Ask Yourself This

[profdsny]

If instead of a huricane, a few low grade nuclear weapons had been set off in N.O. Monday, and destroyed as many embankments as did Katrina, sending in as much water. I'll even give you that there was 24 hour warning to evacuate. Do you think the Federal Government would have responded differently? The damage is the same as if that had been the case.
If we can't respond to a natural disaster where there was 24 or more hours notice, how in God's name could we respond to a terrorist attack of the same devistation? I thought our Department of Homeland Security and our C in C were standing guard for just such an emergency.
What happened?

 

[totalia]

Very very good question. I think, at the least, Bush has alot to answer for.

 

[staci]

I agree with this so much!

I was naive in 2001. I remember watching all the people rushing ot stockpile food, water, and masks, and I thought, what is wrong with those people? If someone attacks, and I survive, this is America. I WILL be taken care of. Period.

Now, I have an entirely different perspective. I felt more secure in my country's ability to handle disaster during 9/11 than I do now. I worry now, what if something horrible happens in my area. What will we do? Will anyone come and help me?

 

[Pugdog007]

I agree with this so much!

I was naive in 2001. I remember watching all the people rushing ot stockpile food, water, and masks, and I thought, what is wrong with those people? If someone attacks, and I survive, this is America. I WILL be taken care of. Period.

Now, I have an entirely different perspective. I felt more secure in my country's ability to handle disaster during 9/11 than I do now. I worry now, what if something horrible happens in my area. What will we do? Will anyone come and help me?

Thinking that the Fed should "take care of you" is both unrealistic and naive. People need to be equipped to take care of themselves. I'm dumbfounded that people even think this way.

 

[staci]

Thinking that the Fed should "take care of you" is both unrealistic and naive. People need to be equipped to take care of themselves. I'm dumbfounded that people even think this way.

That is why I said "I was naive in 2001". I thought I made myself clear?

 

[JimMIA]

If instead of a huricane, a few low grade nuclear weapons had been set off in N.O. Monday, and destroyed as many embankments as did Katrina, sending in as much water. I'll even give you that there was 24 hour warning to evacuate. Do you think the Federal Government would have responded differently? The damage is the same as if that had been the case.
If we can't respond to a natural disaster where there was 24 or more hours notice, how in God's name could we respond to a terrorist attack of the same devistation? I thought our Department of Homeland Security and our C in C were standing guard for just such an emergency.
What happened?

Yes, the federal response certainly would have been different.

They would have sealed the area off for dozens of years, if not permanently. The correct comparison for your scenario is not Hurricane Katrina, but Chernobyl. They would not have sent a single military person in for months.

Flood waters would have been the least of our problems.

I guess there was some political point to your OP?

 

[Val]

We still are not prepared for any true national disaster.....I remember reading and studying this in my college classes in the 70s (went to an "environmental" type college), and I am not sure we have improved. If anything, we get incrementally better after each disaster. We seem to learn a lesson, but then forget it. And, we are unwilling (admittedly myself included) to PAY for the necessary preparations (I don't want higher taxes, dog gone it!!!)......change is hard, facing ugly reality is hard. We are pretty good at imitating the ostrich in the sand until a crisis-then we bond together. Perhaps we need to get our head out of our....well, let's say "sand" and get ready and real. Who wants to go first (or is this part of the problem?).

 

[padams]

I thought that after 9/11, our gov't would be better prepared to handle an emergency. I thought the purpose of the Department of Homeland Security was to coordinate response among the gov't agencies in the event of a disaster.

As tragic as the hurricane was, it was a only regional disaster. It's clear that our gov't is not prepared to handle a national disaster such as a nuclear attack or a major earthquake along one of the coasts. I hope the hurricane will serve as a wake-up call to our country.

 

[profdsny]

I guess there was some political point to your OP?

I'm not sure what this has to do with this, or what your point is. Either we were prepared and did a good job, or we didn't. I'd say we didn't.

 

[staci]

I thought that after 9/11, our gov't would be better prepared to handle an emergency. I thought the purpose of the Department of Homeland Security was to coordinate response among the gov't agencies in the event of a disaster.

As tragic as the hurricane was, it was a only regional disaster. It's clear that our gov't is not prepared to handle a national disaster such as a nuclear attack or a major earthquake along one of the coasts. I hope the hurricane will serve as a wake-up call to our country.

