Land of the Absurd - Politics of Katrina Response

I'll forewarn you that this is a rant. I am angry and sad and tired. A week and a half after the Katrina, FEMA is still screwing up. True, there is more response than before, but the feds just aren't cutting the mustard. They still haven't arrived at some areas devastated by the Hurricane. They still are holding up volunteers and supplies while they figure out what to do. So here goes.

First, you can't use the excuse for the lack of federal response as the vastness of the devastation, and then turn around and blame local governments for not responding. If it is too big for the feds, then it sure as hell is too big for local government.

Second, I am tired of the analogy of the aftermath of Katrina to "war." This is not a "war." It is a disaster response. However, if they are going to use the war analogy, then Iraq is an excellent comparison - and perhaps an ominous example. Two years after "taking charge" of Iraq, most people >b?still do not have water, sewer, electricity or jobs. God help the victims of Katrina.

Further, prior to invading Iraq, the people of the U.S. were told that Iraq could pay for its own reconstruction out of its oil revenue. I am still waiting to here that the Gulf of Mexico can do the same.

Third, I am tired of the excuse/justification that most of the focus of Homeland Security has been on "prevention." IF that was the case, then they would have "prevented" a lot of pain, misery, and death by getting people out of the effected areas. They didn't even evacute the hospitals. They didn't clear the cargo out of the Port - which was sure to be flooded. They didn't position themselves with the appropriate supplies and personnel, and set up for communications and coordination even though they knew well in advance that this was going to be a "catastrophic" event. If the focus has been on prevention, then they missed the boat.

Fourth, they are pumping the "toxic soup" of New Orleans into Lake Ponchartrain and the Mississippi River. It is clear that this is an environmental disaster in process. It is certain to kill the lake, the river, the marshes and bayoos and Gulf area. It will certainly wipe out the fishing, shrimping, and oyster industries for decades - if not permanently.

Last night, one of the talking heads said that this was likely the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history, and compared New Orleans and surrounds to Times Beach and Love Canal. I hate to say it, but both of those towns were evacuated and are now fenced off and considered uninhabitable. I also heard that it wasn't "feasible" to filter the mess being pumped out of New Orleans. We may all rue the day that they decided to pump that water, and pump it without any kind of filtering. It is very possible that New Orleans, and the entrie areas surrounding it all the way to the Gulf of Mexico will be uninhabitable. Loss of culture and history aside, think about the economic impact of losing the Gulf coast, its import/export functions, and the oil and gas that comes from and through there.

I am frustrated with hearing about the "hold outs," amd call-in and online polls about whether people think folks should be forcibly removed. First, I don't think there is a yes or no answer to that. Second, I bet that if they let people evacuate with their pets, and had a place set up for them to evacuate to with their pets, that many (if not most) of the "hold outs" would jump for joy. I am also sick of the well-off folks in areas that did not flood making no bones about the fact they are staying ... and authorities not pounding down their doors telling them they have to leave.

Given the performance of the government so far (not to mention many poor folks previous experience with the beauracracy) why should they trust folks that are trying to force them from their homes? This is especially true as these people have absolutely no information about what has, or is, happening. Instead of cutting off resources to folks to force them out, why don't they deliver newspapers and radios to them?

Lastly, I am tired of yet another attempt to rewrite history. The facts are the facts, the timeline the timeline (see this timeline up to 8/26, or this vidoe timeline). It is clear that neither the Bush Administration, or its appointed bozos in FEMA and Homeland Security, cared too much about the Hurricane or its consequences. While Bush came back from vacation - after delaying for two days to do so, neither Cheney or Rice felt it was important enough to change their plans for. Rice was buying a $7000 pair of shoes (bet she didn't wear them to visit Mississppi); and Cheney was buying a $2.9 million retreat in East Shore, Maryland. Interesting purchase on a VP's salary don't you think?

Anyway, rant away. I've just scratched the surface.

Posted by rowan at September 9, 2005 7:21 AM | [eMail this article!] |