Re: OT: katrina deaths at superdome/ massively over-hyped...


Bob wrote:
> <blanders0604@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
>
> > You can argue NO til the cows come home. I don't give a ***. Heads
> > rolled and no doubt some lessons learned on all fronts. I can tell you
> > that I hold state and local government first and foremost, not the
> > feds, and definitely not the president.
>
> How could you not?

Because I have a completely different world view.

>if anything for appointing Brown at FEMA.

Eric blamed Bush for hijackers getting on planes with boxcutters.
Brown was rolled. We're pretty much over it here. Even the
opportunistic whiners are yapping about it anymore.

>In addition to the lack of speedy rescue, the feds and congress are totally responsible for
> the lack of funding of levees (and for a lot longer than under Bush junior).
> Everybody and their mother knew levees were not adequate, yet nobody stepped
> in except to cut funding further. And mentioning corruption to justify the
> lack of levee work is not good enough. Local authorities bear responsibilty
> as well even though they actually did more than other states for other
> hurricanes prior to Katrina.
>
> Jimmy Carter probably would
> > have been right down there himself, rescuing people in a skiff. He was
> > the most ineffectual president in my lifetime for that very reason.
>
> I think you are very wrong about Carter. Carter's legacy was maligned by
> underhanded tactics and smears.

lol, it was undermined by the pious little prick's ineptitude.

>Don't fall for the macho rhetoric, but if
> you have to fall for it just make sure you compare service records.

I don't know what you mean here. Service records? Carter got the Nobel
Peace Prize he coveted so badly, so what's the beef? I think he might
be offended that they decided to rename it the Arafat Peace Prize
though...

> I
> > know Euros tend to look to central government more than Americans.
> > Thomas Jefferson is one of our founding fathers--read about him and
> > maybe you will understand better. In NO we had some beauracratic
> > ***-ups (redundant?) that everyone wishes did not happen.
>
> I completely disagree. Nobody but the feds can take the lead on paying $26
> billions to build the necessary levees or decide to evacuate permanently
> areas that are below water level. Note that building the necessary levees at
> that cost would have been considerably cheaper (financially and in human
> terms) than rebuilding NOLA and presumably having to pay for levees now! In
> fact what happened at NOLA is a textbook example of what will happen when
> infrastructure finally goes down the shitter because laissez-faire zealots
> want to "drown the federal government in a bathtub" (paraphrase of actual
> quote of GOP strategist Nordquist)

That's the beauty of being like you and Eric--everything is so goddamn
simple. Especially in hindsight. Must be nice.

>
> France's
> > disgrace was a result of a culture of entitlement that shuts the whole
> > fucking country down for a month. That's everyone, not just the head
> > of FEMA, the president, the governer or the mayor you stupid cocksmoke.
> > Could have happened in Germany, Spain and any number of other Euro
> > countires just as easily. Trust me on that one.
>
> Not really. I believe it's mostly due to a culture of neglect toward
> elderlies that can't afford personalized care, which was compounded by
> national vacation time. So in fact it's not because of a "culture of
> entitlement" but, on the contrary, because of not having made sure that old
> folks were taken care of!

Bull***. I had a German that works for us tell me he was on his
"holiday" that was his "entitlement" (his words) after the ***
completely dropped his duties and responsibilties for 30 days and left
us hard working, dedicated US employees who would never think of such a
thing holding the bag. I would have punched his lights out if I could
have reached through the phone when I heard that. Anyone who can
completely vacate their position and not check in for even 2 weeks
should be fired immediately. And trust me, this goes for all of our
European factories and subsidiaries. That's why we are pulling the
plug on them just as quickly as we can. And it would happen sooner if
employers were allowed to fire anyone over there at will, but no, they
are all inked up in contracts and can't be let go even if they are the
dumbest, laziest, smelliest of the lot. We view work as a priveledge
here, not a right. Give me a break.

>As a matter of fact something similar happened in
> 1995(?) in Chicago when 500 people died during of a heat wave that was much
> shorter and less intense than what western Europe saw in 2003.

Yes, and about 11,500 fewer deaths in a city that is notorious for its
currupt, left leaning politics. I think everyone knows that heat waves
cause deaths, but its really a matter of magnitude.

>Also note
> that actual death in Western Europe were much higher than what was initially
> reported (notably in Italy and Spain).

Your point being...?

>
> I just don't
> > understand the fascination with America and the throwing of stones from
> > people who don't have nearly as much to be proud of. Maybe that's just
> > it....
>
> pffft, excuses. France got justly hammered for 2003, other countries didn't
> because they didn't report true numbers until years later.

Right. As I said, the problems have to do with European culture, not
just France. France is just the most despicable of them all. Just the
other day saw that France gets fewest hours out of employees in Europe
and far less than here. I thought the Germans had it good. I can let
you in on a little secret: Germany's economy will be taking one small
hit next year to the tune of about $6mm. Why? Because they are worse
than useless to us if they insist on taking extended holidays all at
the same time with their little work contracts. Shhhhh.. don't tell
anyone...

.