Replies

There are basically three groups of people currently in NO right now, not counting tourists and those trying to rescue or establish law and order.
2. ...any mothers with children and no husband or father around ...

Before you knock on Group 2 and blame their families or call them names, don't forget that this group also includes a whole lot of military wives and children. I would hate to be one of those reservest in Iraq knowing my wife was all alone, pregnant, alone with my children, maybe without a car , with the rest of the family out of state. Heck, when we were first married we didn't even have a credit card. I could certainly understand how a young family could get into a pinch. It's a horrible situation that noone deserves to be in and any of us could be in.

I'm not calling anyone names. This is a complex situation and the blame can be spread very far.

If the effing (sorry, I'm extremely disgusted) mayor and governor had any leadership qualities at all mandatory evacuation would have been ordered on Friday. Those schoolbuses sitting in water could have been used. Buses from all over the state could have been commandeered. Every car in the city could have been filled with people. Trains have been mentioned.

If that had happened, very little of this would be happening.

And if each individual who had a few bucks and two working feet had taken the threat of hurricane seriously, he or she could have left the city even before the mandatory [sic] evacuation was ordered SUNDAY MORNING.

I was a single parent for some time and I know what incredible hardship and poverty are first hand. I would have left that stinking city on foot if need be in time to save myself and my children even if I had to carry them both piggyback.

I know that many were too old or otherwise handicapped, or had helpless people to care for. I certainly don't agree with "every man for himself" - the gov't should be there to assist and LEAD in a natural disaster. But those can help themselves, should have.

If I, living far away on the west coast, knew beforehand what would happen to NOLA in a bad hurricane (and I did), why the hell did people who live their whole lives in the city not know?