Katrina verses the Tsunami

[Groggy]

I wasn't refering to the general public, just the executive.

Although I did include our pollies in my original post, I see your point. Our pollies are not ego driven...

Giving America financial aid is like giving family tax benfit to families earing +$1,000,000.00

Wealth distribution is not like that at all in America. Something like 90% of the wealth is owned by less than 5% of the populace. The people of NO that remained were generally the poorest of the poor. Not to help them because the others have money is, well, plain wrong. The hard part - as always - will be getting the money to those that really need it.

[Stu in Tokyo]

May as well have a bit of a rant.

The US government is slow to react? Compared to what, or to whom? Heard about Tracy? Read the mobilisation reports? Read the looting reports?

The logistics are very complex - you can't fly in help if the airports are unserviceable. You can fly helicopters but they can't use contaminated fuel. You can preposition supplies and troops but where and how? They need food and accomodation, you can't send them in by truck to NO because all freeways are open to exiting traffic only. Rushing in makes the situation worse and, in a short period of time, the rescuers need help too.

As for the US Government not wanting others on their shores, perhaps, but logistics is probably the main issue. Not many countries could get their equipment there in time to be of help anyway. What is important to the US is offers of specialist help, funding relief or whatever they need. Just the offer may be enough.

As for ego problems, geez Mick, that's unfair. Ever seen Australian tourists in action overseas, or the posturing of Aussie pollies?

As for a country with trillions of dollars national debt not wanting financial help, I am not sure of that either.

FYI: The Outstanding USA Public Debt as of 04 Sep 2005 at 02:30:29 AM GMT was: $ 7,946,457,571,471.90

The yanks have their problems, yes. But as someone who has lived there, and in other countries, I think they don't deserve some of the comments.

Right on Groggy!

I saw a guy on an interview the other night, heck WATCH it here....

Why it took so long (I had to use IE, FireFox would not run the vid)

Watch this, you might just have a little understanding of what was going on.

Do you guys have any idea how large an area "90,000 square miles" is, well it is 233,100 square kilometers, that is a large area, and that area is not wet, but DEVESTATED.....

Watch the clip.

BTW, I do not no if you have seen the coverage on how the regular people are helping out, not the stupid government, the people. Their neighbours in Texas have opened their hearts, their wallets and their homes to the displaced people from the storm areas.

BTW, comparisons will be made with the Tsunami, but really, the death toll, while tragic, in the US on the extreme end might hit 10,000 (God forbid) but what was it in the Tsunami? 10 times that? :eek:

Cheers!

[ozwinner]

How many of any of us would not loot food and water if we were starving and nothing seemed to be happening in the way of aid??

I have to agree on the food and water thing, but TV's etc, come on...?
Where do they think they are going to plug them into?

Al :confused:

[Gingermick]

At the time when there were tens of thousands of people were in need of evacuation, the main focus was on the looters. Not trying to defend these dogs but helping those needing evacuation was surely a higher priority than stopping some lowlife stealing a telly.

[dazzler]

I believe that's the answer. Looting and rape happened in S.E. Asia as well. Probably even more than in the US. We just ignore it when it happens in the third world countries. People sort of expect them to loot and rape. It does not make a news item. They do not hold the same expectations about the US, so when they do, we get to hear about that.

Burn, do not be sad or angry. Be concerned. Very concerned. This is human nature. Our civilisation is two meals away from a Mad Max type society. It happened in New Orleans, and it can happen here.

What the????

My colleagues responded to the tsunami crisis and none have even mentioned rapes occuring after the tsunami. Scrounging for food and something to sleep on and under occurred but I wouldnt call it looting.

Is there any evidence of this or am I missing something?

cheers

dazzler

[Gingermick]

Can't trust the American media.
I suppose the difference between the two is in the wealth differential between the people affected. In the Tsunami everyone was poor, except the tourists.

[javali]

Is there any evidence of this or am I missing something?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4145591.stm
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/01/05/story183376.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in665533.shtml
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2137

[dazzler]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4145591.stm
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/01/05/story183376.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in665533.shtml
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2137

you right, me wrong......sorry

[DanP]

At the time when there were tens of thousands of people were in need of evacuation, the main focus was on the looters. Not trying to defend these dogs but helping those needing evacuation was surely a higher priority than stopping some lowlife stealing a telly.

I would disagree. It would be very very difficult to engage in a rescue operation whilst chaos and disorder were the norm. Order must come first, then you can get food and water to everyone. Otherwise, only the scum get the relief and the good people who are to scared to come out of hiding die.

Dan

[Grunt]

Cyclone Tracy was a similar strength storm to Katrina. It basically destroyed Darwin. It was a smaller scale disaster because of the smaller population.

Darwin was completely evacuated in 5 days.
There was a few incidents of looting but 250 police we sent to Darwin almost immediately as a proactive measure to stop looting.

It took the authorities in the US 6 days to start the evacuation. The troops were sent in well after the problem with lawlessness started.

[julianx]

Andrew Denton made an interesting coment on the radio this morning "I wonder how long it will be before george bush starts his war on the weather"

[adrian]

Bush was late getting the news because he was on holidays AGAIN!!! He flew over the area on his way back from holidays. Anyway, I think he watches Fox News. I kept turning over to Fox when the tsunami happened and at 25,000 dead, Fox had a documentary on Jesus. At 50,000 dead they were interviewing santa. The other networks had 24 hour coverage. Fox only started to cover it when they found it was necessary to come to Bush's defence after he was criticised by the Europeans for donating only $10 million.
With his troops dying in a very nasty war have you aver heard of a general going on holidays. 'Commander-in-Chief?' :confused:
As for rapes and looting after the tsunami, it happened. The paedophiles descended on that area of the world like bees to honey. And a few would have been Aussies so we can't take the moral high ground.
Looting happens with any civil unrest and very often involves people who wouldn't normally do that sort of thing.
It's the shooting you have to worry about, but then again if you let your population arm itself then you have to expect a few of them to shoot something when they get pee'd off.