When is it not the Governments Fault?

Published on September 4, 2005 By greywar In Current Events

Just a quick follow-up here.... When do my personal choices absolve the Federal and State governments of responsibility for my plight?

Katrina is a tragedy no doubt and the Government is rushing in to help these folks as best they can. I take serious issue with folks who are bitching that it is not enouigh or that it is too slow.

If you live in the Red River Valley's flood plain and it floods I don't mind my tax dollars going to help you out. It is just neighborly. I do get a bit heated when you the flood plain resident start griping that the Government (and *me* your neighbor by proxy (we are the Government)) are not doing enough to bail you out of a situation that you put yourself into.

Live on the San Andreas fault? Guess what... there is an earthquake in your future. Don't wan't to live through and earthquake? Don't live there.

Beach house in Malibu? Guess what... Mudslide is a guarantee.

Gulf coaster? Hurricanes.

Mid-west? Well Tornadoes, but they have a pretty tiny impact area compared to the other ones I just mentioned.

My mother and I just spoke on the phone and she had this remark :

"You could see the light-bulb come on in some of these people. They won't be moving back."

She's right of course. When you live on the effluvial delta of the Mississippi River right on the Gulf Coast it is simply a matter of time before you are wiped out by a storm. Hell even the Discovery Channel has been running some it's programs from years ago about how N.O. was doomed and how it was simply a matter of time before this happened.

Don't act surprised that this disater occurred. Don't bitch that we don't do enough about it. You live there and we will help but don't even pretend that it is *our* fault or that somehow I, your mayor, or the President are responsible for your poor choice of area.

Your decision. Own it.

Comments (Page 4)

Elyse

on Sep 12, 2005

I am honestly tired and saddened by the popular sentiment that it is New Orlean's fault for living in New Orleans. We live in an over-populating world, we're running out of places to go, and no where is 100% safe. Show some compassion. Having lived in hurricane country for half of my life, I know a thing or two. You can't just leave every time a hurricane comes your way, granted this was a big one and many of the people who could afford to leave should have likely done so (but it doesn't make them any less deserving for help and support). Why? Because half of the time, hurricanes fizzle out into nothing or rapidly change course. You can't just leave your job every time a hurricane shows up on the weather channel. If you don't understand that, then all I feel for you is pity for a lack of understanding for your own countrymen.

As for the convention center being the rapists' fault, I'm sorry, but that is utter bullshit. You leave hundreds, thousands of people who have just experienced a severe trauma, are living in awful, sanitariless conditions, and recieving very low amounts of food and water in a centralized location for an extended period of time...that's bad news. And the government should have worked to alleviate that. They should have worked to get people moved out of there faster. Period. You have to remember when you think of all the awful things that happened that these people weren't themselves. These people just lost EVERYTHING they own, most didn't know where their families were, hadn't had food or water for days...I think you'd be a little out of sorts and crazy as well.

If the government isn't supposed to help with the needy...then what kind of an advanced civilization are we if we just leave our underfed and underpriveledged to rot? Our federal government is there to protect those who can't protect themselves. Period. If federal government was all about letting individuals be themselves period, we wouldn't need a government...am I right?

What was your response to Terry Schaivo? I ask because Bush stepped over state/federal boundaries to sign a bill regarding the life of ONE person. He flew home from vacation in the middle of the night to sign this. When thousands of people were dying, Bush stayed on vacation and didn't step in to help until three days after the fact. That's where I take issue.

drmiler

on Sep 12, 2005

What was your response to Terry Schaivo? I ask because Bush stepped over state/federal boundaries to sign a bill regarding the life of ONE person. He flew home from vacation in the middle of the night to sign this. When thousands of people were dying, Bush stayed on vacation and didn't step in to help until three days after the fact. That's where I take issue.

Don't start in on Bush on this "without" starting on both state AND local government for failure to act. You want to start on 700 school buses that did not get used? Grant you I don't think Bush did everything he could have but....exactly "what" did the mayor and governor do besides not a heck of a lot?

Angloesque

on Sep 12, 2005

As for the convention center being the rapists' fault, I'm sorry, but that is utter bullshit. You leave hundreds, thousands of people who have just experienced a severe trauma, are living in awful, sanitariless conditions, and recieving very low amounts of food and water in a centralized location for an extended period of time...that's bad news.

Are you trying to say that they lost their ability to use their brains? Sorry, but it's not the government's fault when people act stupidly. There were plenty of people not going around committing felonies, so there's absolutely NO reason to excuse those who did. "These people weren't themselves." Honestly.

If the government isn't supposed to help with the needy...then what kind of an advanced civilization are we if we just leave our underfed and underpriveledged to rot?

No one ever said the government isn't supposed to help. Where did you read that? Simply put, the government is the last resort after the citizens, cities, and states have exhausted their resources.

And don't drag Terrie Schiavo into this. For pete's sake.

-A.

Dr Guy

on Sep 12, 2005

And don't drag Terrie Schiavo into this. For pete's sake.

Amen.

Suldog

on Sep 13, 2005

Absolutely correct. Help? By all means. Blame someone else for your choice of living area and what comes naturally with it? No.

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