[kingu]

Someone made the decision that the underclass was expendable.

The issue is that the underclass has rights. Every mayor has been frustrated that their planning sessions are legal consultations, where lawyers are telling the politicians what is legal and what is not legal. Many parishes couldn't declare mandatory evacuations because of possible court challenges.

The legal framework is broken and needs to be fixed. Lives will be lost because some person looking out for civil liberties has tied the hands of officials. And of course, once this is all done with, those lawyers will also come in and sue cities and parishes for not doing enough.

I'm praying for this beast to swing dramatically east.

[mvpel]

Many parishes couldn't declare mandatory evacuations because of possible court challenges.

Well, this is America, and we don't force people out of their homes at gunpoint, even if it is for their own good. The government could provide assistance to those who need it - the infirm, those without transportation or a place to stay out of town, etc - but anyone who is advised to leave and chooses to stay has made their own decision and nobody should loose a lot of sleep over them, any more than we would over someone who jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge.