Re: New Orleans. Why can't the richest country in the world help it's own people?

Question

It's been almost eighteen months since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Hospitals are still closed, those that are still open are now being refused drugs because they do not have any money left to pay pharmaceutical conglomerates. At the same time thousands of patients are being turned away because of lack of insurance.

People are still starving, while the US government refused 500,000 food packs from Europe on the basis of incorrect paperwork and a supposed BSE scare.

Huge swathes of the city remain deserted ruins and the city still has no functioning school system. Tens of thousands of people remain homeless and public transport systems remain frayed at best.

President Bush's answer to this, and the rest of America's domestic problems, is to shave $100 billion from heath, education and transport whilst finding $624 billion to fund the pentagon and $142 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan.

The US government should hang it's head in shame.

There's a lot of anger out there about this subject.

New Orleans was one of the most famous and vibrant cities in America. To an outsider looking in, it seems as though it has just been abandoned. There have been news items recently aired in the UK interviewing survivors and some have been re-located to Houston and other places but many simply desire to go home and re-build their lives. Problem is that no-one seems to want to re-build the city.

It does surprise me that so many of you are quick to condemn the inhabitants of N.O. for being "lazy" and me for questioning the policy of the U.S. government.

It is a fact is that in Bush's latest budget he wants to cut speding on education, health and transport to fund defence. The man himself makes no secret of it.

Answer 1

Louisiana was going to be hit by a big hurricane sooner or later, and yet the state and city government did nothing. The US government may be to blame, but if anything New Orleans should have prepared

Answer 2

Well, even a homeless person in the US can walk into any mall/library and drink clean water from the fountain. In these other countries- there are often no clean water sources because the livestock and wildlife use the streams/rivers to relieve themselves, people have to trek for hours every day- to fetch a pail of water. It doesn't take long to die with out water but if you drink the contaminated water- you will die even faster. These people's poor living standards are the result of corrupt government, constant warfare and failed crops/drought. However, when was the last time you saw an unstoppable angry militia driving through your neighborhood shooting ANYONE they please? Have compassion- they are defenseless. Our people deserve help/programs too- but they are no where near as dire. Our children are required to attend school and it's free to them. Do you realize in Africa and India and other poor countires - that elementary and high school costs tuition? Plus they have to buy the books and wear costly uniforms. They have very little chance of attending school and so it is almost impossible to improve their situation. In addition to this, I have been on medical missions where adults have never even MET a doctor or nurse before- but here in USA we have welfare and mobile clinics for the poor. Plus, if you have a medical emergency- the ER cannot turn you away for inability to pay. There really is a huge difference. You have an appendix rupture in Sudan- you're a goner!

Answer 3

Why can't we provide good health care for our people either. The same answer fits both the rich pick and chose their own donations to offset thier taxable income. We ought to have a government coffer to meet these very needs starving children, cities in peril and healthcare for young and old alike, but then that would be too sensible and what President would do it Hillary just cares about getting the office not the people. Maybe Obama. Our future should also include the purses of those serving our country, the faimlies aren't making enough to live. We haven't had anything happen here since 911 .God help us all this could be the year.

Answer 4

We did help our own people we evacuated them to Houston.

They need to turn the unlivable portions of New Orleans into a nature preserve. Using the government power of eminent domain to take the land and compensate the landowners.

Understand that any part of any city that is that at risk for a Hurricane should never be rebuild. No amount of flood walls will be safe.

Those who are remaining should take Greyhound bus to Houston, San Antonio, Baton Rouge or elsewhere. In fact I will be so Liberal as to allow the government to buy their bus tickets.

Cheaper than having to pay to rebuild it from scratch every 50-100 years, and more humane.

Answer 5

Because they are selfish.

They are also terrified of the Government helping people financially because that smacks of - eeeeek - "Socialism" and "No darn lazy azz good for nutthin sonofoabitch is gonna make out on MY taxes I have guns to buy blah de blah".

Apart from giving a few dollars to "chariddee" now and then to make themselves feel better (and which they probably know won't do feck all good) they just wash their hands of the problem and comfort themsleves by telling themselves that people who are poor and homeless are "lazy" and "deserve it" for not "living the American dream". Basically the sort of attitude Britain left behind of in the time of Charles Dickens.

And they STILL think everyone wants to live there!!!!

No ta, I'll stick with the UK.

