakdown of civilized society. People die for lack of water, medical care, food, and timely rescues. What is going on?

Bush is reported saying "if people need water and food, we’re going to do everything we can to get them water and food” and “we'll get on top of this situation, and we're going to help the people that need help." The President at least admits that the situation “is not unacceptable.”
You know, the city is not at the end of the world, it is in the US. Do they transport everything on horse?

While, the mayor of New Orleans cries for help for food and water but we hear that thousands of National Guardsmen with weapons streamed into Louisiana on September 1. State and local police are already heavily armed. Meanwhile, the city is increasingly becoming lawless. Angry crowds shoot at rescue crews. Police Chiefs say “New Orleans police officers are turning in their badges,” while we hear rapes, beatings, shootings and riots. It is reported that at least 200 New Orleans police officers have walked away from their jobs. Unfortunately, these happen in a civilized nation.

Isn’t this a bit awkward in a country whose President proudly mentions in every occasion that “our nation is engaged in a global war on terror that affects the safety and security of every American.” Or was he instead meaning “American corporations?”

Bush goes on with “we're going to spend a lot of time saving lives, whether it be in New Orleans or on the coast of Mississippi.” “We will not let criminals prey on the vulnerable, and we will not allow bureaucracy to get in the way of saving lives” tells Bush in a speech, which is later on confirmed once more by Dan Bartlett, the White House spokesman "The president will not let any form of bureaucracy get in the way of protecting the citizens of Louisiana."
In fact, they really spend a lot of time! Why then authorities in the affected area were blaming the White House for the most important reason of not getting help in time is the bureaucracy?

Even Mr. Nagin, the Mayor of New Orleans couldn’t understand that. In a recent interview he says “you mean to tell me that a place where you probably have thousands of people that have died and thousands more that are dying every day, that we can't figure out a way to authorize the resources that we need? Come on, man.” He seemed to be angry though, and he has all the reasons to be "get off your asses and let's do something."

In his address to military families in Idaho Bush indeed gave the answer why not enough military personnel could be send to disaster area -- “the only way to defend our citizens where we live is to go after the terrorists where they live.” He goes on with saying “We're using all elements of our national power to achieve our objectives -- military power, diplomatic power, financial, intelligence and law enforcement.” Apparently those objectives do not include one of the basics – your citizens!

As was stated by Paul Krugman in his New York Times article “our current leaders just aren't serious about some of the essential functions of government. They like waging war, but they don't like providing security, rescuing those in need or spending on preventive measures.

It is true, if such a strong, technologically advanced super power becomes powerless in a natural disaster in his country, then forget to respond to a nuclear or biological attack.

Dear President, instead of saying “we're going to work with the states and the local folks with a strategy to get this thing solved,” why didn’t you do anything before it became a problem even though you were informed well in advance?

“We're going to clean all this mess up. The federal government is going to -- will spend money to clean it up” adds the President. You know Mr. President; the victims might be poor in 67% black populated New Orleans but you cannot clean it up with money!

In fact, all those showed one other important thing – how moral and social values in a completely capitalist, free market based liberal country erode. We see the reactions of Americans in other parts of the country. They are really very sorry. What I don’t understand is that why those in the neighboring cities who are really sad and mourn in front of the TV, do not simply drive there, rescue a few and give accommodation in their house until things are settled. Where is humanity!

Good Morning America! Tomorrow will be a better day.

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