Hurricane Katrina caused much pain and suffering, Why are we stil pointing the finger?
85189
This is the duck and run senerio.\nWHO is responsible?\nthe Govenor?\nThe mayor?\nThe State?\nThe Fed?\nTo many things happened and the RIGHT solutions DIDNT happen.\nThe FED cant come in, until the STATE asks.\nthe state didnt know or care.\nThe city GOV, didnt know who to call.\n\nThe FED is responsible for the roads, and gov facilities.\nThe state is responsible for the STATE facilities,\nThe HOMES, are not covered.  Except under insurance, and the LAND OWNER.\nThe BUSINESS's are NOT covered.  Except as they paid their INSURRANCE.\n\nIf they DUMP all of it on the FED, YOU WILL PAY FOR IT.
588031
Hurt turns to anger, anger leads to suffering.
519700
Because the person who hurt us does it on purpose, or has no idea he caused pain.  Some who hurt don't want to change, and we get frustrated, and hurt turns to anger.
1093438
Just as likely as saying the Federal government didn't act fast because of prejudice.  \nLiving in Florida I know that once a storm hits you can count on three days without help, just as when I lived in Minnesota during a blizzard.  How dependant on governemnt do you have to be to not be able to take care of yourself for 48 hours?  For that I blame the US government's yolk on the poor.
966574
I was pleased to see your question mentioned the "areas" affected and not just New Orleans.  New Orleans damage was not inflicted by the hurricane, but the levy breach.  The Mississippi Gulf Coast was decimated.  There are still residents who do not yet have a FEMA trailer, and its 14 months plus after the fact.  There are many insurance companies who are not paying because the damage was "flood" damage, and not covered.  HELLO!  The "flood" was caused by a hurricane!!!!!\n\nNo, the government has not done enough.  They have spent far too much time worrying about how to go about it and too little time getting their proverbial hands dirty and actually doing the work.  Church and college groups in this area are continuing to go down and help with demolition and rebuilding - weekly.  There are still mountains of debris that has not been removed.  \n\nThis Thanksgiving and Christmas season, there are thousands of families who are facing their second holiday season without a real home, and still with no answers from the federal government, state government or their insurance companies.  And the national media continues to focus on "New Orleans".  Our nation lost National Historic Sites on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, "Beauvoir", the home of Jefferson Davis being one of them.  Major damage in the state of Mississippi extended as far inland as Jackson, Meridian and even as far north as Tupelo and New Albany.  The scope of this was diminished in the national media, and has largely been relegated to history by many American citizens.  It is not history to the residents who are living in FEMA trailers, or tents, still fighting insurance companies, still have no jobs because the companies are not back up and running - I could go on and on.\n\nSo, no, I think the government has done a grave disservice to those citizens who were left homeless, jobless, and in many cases only with the clothing on their backs by Katrina.  And these "celebrities" keep showing how they have built this house or that house - there is still tons to do.  This problem is not fixed - not by a long shot.
223540
Man that is going to be a touchy subject. I am in Houston and I have friends and family on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.\nSo I have seen the devastation and the destruction and the free loading first hand.\nLet me fist say that not everyone in N.O. needs a hand out. Some are good honest people and had the sense God gave a fly to get out of dodge before the storm. They will do so again. The ones that did not are the problem..\nDid they learn their lesson the first time - we will see?\n\nHowever!... If they choose to go back and it is a choice. I.E. There are a LOT of N.O. residents that are now residents of H town that are not going back.\nAnyway... If they choose to go back it should be at their peril.\nContrary to what "lynn" thinks. The Government does not owe them anything. That has been the problem all along. Too many people feel the U.S. Government should pay for their losses. Ahhh have ya ever heard of insurance? If you didn't have it before and you are going back it should be REQUIRED. \nThe government is not a charity. It was not established to support and bail out the people who are to stupid to plan for an emergency. It is not like they did not know they were below sea level, it is not like they did not know a storm was coming. An accident is unexpected and catches you by surprise... a majority of N.O residents feel like this was an accident. \nHow many of them are willing to move back there and pay 2 or 3 times the taxes they were paying to build stronger levees and better drainage systems? I doubt many. So what... the rest of the tax paying U.S. is supposed to foot the bill?\nWRONG. \nIf they did not know before, they know now. N.O is below sea level and will flood. Anyone that rebuilds there should do so at their own expense and risk.\nI would be happy to come spend a few days "helping", that is what neighbors do... but do not expect me to pay for any aspect of your choosing to live there.\nIf I build my next home on the rail road tracks... there is a higher than probable chance that it is going to get hit by a train.... duh.\nThe people of the US and the US Gov. have given and given and are still giving... Don't expect us to do it again.\nAs to where are they supposed to go...\nAnywhere? As I said... there are lots of them here in Houston and to the best of my knowledge there are 49 other states to choose from. I mean come on... \nBurn me once shame on you, burn me twice shame on me. NO THEY GOV SHOULD NOT PAY TO EVACUATE THEM.\nDon't look for the free hand out. Make a better choice.\n\nAdditional Comments:\nI don't think anyone should NOT move back there. I do however think it should be at their own risk. Put it anyway you want... It is BELOW SEA LEVEL and building there INVITES problems. I just heard on the news not an hour ago that the cost to rebuild the levees is now over 10 Billion. \n\nThat money should not have to come from the federal Government and the rest of the citizens of the U.S. Nor should any future federal funds for the next time. The lessons have been taught and should have been learned. If you can't afford to insure your property to the level of replacement... you shouldn't live there and expect me to pay for it. \n\n\nGo ahead rebuild. I am all for it. As I said I would be happy to help. Point in case... I am leaving Tuesday 4/12 for my third trip back to Mississippi to help rebuild... So the work is not the issue. I just think the same values and nuances you and others are so fond of could be relocated to a safer place.\n\nBottom line it is not the buildings it is the people that make it.\n\nand Yes I have been there several times.
