Even without Federalism, NO and LA are solely to blame

[detail]

Even without the 10th Amendment, which gives the job of fixing the levees and the evacutation to the States, LA and NO are solely at fault for the entire mess:

Now, the truth is coming out about who is to blame. For years LA has been called the most corrupt state in the Union. That is now clearly the case. The fact is that these levies should have been fixed. The fact is that the money was there to fix them back in 1995.

New Orleans Levee Board even boasted in a pamphlet that they could do it:

"In the past four years, the Orleans Levee Board has built up its arsenal. The additional defenses are so critical that Levee Commissioners marched into Congress and brought back almost $60 million to help pay for protection. The most ambitious flood-fighting plan in generations was drafted. An unprecedented $140 million building campaign launched 41 projects."

Even more the board promised that the few issues in the levee would be fixed within 4 years. They said, "few manageable gaps" in the walls protecting the city from Mother Nature's waters "will be sealed within four years (1999) completing our circle of protection."

Less than a year later, Dan Kyle an Auditor removed their power to re-finance debts. The reason was corruption plain and simple. They didn't bid, they poorly spend money and were near bankrupcy. This after they recieved millions from the Federal government.

So the local government screwed the pooch and should be blamed for this fault.

But the state government was just as bad. They had a 2 billion dollar budget in 1998 and only 1.98 million was able to go to levee improvements. At the same time LA was able to spend 22 million in building a new State Supreme Court building and 35 million on upgrading the Convention center.

Then in 1999 the state legislature managed to put up 49.5 million for levee improvements, but the Bond Comission placed the improvements at a "Priority 5", which means that it is lowest priority and least likely to get full funding.

The after the Feds offered to match up to 65% of the funds to fix this issue.

One of the most telling quotes comes from state rep Francis Heitmeier, a Democrat, "The problem is money is real tight in Baton Rouge right now. We have to do with what we can get."

So money was tight, but not so tight to upgrade the convention center?

Sources: http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.as...20050907a.html


So we now know for a FACT that it was LA officials and New Orleans officials who dropped the ball on fixing the levies.

Next up, who dropped the ball on the rescue.

When the Mayor had the chance to use School Buses he refused to use them in an evacutation. Instead he demanded more luxurious Greyhound buses. He said, "I'm like, 'You have got to be kidding me.' This is a national disaster, get every doggone Greyhound bus line in the country and get their asses to New Orleans. This is a major, major, major deal."

So rather than allowing a little discomfort, as a true democrat he let them end up in deadly misery so they could get the "proper" transportation.

It was then too late, because those school buses ended up flooded:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...lpc21109012015

Also, the Governor refused to allow any aid to the victims in NO at the Superdome. Rather, she decided she would rather that they suffer. Some have pointed out that the goods weren't enough, but some is better than none. The LA Gov decided that No supplies were better than some supplies:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...7/235423.shtml

People suffered, and people were raped and others murdered, because she refused to send in security to the Superdome (It was a last ditch escape location which was publically said to have no supplies or security) or food or water to the Superdome.

Then for the left to blame this on racism is poor poor taste, but factually false too.

: The basic major media premise all week has been that the 20% who were left behind were all black, and poor and the rich got out of town. This is simply put, nonsense – and racist. New Orleans is a poor city (more than twice the national poverty rate). Most of those who got out of town were not rich, and were not driving SUVs, as Tim Russert sneered on the air Sunday (in a disgracefully-conducted interview with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff).

A little elementary math will address this canard. According to the 2000 census, New Orleans' population of 484,000 included approximately 136,000 whites, and 326,000 blacks. The white figure includes 7,000 Hispanics who classify themselves as white on the census forms. If 80% of New Orleans residents got out early – and this is the Mayor's number – then only about 97,000 residents remained. Assume all of them were black, (which of course they were not). That would mean that 229,000 blacks got out early, and 136,000 whites along with them. In other words, the successful mass evacuation substantially benefited black residents of the city.

At least 70% of black residents of New Orleans got out of the city before the storm (assuming 100% of those left behind were black), and undoubtedly more than that (since all those left behind were not black). It is almost certainly the case that the great majority of those who were left behind were black. There are obvious reasons for this, including the fact that New Orleans is overwhelmingly a black city to begin with.

http://www.americanthinker.com/artic...rticle_id=4797

Next up, these poor people did much of this to themselves. We all know that an over-whelming majority of the looters and criminals were black. In fact, NO is an over-whelming black city and as in much of the US, the crime rate of blacks are higher. In this city, much higher:

New Orleans has one of the highest murder rates in the country. By mid-August of this year, 192 murders had been committed in New Orleans, "nearly 10 times the national average," reported the Associated Press. Gunfire is so common in New Orleans -- and criminals so fierce -- that when university researchers conducted an experiment last year in which they had cops fire 700 blank rounds in a neighborhood on a random afternoon "no one called to report the gunfire," reported AP.

New Orleans was ripe for collapse. Its dangerous geography, combined with a dangerous culture, made it susceptible to an unfolding catastrophe

http://www.americanprowler.com/dsp_a...sp?art_id=8684

Crime is a way of life for a large portion of these people, and because of the mass crime, there was dueling priorities. Save the people, or gain control of the city so rescue workers can help. This slowed down rescuing and cost more lives and misery. Rather than place blame or responsibility on these folks, both the black and the left blamed Bush:

Dean said, "We must ... come to terms with the ugly truth that skin color, age and economics played a deadly role in who survived and who did not,"

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...7/230229.shtml

And then Je$$e Jackson and Kayne West both said that it was Bush being racist against blacks that caused this.