Answer 6

I cant agree enough, when will the American people wake up we jump from repubs to demos in the hope of change only to find no real change just a different mask. If there ever was any glory days in this countries history there over now. Bureacy has taken the place of Common Sense. Its a Sad Day when we let our Inner cities turn to help from outside sources so The Govt can Pay the Iraqis who Love Us So.

Answer 7

Maybe the people who are running New Orleans should hang their heads in shame. Americans gave billions of dollars to help the victims of Katrina, besides what the government spent. The real criminals now are the same as before the storm hit, the local leaders and the people who refused to leave and who now refuse to fix the problems. Too many are sitting around waiting for someone to save them. Get off your asses and get to work or just move on!

Answer 8

we may be rich but we're probably one of the most selfish countries in the world. Most other people in the world are appalled at our lack of kindness for one another. Everyone is just so busy, and doing what? People aren't important. They have just hardened their heart. I know some people are generous, but they aren't the majority and it isn't all the time - this is just my current view. not that it is necessarily true. I don't know. I don't see people in my community doing much to help anyone. They'd rather get drunk and try to drown their sorrows in a bottle of liquor. It's like in any church the people doing the work of the church are just a few, and a lot of people show up to be entertained. Everybody wants to be entertained, nobody wants to work, so chariities go without workers nationwide, not just in New Orleans. There's a lack of people to help here in Wisconsin too. Communication and misunderstanding are part of it. People think everything is ok in New Orleans and everything is all better. It's like when my wife died the first few days everybody came by and called - for 3 1/2 days - but after that I heard from nobody - after the service nobody called, nobody came by, nobody cared. THey thought after the service I guess I wouldn't need any help it was all ok, well it wasn't and it's not - I have a good attitude, but I need people like anyone else. The New Orleans thing in general is the fault of the leadership of New Orleans - a year before they did a mock Hurricane called Hurricane Pam - and they knew they couldn't withstand a category 4-5 hurricane. They didn't communicate, it wasn't Bush - yall just Hate Bush and are trying to pin everything on him. like calling him a Liar. I'm not a big Bush fan or anything but HE IS NOT A LIAR. He doesn't care who he gets mad at him, and he's just not a liar. He's stubborn, but he's not a liar. He follows his own drum and that's not lying. FEMA is a wreck and the good old boy network was awful - but the local authorities dropped the ball more, and they were the ones at fault. They know it too. The federal government isn't responsible for everything. Also they can ask for help and make it public - I haven't heard on TV they need help still -they need to make it known if they still need help. They can't assume we all know everything. People help - they don't help enough - but they all h ave lots to do - they can't do everything and I can't either. Everybody needs to do their part and they don't. That is the problem. That's it. Person who posted this question - have you done your part? HAve you? Before you blast the country you need to do your share. How much should the government help people who live in disaster risk areas? If you live next to a volcano and it erupts should the government bail you out? If you live on the fault and there's an earthquake should they bail you out? hurricanes, etc. Everybody knew for years New Orleans was in a dangerous area and they had one terrible storm years ago. It's like the people who rescue these people who risk their life doing something stupid and then the forest ranger dies saving this stupid person that happened when I was in Alaska. So people need to have some common sense. I don't think the government is supposed to save everyone. IT isn't all a class race thing but that is certainly a part of it. It's not just them -

Answer 9

While we may be the richest country in the world we are not quite yet the stupidest. What is going on in New Orleans is that people don't want to rebuild in an area that is below sea level and will be destroyed when the next big storm hits, be it tomorrow next fall or 50 years from now. Why did many people take the money Fema gave them and but things like plasma screen TV's.
Many hospitals cant reopen because there is simply not anyone there to staff them because many people won't be returning to New Orleans.

Answer 10

I agree. It is pathetic that the Bush administration has done nothing to help the victims of Katrina. It is like they turned their backs on the American citizens. Things have gotten worse since Bush took office in 2001. Thankfully, a president can only run two terms. I don't think Bush will serve another. He also did nothing to prevent as well as help the victims of 9/11. This administration will go down as one of the worst in history. It is pathetic that a president accused of a sex act is briefly impeached while a president who lies about a war, gets a second term in office. How many tragedies will it take for people to realize this administration is no good? At 9/11 and Katrina, the Bush Administration fell asleep at the wheel both times. Bush should be impeached and there should be a new administration because the Bush Administration is no good. Giving a thumbs down does not make the statement any less true.