Looting or Salvaging?

[peachgirl]

People close to the Superdome are getting help there, but how do you propose the folks living on the other side of a flooded town get to the magical Oz that is the Superdome?

If they can wade through waist deep water to float their stolen goods home, I'm quite sure they can make their way to the superdome.

Read the msnbc article. These people aren't stealing the necessities of life. They're making hay out of someone else's misfortune.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And it is easy to sit in our comfy, air-conditioned homes and say “but help is coming” but they have no idea where help is or even when it is going to be there.

And it is easy to say that of those who can identify that looting is wrong.

 

[lyeag]

If they can wade through waist deep water to float their stolen goods home, I'm quite sure they can make their way to the superdome.

Read the msnbc article. These people aren't stealing the necessities of life. They're making hay out of someone else's misfortune.

Is it possible????? We agree on something? (I am not saying you want them shot, just that it is wrong)

 

[LindaG4458]

There was some looting in FL after Jeanne but Vero Beach had a strictly enforced curfew to help protect property owners. There were also shelters providing food and necessities for weeks after the storm. I personally was in line for two hours to get ice and water but it was readily available.

There is NO EXCUSE for looting. It's just easier.

As far as how long things will be in an uproar - there are people who own in the adjacent development to us who still cannot return to their homes. Roof, mold, and asbestos problems have yet to be resolved one year later.

 

[disneymom3]

I’ll tell you, until Ivan we usually kept enough supplies to last a week (now it’s two or more). And after it hit, if I had needed to loot to get diapers or food for my kids I would have done it in a heartbeat. We weren’t prepared for something that big, and I’m willing to bet that the folks in New Orleans, even those who were stocked and ready, weren’t prepared for something this huge.

I know it is hard for some people to feel sympathy here. Laws are black and white. You steal, you go to jail. I’m allowing a little grey here for folks that really need supplies. You cannot imagine the despair that has already fallen over the population. No electricity, no water, homes and loved ones lost, stinky filthy floodwater full of raw sewage with gas and oil floating on top, broken gas lines, no contact with the world, I could go on and on. The emotional toll is incomprehensible and it is only just beginning for these folks. It will take months, if not years, to recover from this.

I would not judge these people and I cannot say for sure what I would do in this situation. AND maybe I am really naive, but don't they have these kind of necessary supplies--like formula and diapers, for instance--in the shelters for people? The Red Cross is there by now are they not? We don't have hurricanes here, but we do have tornadoes and a few years ago a town within an hour of home was completely leveled. The Red Cross actually had to ask people to stop donating diapers because they had no where to put them all.

 

[peachgirl]

Is it possible????? We agree on something? (I am not saying you want them shot, just that it is wrong)

Don't think I haven't been looking around and noticing the group I seem to be agreeing with on this thread.

It's been duly noted and I'll be discussing it in that therapy session I think I'll need to set up.

 

[maleficent1959]

If they can wade through waist deep water to float their stolen goods home, I'm quite sure they can make their way to the superdome.

Read the msnbc article. These people aren't stealing the necessities of life. They're making hay out of someone else's misfortune.

I read the article. The clothing and the jewelry are not a necessity and I never said it was. But the man with the pallet of food or the people taking diapers from the Walgreen's -- I'd say food is a necessity.

There is enough on tape that some identifying can probably be made and those responsible will face charges. It's happened before in cases of largescale looting.

BTW, I think Hurricane Katrina was everyone's misfortune, not just store owners.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Don't think I haven't been looking around and noticing the group I seem to be agreeing with on this thread.

I guess Katrina brought her friend Hell to freeze over, eh?



While it would be lovely to have a gray area----what about the scum of the earth that picks up a pack of diapers--to carry with the beer to say "this is for my baby"?

It is black and white b/c it is necessary to maintain as much order as possible.

 

[maleficent1959]

And it is easy to say that of those who can identify that looting is wrong.

Ummm, did I say that looting wasn't wrong? No. Don't think that I did. But under these conditions looting essentials is excusable to me.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I read the article. The clothing and the jewelry are not a necessity and I never said it was. But the man with the pallet of food or the people taking diapers from the Walgreen's -- I'd say food is a necessity.

That was actually police officers--ro some type of enforcement official or did commandeer the Walgreens.

The government can commandeer and get supplies in emergency.

When a regular person does it--it is looting.

 

[Geoff_M]

Don't think I haven't been looking around and noticing the group I seem to be agreeing with on this thread.

