Too poor? Thousands come here illegally every year without speaking English yet they end up getting a job, a driver's license, a car, insurance (sometimes), gas, a road map...
There will and should be many questions about the response of state and local governments; in particular, couldn't they have done more to help the poor and sick escape? But the evidence points, above all, to a stunning lack of both preparation and urgency in the federal government's response.
Yeah, never mind the incompetence at the local-level Democrats, let's all take aim at the Federal-level REPUBLICANS!
I guess 8 years of Clinton pouring hundreds of millions of dollars down the N.O. toilet did wonders. Looks like it got flushed and probably diverted right into the local dems bank accounts.
Krugman is obviously a glutton for punishment. Luskin and the Krugman Truth Squad, and maybe the Powerline guys will be all over this one.
Half a question from a man with half a mind.
And .. I don't think I saw the word "Governor" in there anywhere. So, the Gov of LA is excused because she's female or something ..?? If this was TX, you can bet the very first words would be "Gov Perry is to blame".
Why do we know this ..?? We know this because the democrats never take responsibility for their errors, gross errors, mistakes, or just plain stupidity. Gob. Blanco has a lot to answer for but I doubt she will be held accountable.
Somebody needs to explain to the American public how disaster relief works. It is up to the state to request what they need and FEMA provides it. The Federal government cannot just walk in and take over.
Letsee...the mayor and governor still get their checks, right ?
Why have aid and security taken so long to arrive?
Because the joint heads of state were having a reeferendum.
No surprise the NYT is spewing such idiocy. As one ponders New Orleans' current situation, which now includes maurading gangs of looters, thieves, thugs and generally violent low-lifes (which I don't believe is by any means representative of most of the victims of this catastrophe), I do believe there is an interesting dynamic also at work.
New Orleans and all of its people have long known the city could be subject to a disaster of exactly this type, during every hurricane season. And yet, many thousands of people, particularly in the inner city, obviously made no preparation whatever for such an event - apparently having been lulled into the complacent, and very left-wing liberal concept, that somehow the government should, and actually CAN, take care of every need, for everyone, in every circumstance, and that people are ENTITLED to this.
Now, in the midst of a disaster that has been hitherto almost unimaginable in scope, so many are angry with the government, because it cannot simply zap out assistance in a matter of hours when confronted by huge obstacles.
Do not misunderstand me; I am praying for ALL of these people, and my heart goes out to them. But this disaster points up some basic truths: the government (or police) cannot protect us at all times; it cannot provide for all of our needs in any circumstance. In fact, contemplating such a possibility, I think it best to NOT count on the government for ANYTHING, perhaps for a very long time, including food, water, shelter and protection.
New Orleans misery points up, very uncomfortably, that if the infrastructure fails, for whatever reason (terror, nature, etc.) the government is NOT ultimately responsible for our well-being - WE are.
It is a pity - and perhaps a travesty - that the NYT is, typically, still perpetrating a concept that is actually part of the problem.
The NYTimes = P.O.S.