Yeah, like Jim Rob and myself?
Posted on 08/29/2005 12:39:10 PM PDT by Smogger
Mayor Ray Nagin said that 200 people were stranded on rooftops in the Lower Ninth Ward and several “bodies are floating in the water” in the Bywater neighborhood and in Eastover.
Nagin made the announcement in his first press briefing after Hurricane Katrina slammed just east of the city, but did plenty of devastation to New Orleans.
Nagin said that the 200 stranded people included 20 police officers who were riding out the storm at their homes in preparation to take over shifts from other officers. He said that boats would be dispatched on rescue missions later in the afternoon.
Mayor Nagin issued a "boil water" recommendation for water in the city - except for Algiers and the CBD due to a water main line break that may have compromised the water.
Nagin said at least 20 buildings in the city had collapsed and that it might be 48 hours before residents would be allowed back to their homes to assess the damage.
(Excerpt) Read more at wwltv.com ...
Maybe those neighborhoods should have been swept BEFORE Katrina. And, there are schoolbuses and other buses that can transport large numbers of people out of harm's way. Florida does it better apparently.
It's much worse than it's being reported by the MSM.
During hurricane Audry, June 28, 1957, the order was given. Shoot to kill the looters. Not a bad idea.
I didn't write that. I was responding to a poster who had -- hence the italics.
"Can you really, truly sit there and say because the Consititution doesn't specify a duty for the federal government to provide disaster relief that they shouldn't be providing it? My God, if they can waste money on pork barrel projects, the least they can do is put SOME of my hard-earned money towards doing some good!"
How about an amendment?
Point is that if we don't adhere strictly to our Constitution, then the document and the government it creates are boundless.
By that model, the government can do whatever it wants. That is what I am truly fearful of, and as difficult as it is to take the position I have chosen on this terrible disaster, I believe it to be the only responsible one.
You see, your reply illustrated the relativistic nature by which most Americans view the government. If it does a, then it should also do b. If it spends money on x, then it surely can find money for y.
That is the thinking which has landed us trillions in debt to the bankers who run the Federal Reserve and the Chinese.
I suppose it's safe to say that you don't subscribe to the theory of natural selection...
Anyway, you didn't answer the question. What is a disaster? Only Cat 4 or 5 hurricanes? Tropical Storms?
Are there a certain number of people who need to die or be affected in order for federal tax dollars to be spent?
Where do you draw the line between Hurricane Katrina and the fluke lightning strike which damages only my house?
"I really can't believe how cold some of our Freepers can be when others are in dire straights."
Karl Marx would be proud. We should all sacrifice ourselves because others are in need.
Sorry, but I'm not interested in mandatory charity via taxation and you can be sure I will not ask another man to do so for me or my family.
If you read my reply a little more carefully, you'll see that I already answered your question. A disaster is pretty self-evident. It doesn't require the kind of -I don't know what to call it- that you're engaging in. But to help you out a little...anything that would cause the President to declare a disaster would be one. So whatever criteria is used for that now could be used to justify those expenditures. Oh, wait, isn't it ALREADY done that way? < /sarcasm.
My attitude isn't relativistic at all, imo. Personally, I would do away with the vast majority of the crap our tax dollars go to, in order to free up those monies for things like this. I am not okay with wasteful spending, and I wouldn't use it to justify spending on something important. I'm saying that the money SHOULD be spent in this manner (disaster relief), RATHER THAN some Senator's latest pet project. Hope that clarifies my position, since my choice of words there didn't convey it correctly.
If it takes an Amendement to codify what is already done, I'll go for it. At least then you would have no excuses to deny folks needed emergency aid. You'd be standing there stark naked with your attitude in full display.
Unless, of course, your only objection to federal disaster aid is the fact that it's not strictly spelled out in the Constitution.
You seem to be saying that voters instituted extra constitutional powers so they could get aid. Is this what you're saying?
"Where does the constitution empower the president to spend tax money to payout flood victims?"
Libertarian eh? There are some things, like death and destruction, famine, that must be dealt with for the sake of us all. No, it's not specifically listed in the Constitution, but we aid other countries, we should probably go ahead and help Americans too. And I was mostly responding to post # 5 where the genius calls our President "King George The Socialist". How do you feel about that comment Huck?
I didn't see your answer.
A fluke lightning strike which causes only damage to my home is not a federal disaster deserving of FEMA aid.
Hurricane Katrina does, according to you.
What is the difference? Is it the number of people affected? The cost of the damage? The area of affected land?
If our government is "of the people, by the people, and for the people", then President Bush is doing what we want him to do.
I'm asking you to critically explain what about this Hurricane qualifies it as a disaster while others do not. Please be specific.
Also, please explain which federal spending you would do away with, and why those "needs" are not worthy, while Hurricane relief is worthy.
To me, the simplest way to figure it out is to look at the words of the Constitution which give Congress and the President the powers they have. If it's in there, it's within the power of the fedgov. If not, then those powers remain with the States or the People.
Since you reject my approach, please explain what your approach is, and how you determine whether or not a particular initiative or program is appropriate for the use of federal tax dollars.
Yeah, like Jim Rob and myself?
I've lived in FLORIDA for several decades and I've NEVER heard anyone say they didn't want to leave because they were "afraid they won't be allowed back." Never heard it on the news or anywhere else.
As far as your "Conservative viewpoint not welcome here, eh?" comment goes, I was responding to the poster at #5 who thinks our President's title is "King George the Socialist". How do YOU feel about that comment conservative Gondring?
OK. But a detailed answer like you are looking for will require more time and attention than I can give to it at the moment. If you are willing to wait for an answer, I can give you one this evening, once my children are asleep.
Deal?
Then you're no different or better than Justice Breyer.
Not so they could get aid. Looks like they do it so they can give aid. It's to make them feel better. Meaning they, including conservatives, ignore the constitution at their convenience. I think the whole constitutional argument is baloney. people drop it when it suits them.
You know, I have a problem with redistribution of wealth too. But damn, have some heart veritas.
Continuing to show your displeasure by calling the President King George is childish and makes you look foolish.
I notice you're taking quite a beating from lots of posters. Would you allow the government to spend tax dollars if the Black Plague swept across the country? Hey, why build any roads with federal tax dollars in say Texas, since they don't directly benefit YOU. That's what your protests are really about. You.
You should really choose your battles a little more carefully. Your inability to realize that there are human beings out there that truly need help is telling and if it were you in the shoes of some of those people, you'd be demanding relief without hesitation. You know its true.
Isn't there a libertarian board you can go to?
You are a heartless fool.
In your eyes, maybe. Let's not look to you for compassion on those who couldn't leave for whatever reason.
With the rains of Hurricane Katrina, there comes a metaphysical rain that washes away debris and trash. These Katrina threads demonstrate it.
There is a saying that a cynic knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing. How can one reduce saving someone's life to tax expenditures is haunting. Tying up the real help needed in a time of real crisis to the letter of the Constitution violates its spirit.
The metaphysical rains of Katrina have now washed away all falsehood and all pretense. People's hearts are now laid bare. Let us all appreciate that for it is valuable, even if we don't like what we see.
To those who didder around on the subject of life, may God replace your hearts of stone with hearts of flesh.
To those who want the people, fellow citizens of our great nation, to live and receive much needed help at this point where it is needed most, may that which you give return to you pressed down, shaken together, and running over (Luke 6:38). You make me proud to be an American.
Well, I am not heartless, or else I'd be dead. You see the heart is a muscle that pumps blood. Oh, you mean "heart" as in having feelings, compassion. Show me the compassionate clause in the Constitution.
No problem.
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