95418
I disagree with all of the above answers. No one who watched the tragedy of New Orleans could feel anything but compassion. \n\nHowever, the political effects will come--what's wrong with talking about them now. \n\nOur inability to affect global warming means that we will continue to suffer from ever worsening weather patterns. \n\nLet's not kill the messenger!
688895
Finally, we have discovered the roots of George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism." \n\nOn the heels of the president's "What, me worry?" response to the death, destruction and dislocation that followed upon Hurricane Katrina comes the news of his mother's Labor Day visit with hurricane evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston. \n\nCommenting on the facilities that have been set up for the evacuees — cots crammed side-by-side in a huge stadium where the lights never go out and the sound of sobbing children never completely ceases — former first lady Barbara Bush concluded that the poor people of New Orleans had lucked out. \n\n"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them," Mrs. Bush told American Public Media's "Marketplace" program, before returning to her multi-million dollar Houston home. \n\nOn the tape of the interview, Mrs. Bush chuckles audibly as she observes just how great things are going for families that are separated from loved ones, people who have been forced to abandon their homes and the only community where they have ever lived, and parents who are explaining to children that their pets, their toys and in some cases their friends may be lost forever. Perhaps the former first lady was amusing herself with the notion that evacuees without bread could eat cake. \n\nAt the very least, she was expressing a measure of empathy commensurate with that evidenced by her son during his fly-ins for disaster-zone photo opportunities. \n\nOn Friday, when even Republican lawmakers were giving the federal government an "F" for its response to the crisis, President Bush heaped praise on embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown. As thousands of victims of the hurricane continued to plead for food, water, shelter, medical care and a way out of the nightmare to which federal neglect had consigned them, Brown cheerily announced that "people are getting the help they need." \n\nBarbara Bush's son put his arm around the addled FEMA functionary and declared, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." \n\nLike mother, like son. \n\nEven when a hurricane hits, the apple does not fall far from the tree. \n\n\nBy John Nichols\nReprinted with permission from The Nation.
102294
yes, sadly, it did. and i feel your pain. my husband and i were having troubles before the storm. after the storm, the situation that was causing us problems didn't get any better, so 5 days after katrina hit, my husband left me. i should say that the on going arguement was about my daughter. she is involved in an interacial relationship and my husband is a biggot. he didn't want me to see my daughter after the storm. he had seen his family. he knew they were ok. i just wanted to see my daughter. she's 22. long story short. i packed up my 3 suits of clothes and hopped a plane for obx,nc. been here a little over 4 months now. new life. new job. new home. new friends. sure miss some of the old stuff. how bout you? if you need to talk to someone who knows what you're going through, you can email me at Clepine64@yahoo.com. i'll give you the details if you email. ok. good luck with whatever you decide to do with your life. i've tried to make this my new beginning. maybe you can too. keep the faith.
184177
well, bush did say that he was prepared for katrina.  and i think homeland security or somebody like that knew the levee were gonna break.  bush took a gamble i suppose.  i bet that he must have thought that the storm wouldn't have ravaged New Orleans like that.  i mean, plenty of storms have hit the US but not this severe.
910886
Many people experience this degradation, torture, and disrespect.  Jesus went through it so we can relate to him when people hurt us as well.  He can relate to our suffering because of what he went through.
939631
You have a good point. I just returned from a trip to the Mississippi coast. There is still a lot of storm damage yet to be fixed. Insurance companies have refused to pay settlements claiming the storm surge flooding caused all the damage. People are still living in campers in the driveways of their destroyed homes. More than half of the businesses haven't reopened, and lots of people are without jobs.\nIt was hard for me to believe I was still in America.
330372
Yes. The government also has a weather machine that produced Hurricane Katrina. Oh yes, and the Tsunami also. You see, we are in contact with aliens who told us to do it. Gee, I sound as stupid as you.
789573
We live on the coast of Mississippi,and made it through hurricane Katrina,it was very scary.We had so many trees up rooted,Roof damage lots of water damage from the storm surge,We didn't get it as bad as a lot of people,but it is something I hope we never have to go through again.What everyone saw on TV is nothing compared to what we saw here,There is nothing like driving down the streets and seeing dead bodies of people and animals and coffins floating from where they washed up.It was horrible.
244025
#1. Because the damage was THAT bad.\n#2. Because most (not all) of the residents aren't helping themselves. They sit there and wonder where all their help from the government is and they aren't realizing that they have to do something too.
1182442
For you information, we did NOT get aid immediately, it was nearly 1 week and a half after that we got ANY acknowledgment of being alive.  I live in Northwest Florida and we still have damage.  There are people with blue roofs still after nearly 2 years (Hurricane Ivan).  We had no help from anyone, we were completely ignored!  The gym at one of the local high schools had the roof ripped off, and just recently was it replaced.  The reason we were "better off" was that we actually prepared. I feel pity for them yes, but hardly guilt, they got relief faster than we did.
1041852
Horrible searing pain, that's why humans tend to like doing it. ; )