[Paleo Conservative]

We've had lots of quakes, and violence never followed.

We've had lots of hurricanes on the gulf coast without gang violence starting either. NO had a very tolerant attitude towards criminals before Katrina. They've now set a precedent for having gang violence after a major disaster. I don't thing the gangs in other parts of the country let this go unnoticed.

[BurbankKarl]

We had looting after earthquakes, but it was nipped in the bud by daybreak....

and most of those red tagged buildings were burglarized over weeks.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Molly Ivans and her herd are having a high old time blaming the Republicans for this disaster when it's really the result of decades of hopeful wishing by all parties involved. Louisiana has never been blessed with politicians seeking to put their state's better interests above a lucrative deal (D-Huey Long). The wetlands were encroached by commercial interests that favored Democrat contributors (not that it mattered a whit to Mother Nature). Still, the latest administration did severely cut the necessary funding for the levees - though it may never be known if that would have helped or not.

The violence and inhumanity confirms that there are citizens who don't deserve the title - subhumans on the inside who'll take advantage of their fellows when you or I would instinctively try to help. You can't say these people had no choice since the feds have made continual runs through the flooded areas asking nicely that people gather up and leave.

I believe this is the result of a city cowtowed and pampered to because it had a majority taught it was a helpless minority. Too many of its citizens were raised in the idea that the government was their only means of survival and success (thanks to the Democrats), insuring all local and state governments taking these people in that they'll be liable for their upkeep until they can figure out how to get them back on the federal government's teat. So yes, they really are refugees, in the strictest sense of the word.