I suppose I ought to buy a lottery ticket on the way home!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Ummm, did I say that looting wasn't wrong? No. Don't think that I did. But under these conditions looting essentials is excusable to me.

If you have a qualifier on looting--it means you have cases where it isn't wrong.

And the official stance is under any circumstance it is wrong.

 

[lyeag]

I read the article. The clothing and the jewelry are not a necessity and I never said it was. But the man with the pallet of food or the people taking diapers from the Walgreen's -- I'd say food is a necessity.

There is enough on tape that some identifying can probably be made and those responsible will face charges. It's happened before in cases of largescale looting.

BTW, I think Hurricane Katrina was everyone's misfortune, not just store owners.

Yes, it is everyone's misfortune. Especially those still waiting to be rescued. How much manpower should we waste trying to stop looting and how many more will die because they were not rescued in time? Should we just let them continue? Jail will not stop people. They may look on it as a way out of the disaster area. (who knows???) If they don't use force to stop the looters, they shouldn't even bring attention to it. It does no good. So much area, limited resources at this point, there are some tough choices to make.

 

[maleficent1959]

I would not judge these people and I cannot say for sure what I would do in this situation. AND maybe I am really naive, but don't they have these kind of necessary supplies--like formula and diapers, for instance--in the shelters for people? The Red Cross is there by now are they not? We don't have hurricanes here, but we do have tornadoes and a few years ago a town within an hour of home was completely leveled. The Red Cross actually had to ask people to stop donating diapers because they had no where to put them all.

At least here they didn't have supplies for people in the shelters until relief actually got here. Then yes, they will be able to go to sites around the city and get the things they need.

The Red Cross is awesome, but I have to say that the military was amazing. They came in, got order restored, were able to efficiently distribute supplies, help with temporary roofing and countless other things that helped. I really have no doubt that they will crack down on the looting once the manpower is there. Curfews and martial law will help too.

 

[maleficent1959]

That was actually police officers--ro some type of enforcement official or did commandeer the Walgreens.

The government can commandeer and get supplies in emergency.

When a regular person does it--it is looting.

Here’s the part of the article that referred to the diapers:

“In some cases, looting on Tuesday took place in full view of police and National Guard troops. At a Walgreen’s drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers. When police finally showed up, a young boy stood in the door screaming, “86! 86!” — the radio code for police — and the crowd scattered.”

Sorry, I didn’t see that the policemen were the ones actually taking the diapers. Guess I misread that.

 

[peachgirl]

It is black and white b/c it is necessary to maintain as much order as possible.

That's exactly right. Things are bad enough without just completely doing away with any sort of lawful order. What has it been, 48 hours? No one is starving to death yet.

Yes, it's a disaster for all of them, but some of them have decided to get a little something out of it while it's going on.

I suppose I ought to buy a lottery ticket on the way home!

Well, if one miracle can happen, why not two?

 

[jrydberg]

I suppose I ought to buy a lottery ticket on the way home!

Already have my tickets

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry, I didn’t see that the policemen were the ones actually taking the diapers. Guess I misread that.

wrong paragraph....I heard walgreens and assumed reference was to this.

try this one:

Police commandeer pharmacy
At a drug store on Canal Street just outside the French Quarter, two police officers with pump shotguns stood guard as workers from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel across the street loaded large laundry bins full of medications, snack foods and bottled water.

“This is for the sick,” Officer Jeff Jacob said. “We can commandeer whatever we see fit, whatever is necessary to maintain law.”

Another officer, D.J. Butler, told the crowd standing around that they would be out of the way as soon as they got the necessities.

 

[maleficent1959]

If you have a qualifier on looting--it means you have cases where it isn't wrong.

And the official stance is under any circumstance it is wrong.

My qualifier on looting was only that I thought it could be excusable in some situations. Still wrong. Motives don't make something illegal magically legal. Just understandable at times.

People face degrees of this kind of thing all the time. Not the same level of this degree of looting of course, but still... Running a red light is always wrong, but sometimes excusable. Lying is morally wrong, but not always. Truancy laws allow for school absences only in the event of illness but you see postings about taking kids out for vacation. Stealing is wrong, but taking food to feed your family or toilet paper to wipe your a$$ is not something I'm going to shoot someone over, as other posters have suggested should be done.

 

[Maleficent13]

What has it been, 48 hours? No one is starving to death yet.

Just wondering (I tried to google it but no help), how long can an infant go without food? 48 hours seems a long time to me.