Congress needs to revise laws governing mandatory evacuations for natural disasters.
Mayors are not objective because fear backlash over inconvenience of evacuation if hurricane changes path and misses city.
wtf? tell me this is a joke.
i doubt congress is better able to order mandatory evacuations than is the mayor
I think the mayor did the right thing. BTW, the city is under his control, not the President of the United States.
No. Keep the power local.
Think of it like this... Do you want the guy down the street telling you when an evacuation is mandatory, or do you want the guy 1500 miles away doing that?
Ultimately, you're responsible for your evacuation and preparation. But why transfer the local authority to a governmental seat so far away?
What backlash? If it misses, hey, that's the weather for you. NO HUMAN controls the weather. If a political opponent tries to use the weather against you, just stand up to him and ask what he would have done. If the people are too stupid or sheeple-like to vote against you on that issue, screw 'em! Let their a***es drown. We don't need more federal control of any thing!
The LAST thing we need is FEDERAL CONTROL over anything.
You are exactly write on your characterizations of the mayor and governor taking too long but wrong in your solution. I lived in N.O. The locals know the situation better than D.C. They have to make the call. In this case, they waited too late and a lot of ticked people are probably still sitting in traffic somewhere including my brother.
is that the sort of world you want to live in? You're advocating greater government control over people's lives on The Conservative website, and noone's told you you're full of crap yet? Please, let me be the first.
So what specific provision of the US Constitution gives the President the power to do this? None that I can find. Its up to the states, not the feds. NO has elected plenty of corrupt losers. They have to find some better elected officials or live without.
"It would be a really good idea if y'all just packed your things and got the hell out of here. If you call 911 after daybreak tomorrow, you'll have to leave a message 'cause we're all outta here. See you in a few days . . . GOOD LUCK!"
I don't need some liberal in Sacramento or Washington telling me to evacuate my home in Los Angeles. As an adult, I'm perfectly capable of evaluating risk and making an informed decision of evacuation without the government getting involved.
This is 2005, not 1905. Everyone knows the hurricane is coming, they should have the freedom to make their own decisions.
Why not just warn the people and tell them if they don't leave, you're not responsible instead of "mandatory" evacuations? I mean, that's basically what they're doing now.
I don't see them picking people up bodily and throwing them on vehicles against their wills. Let them decide if they want to live or die.
Fear Backlash?
That is just the kind of politicians we elect these days. Why pass a law? Just make the Mayor stand trial for malfeasance and murder. That will get the point across just fine.
The federal government doesn't meet the responsibilities it already has. Why do you expect them to do any better? One mayor may make a mistake but that doesn't mean a federal official is going to be perfect.
One rumor:
President Bush had to reach this idiot mayor at 11PM in a restaurant to demand he declare evacuation.
Two thumbs down to you pal...
FedGov has plenty of power already. The Governor should have stepped in before the Pres.
How come he didn't tell me sooner (he watches the same weather channel you do, moron)
How come he didn't come save me when I called (he told you they couldn't)
How come the dikes weren't built higher (with only 3 day's warning?)
WHERE'S MY CHECK?
The problem is not the mayor's duties, but the lack of will to execute them. What about the governor's inaction? Should we remove governors' powers in times of emergencies in their states?