some final reflections on katrina

1) 'Refugee' is now a racist word.
Give me a break. For the record, I'm one of those crazy liberal wackos that things there is still a lot of racism in America. As a white male, I rely on the opinions of ny non-white friends and family. If they say there's still plenty of racism, I'll take their word for it. They'd know better than I would. I'm even crazy enough to not immediately write off the suggestion that the delayed response to rescuing hurricane survivors may have had an element of racism to it. But when people start suggesting 'refugee' is racist - I just can't bring myself to believe it.

2) My fellow Democrats were much too quick to use this as an excuse lambast President Bush.
People are still without homes, food, water, jobs. Dead bodies are still floating around New Orleans. There will be a time to sling mud at each other, and I do think the President should incur at least some blame. Especially since he hired a horse club president as the FEMA director.

Just for the record, the Repulicans haven't behaved much better. Here's how it breaks down: If you are a Democrat, you blame Bush for the Government's failure to act swiftly. If you are a Republican, you blame the Mayor of New Orleans for failure to evacuate the city. Personally, I think the whole situation stinks of bad execution of a bad plan. There's plenty of blame to go around. In the meantime, how about we just focus on helping some people out.

3) New Orleans should be rebuilt somewhere else.
Or at least next time, don't expect federal dollars to pay for the rebuilding. You want flood insurance? Find a private company to do it. What about all the history and culture? I know--it seems like a waste to abandon it. But do we really want to build a city which is 6 feet below sea level, sits between a river and a lake, and is located in a hurricane alley? Furthermore, the city is sinking. I know, I know, we'll just build the levees higher, to protect us from the storm of the century, instead of the storm of the decade. But sooner or later, the storm of the century will come. And then what? More $$$. More loss of life. More policiticans blaming the President and the Mayor.

Anne Rice disagrees.

4) The .0009% of the population that is completely nuts ruins it for everyone.
How pissed do you have to be to start shooting at rescue workers?

5) Where are you going to go when the looting starts?
I'd grab a brand new power boat and head up the river.