Thats exactly what I was TRYING to say. I dont think that the government should take care of every aspect of my life, but I would hope that during a disaster the Department Of Homeland Security could be relied upon to insure the safety of the good people of this country, and I dont feel that way right now.

 

[totalia]

Thinking that the Fed should "take care of you" is both unrealistic and naive. People need to be equipped to take care of themselves. I'm dumbfounded that people even think this way.

Then why do you have a government at all?

You are talking about anarchy.

 

[luvthatduke]

If instead of a huricane, a few low grade nuclear weapons had been set off in N.O. Monday, and destroyed as many embankments as did Katrina, sending in as much water. I'll even give you that there was 24 hour warning to evacuate. Do you think the Federal Government would have responded differently? The damage is the same as if that had been the case.
If we can't respond to a natural disaster where there was 24 or more hours notice, how in God's name could we respond to a terrorist attack of the same devistation? I thought our Department of Homeland Security and our C in C were standing guard for just such an emergency.
What happened?

That's basically what I and my family asked by Tuesday,
(and we're still discussing it)!
If it was the same scenario, would FEMA be insisting on
the correct forms in the correct order to be dispatched first?
Would the Pentagon be waiting for the National Guard,
or any branch of our military to be given permission
to enter the strike zone?

We have retired military in our family,
and perhaps some would be surprised to know that during
the Cold War we knew that Russia had plans to
destroy our levees, they recoginized a weakness - including Louisiana.

 

[C.Ann]

They're not prepared for anything and to rely on them would be foolish.. It wouldn't matter if it were a nuclear attack, biological attack, another massive hurricane, spaceships from Mars - you name it..

You better figure out how to fend for yourself and figure it out now.. About the only people you can really depend on are the "every day people" - not the ones who are supposed to be in "charge" of leading this country through a major disaster..

 

[Deb & Bill]

Don't you guys have your duct tape and plastic in your safe room ready for a disaster?

 

[Free4Life11]

Don't you guys have your duct tape and plastic in your safe room ready for a disaster?

Thank you! I haven't had that good of a laugh in days...

 

[poohandwendy]

I think it is amazing that people EVER though that the govt could 'ensure' the safety of the citizens during a large scale attack or disaster. That is an impossibility no matter what planning even the most brilliant amongst us could come up with and the most efficient could implement. We would have to have a body guard for every 5 people to do that.

I have never expected that the government would 'take care of me'. I have always thought they would do what they can and the rest is up to me. It is a BIG country, we have to be a little more self reliant and make our own plans for 'what ifs' because even in a small disaster, it usually takes time for others to bring resources to us.

I guess it is just that everyone has different expectations.

 

[NeverEnufWDW]

Ask yourself THIS: Exactly how ridiculous is this thread ?

 

[Planogirl]

It's not ridiculous at all. Many people may have become complacent after 9-11 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. It's good to realize that we are all basically on our own when it comes right down to it.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

It's not ridiculous at all. Many people may have become complacent after 9-11 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. It's good to realize that we are all basically on our own when it comes right down to it.

Yup, that's what this whole situation has taught me.

No matter how much our "leader" talks, when push came to shove, he didn't walk the walk. He laid down like a little puppy and is now blaming everyone he can find for telling him to "heel". I thought this guy was supposed to be a tough, man's man? No real man would have watched what happened and sat on his hands for days. A real man would have demanded that every helicopter available be used to rescue and deliver supplies to those poor people who we all watched DIE on TV. A real man wouldn't have been cutting cake at a photo op as the flood waters rolled in.

The wheels have been coming off the bus for a long time. When I think that we impeached Clinton for not being honest about having oral sex, it really puts this in perspective. It is unfathomable to me that some people condemn Clinton for that, but not Bush for, oh, I don't know, going against the U.N. and killing thousands of innocent Iraqis, or not getting just some frickin' water to those poor people in the superdome.

I found it ironic at best when I just read a few minutes ago that we are now asking for supplies from the UN. First of all...we don't have supplies in America??? Second of all, how dare we ask them for help after we gave them the finger over the war. We want them there when it benefits the agenda, and ignore them when it doesn't.

N.E.D.

(That's not to say I'm not terribly happy for any help these poor people give, I just can't believe we had the nerve to ask them after we shunned them. It's no wonder Bush wants to seperate us from the World Court - I bet he's honestly worried about ending up on trial himself)

 

[totalia]

*claps* Bravo. I so completely agree.