Why did U.S. government fail to act in New Orleans?

Question

Was the failure to respond really economic or racial?
(In other words, did they not act quickly because most of the people were black, or was it because they were poor?)

Let me add that I think Ray Nagin is a complete idiot. Just to clear up some "issues." Not trying to spark a racial flare up here, people.

Answer 1

Yes, it was the responsibility of the local, state, and federal governments to do something.
Bush had appointed a crony of his to FEMA. The local and state governments were too busy pointing fingers at the Feds.

The US government is not all-knowing and all-powerful, though there are plenty of crazies who think so, and some even crazier ones who expect it to be so!

I know our government has many many incompetent people in its organization, as well as plenty of competent & hard working people. The problem is that there are far too many of those oh-so-jaded types who sat back & smirked at anyone who worried over the levees breaking, sneering "it'll never happen". Race and income had nothing whatsoever to do with it.

Answer 2

They did react. When they found out about it.

Mayfield, the National Hurricane Center Director, stated "The forecast now suggests that there will be minimal flooding in the City of New Orleans itself." This was after the levee had already been breeched.

If you were the president and your advisor tells you things are fine, you believe them. Bush did not lie, he did not react slowly. He did not even find out until more than four hours after the breech. Mayfield should have been tarred and feathered. As an advisor he should have known every damn detail about the situation.

Bush, as Commander-in-Chief is ultimately responsible just as any leader is, but he did not delay because he wanted too.

The governor of the state was also asked how the levees were holding. Bush was told they were fine by him too. Why did the Mayor of NO not call anyone when they did get breeched? It was more than four hours after the breech when they actually found out.

The responsibility lies on the city and the state. As a mayor or govnor, you should know everything about your city/state.

Answer 3

After meeting with Louisiana officials a week after the hurricane, Rev. Jesse Jackson said: "Many black people feel that their race, their property conditions and their voting patterns have been a factor in the response." He continued: "I'm not saying that myself."

Then I'll say it.

If the majority of the hardest hit victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans were white people, they would not have gone for days without food and water, forcing many to steal for mere survival.

Their bodies would not have been left to float in putrid water.

They would have been rescued and relocated a hell of a lot faster than they were. Period.

I mean, reporters and crews were getting to stranded people, and government and military agencies couldn't? Why doesn't CNN run FEMA?

When I saw pictures of black people taking things from stores, my first thought was: "How are those Air Jordans necessary for your survival?"

Then it hit me: People needed shoes and clothing. Some escaped the floods with just the clothing on their backs.

We had American citizens, not "refugees" from an underdeveloped country, still waiting for shelter.

Waiting.

Waiting.

You leave children, pregnant women, the elderly, even the able-bodied, in a city destroyed with no help, no food, no water, no electricity for three, four, five, ten days? What would you do if your family was starving, and you saw people dying in the street?

And why didn't the stores in the disaster areas simply make their goods available to these desperate folks? Surely, they've got insurance.

Love thy neighbor. Didn't I read that somewhere?

The real war is not in Iraq, but right here in America. It's the War on Poverty, and it's a war that's been ignored and lost. An estimated 37 million Americans are living in poverty. New Orleans is one of the poorest cities in the country, with 40 percent of its children living in poverty. Mississippi has the highest poverty rate of any state. We've repeatedly given tax cuts to the wealthiest, and left our most vulnerable American citizens to basically fend for themselves.

The whole world is watching. And once again, a day late and a dollar short, words of wisdom from our president: "This is a huge task that we're dealing with." "These are tough times." "Give cash."

Once again, he finds the photo op: Some black folks to hug, some white men in Mississippi to bond with. He flies over the messy parts of New Orleans, waves and leaves.

The president has put himself at risk by visiting the troops in Iraq, but didn't venture anywhere near the Superdome or the Convention Center, where thousands of victims, mostly black and poor, needed to see that he gave a damn. Guess what. He doesn't.

Answer 4

Inept (so-called) leadership at the state level.
Inept (so-called) leadership at the city level.

When the storms hit other states, Fema shows up, people have a 'plan', then Fema helps them to carry out and fund that plan.

When Fema got to N.O., everyone sat around going, "hell I dont know, do something".

"Write us checks then start building stuff".
"When do we all get free new houses?"

If nothing is left, and you can do nothing about your tragic circumstances, then maybe its time to pick up and move on.
Starting over somewhere sucks, but it happens to a very large number of people every day.

Its not the fault of the people of N.O., but its not the fault of the government either. Its called a natural disaster.

The people of other states that get hit dont get a check and freebies, they may qualify for low interest loans to help them. If you cant/dont qualify for that, better get a job somewhere and suck it up. Millions do.

Life dealt you a blow, gotta deal with it. The money train has been through, if your local government kept it or mis-used it, and you saw none of it in your interest, you are no different than the rest of the 'bottom 90%' of US.

Not being harsh or mean, its just the way it is.

Answer 5

because the federal gov. can not take action until the local and state gov ask for help.mayor ray (idiot)nagin and gov blanco were more responsible.they wasted money that was earmarked for upgrading the leavies. now nagin says new orleans will be a choclate city again and you talk about white people being racist? earnesto is headed towards fla and already people are leaving or getting ready.

Answer 6

Why did the mayor fail to realize that he needed driver's for the buses he had on standby for evacuees? Why did so many people sit there and whine about the federal government not doing anything instead of doing something for themselves? Why were helicopter's carrying supplies gang banged? Why were debit cards used to buy purses and tattoos instead of bread, water and soap? It had nothing to do with people being poor or black. Common sense America knows the real story.

Answer 7

Oh yea that's it! Man you got it all bad things happen only to people who are black and poor. I am so sick of hearing that crap. The people had pleanty of time to leave. They offered transportation to leave there. "Oh but they were poor and wouldn't have anything to start on" well if they were poor there then they'd be poor somewhere else too. And even when they were doing the best they could, all the people down there could do is complain! Make the best of a bad situation and be thankful you're alive and help yourself instead of sitting on your asses in the football complex expecting everyone to come and do everything for you. AND the biggest thing that just pisses me off to no end is those who took advantage of the situation for crime AND SHOT AT THE FREAKIN HELICOPTER THAT WAS TRYING TO HELP!!! Unbelieveable. If that's the kind of people that live down there then they are a disgrace to the United States and the hurricane should have wiped them all out and saved a few million tax dollars for the people down there who are decent Americans.

Answer 8

Mostly inertia and ignorance. When considering history, I find it helpful to discard the "villain theory of history". Rather, look at actions assuming that the participants were doing the very best they could at the time.

When looked at that way, simply said, the Bush administaration is populated by imcompetent political lackeys. If you do not believe that, just look at what the do on a day by day basis.

Answer 9

It wasn't only the federal government, it was also the state and local governments.

Maybe next time, when people are warned that there is a hurricane coming your direction, you'll get the hell out of Dodge.

What a waste of taxpayers' money.

Answer 10

because we were busy with over taking Saddam and fighting in Iraq for no reason whatsoever, the governor of new Orleans was petrified when he asked for help " sending Marians " to help with crisis and we could not as government could not send any ....

we are nation that is so preoccupied with issues that are not of great value to our ppl