Both groups ignored the fact that the rampant crime and looting was committed by blacks, and that the looting and crime caused delayes in getting them help.

Now, expect crime in Houston and other locations that these people are relocated to to rise in the next few months to a year.

Even worse, we are rewarding these people with 2000 dollars debit cards:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in824708.shtml

A good portion of this money will undoubtly end up in criminal pockets or squandered. Even worse, it shows society that there is no responsibility to yourself.

Funny, I am at risk of losing my government funded health insurance for working 1 day more than I should have in August, but these people who milk the system and are going to end up getting 250K in different aid (if they seek it) get a pass for acting like animals. And no, I wouldn't accept 2,000 from the government, even though I got sick from my brother on active duty.

We are going to spend 100 Billion before this is over, and just as the 9/11 recovery funds were squandered to fraud and mis-management, these funds are going to be too.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in684349.shtml

The fact is that in 2 years few of these poor people getting government funds are going to be out of proverty. In fact, I would be willing to be more are in it.

"The truth is black people died, not because of President Bush or racism, they died because of their unhealthy dependence on the government and the incompetence of Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco," said, Jesse Lee Peterson.

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.as...20050908a.html


Cliff Notes:

1. Even with promises of matching funds, LA refused to spend more than 1/10 of 1% of a 2 Billion dollar budget on levee improvements.
2. City officials squandered money for the levees.
3. Both the Mayor and the Governor refused to send aid into help those stuck in the Flood.
4. The people stuck were so out of control and violent that it delayed rescue.
5. The government is going to blow tons of money on these people, many who acted like common criminals.
6. NO has the highest crime rate and that is going to be exported to many other states now.
7. The money for rebuilding will be squanders and lost to fraud and mismanagement like the 9/11 committee.

[TheMorlock]

I disagree with your thread title premise completely.

[sk33]

nice thread.

[detail]

Originally Posted by TheMorlock

I disagree with your thread title premise completely.

Why? NO and LA are to blame due to Federalism, and if Federalism didn't exist they were solely to blame for the entire mess, because the Feds offered help that they did not take up on.

[TheMorlock]

Originally Posted by detail

Why? NO and LA are to blame due to Federalism, and if Federalism didn't exist they were solely to blame for the entire mess, because the Feds offered help that they did not take up on.

Because if the Federal government has sole sovereignty over the entire US then it is the Federal governments Sole fault if an area is at risk for any forseable and preventable reason and would be the sole entity responsible for malfeasence,criminal negligence or reckless disregard that leads to disaster. The government has known since 1969 that a storm of that potential WOULD hit that area eventually.
The governers would hold their positions at the whim of the central government, thus would not and could not be held ultimately responsible.
As this is not the case
That stupid fucking bitch is solely responsible. Even the mayor of NO only holds contributary responsibility. The Governor can tell him Exactly what she wants him to do and if he refused could have the state national guard arrest him and even have him shot if the LA constitution allows it.

[Nano]

200 million is about 1 50th of what they would've needed.

[TheMorlock]

Originally Posted by Nano

200 million is about 1 50th of what they would've needed to build all the hotels they wanted to milk out of the federal monies.

fixt

[Nano]

Originally Posted by TheMorlock

fixt

That too. However, the levy project would've cost upwards of 20 billion. 200 million isnt much in that respect.

[TheMorlock]

Originally Posted by Nano

That too. However, the levy project would've cost upwards of 20 billion. 200 million isnt much in that respect.

1969

[Nano]

Originally Posted by TheMorlock

1969

Yea, i know when camille hit.

have you ever been to lousiana? I went about 10 years ago, and even the roads were in piss poor condition. They've never really taken very good care of anything there, and its rather a shame. Oh well, texas is better than every other state, so i dont mind living next to them.

[TheMorlock]

Originally Posted by Nano

Yea, i know when camille hit.

have you ever been to lousiana? I went about 10 years ago, and even the roads were in piss poor condition. They've never really taken very good care of anything there, and its rather a shame. Oh well, texas is better than every other state, so i dont mind living next to them.

No I was in Biloxi MS for two years in the early 80's and they had not yet fully recovered from camille. Now they just got scrubbed down flat to the earth again. Roads were still better there than anywhere in upstate NY outside of a gated community. Damn Those Ethiopians
Well I know what all the AIR Force pingers are doing right now(assuming Keesler AFB is still there)

[Junkie Mod]

Although some of the people who stayed behind were violent, many of them were simply people who lacked the means to evacuate. Is it their fault?

[TheMorlock]

Originally Posted by totensiebush

Although some of the people who stayed behind were violent, many of them were simply people who lacked the means to evacuate. Is it their fault?

yes

1969

the only people left behind who are blameless are the children and the halt

[Morris]

Originally Posted by TheMorlock

yes

1969

the only people left behind who are blameless are the children and the halt

1) A lot of people stayed during Camille and made it out fine

2) A hurricane hitting in the past doesn't magically give everyone a method of getting out of the city. What point are you trying to make?

[TheMorlock]

Originally Posted by Morris

1) A lot of people stayed during Camille and made it out fine

2) A hurricane hitting in the past doesn't magically give everyone a method of getting out of the city. What point are you trying to make?

They had days to Walk 10 Miles They had years to make survival bundles. Couldn't afford to leave? How so? It's not like they were going to get fired for not coming to work.

Camille didn't really hit them. It just let them know their days were numbered. They did not leave, they did not make their state make camille proof dykes. They elected morons to TWO key offices.

Whose fault is it but theirs?