How many of you think the government response to hurricane katrina was wayyyy to slow?
96420
I'm not sure that it was wayyy to slow.. they made it seem like they did everything in their power to make things happen.. I know trying to get people down there was difficult but ALOT of people pitched in to do what they can... I thought it really proved us to pull together as a country... My friend was down there going to school and she said the MEDIA made it seem like the gov. wasn't doing anything but she said there was ALOT being done.. so I guess we can just hope the gov tries to get it back to normal/or better quckly.
465983
No, he didn't.  None of the government agencies handled it well at all.  They just made the whole situation worse than it already was to start with rather than prepare for something like this.  For years they knew a disaster of that magnitude might hit New Orleans but did nothing to prepare for it.  And when it did they were lost.
93169
It's a waste of our tax dollars. New Orleans is 60-65 feet below sea level. And is basically an island in a sense (picture a bowl in a bath tub full of water). Not to mention this is not the first time they had this storm. I feel no pitty for most of them down there. Nor do I support the fact my tax dollars are being wasted in New Orleans.\nI really think New Orleans and the the state it resides in. Should pay back money from tax payers over a period of time. Why you may ask? Because Stupidity is not an excuse.
130810
Thanks for the special mention of me in the question.  Katrina wasnt bush's fault.  Last time I check he didnt have power over the weather.  If he does, I could have done without the snow last week.  I dont see anyone going on and on about the appointment of Robert Kennedy to attorney general.  Mistakes are made.  However one should also keep in mind that the Mayor and Governor were both Democrats and both failed to call in the national guard.  As for his "faith based" decisions, pehaps we give him our support because the majority of U.S. citizens believe in those decisions.  Most of us arent in favor of the abomination known as gay marriage and many oppose the systimatic murder of unborn children by claiming its a constitutional right.  All one needs to do is look at a map of the 2004 Presidental election and the fact that many states passed marriage laws and/or amendments in that election to see how the majority of us feel.
954840
I'm surprised he even remembered them.  Wasn't the current GOP-controlled Congress to have appropriated aid down there by now, but still haven't?  So much for priorities....maybe if the ghost of Terri Schiavo was spotted in New Orleans they'd stop what they were doing and actually take action..........?\n\nBTW, I love how conservatives are still blaming the victims, as if they just sat there and let the waves wash over them.  Like Michael Brown of FEMA was REALLY competent, and the feds were REALLY on the ball as to the extent of the damage.  Don't get me started on those damned levees, or the evacuation of patients from the more upscale hospital.  The Bush Administration dropped the ball BIG TIME, and the best the ultra-cons can do is tell the survivor's "it's your fault, you didn't do enough".  Typical.  Same kind of folks who make rape victims carry the child to term because it's Murder.  Like any one of them would actually carry a kid to term......but that's another tangent.
45541
The worst thing people can do is expect the government to take care of them.  As seen in Katrina they will let you down.  People need to take repsonisiblity for themselves.
755114
I have been thinking about this, because I do believe we will be attacked again.  Actually, I think we are attacked in small ways lots of times but they put it off with some sort of explanation.\n\nI think the government cannot control everything and the bureaucrats are too busy worrying about the war in Iraq to pay attention here.  A lot of inept people in Washington and in government are not doing their jobs, i.e.: FEMA\n\nI am going to get a firearm to protect myself.   I live near a whole bunch of refineries and I can just see them all going up in a chain of events because the all line the Gulf Coat and it is easy to bring a boat in here and no one notices.\n\nAlso, during the hurricanes there were lots of crimes being committed and no one really broadcast what went on.  We need to protect ourselves because in an emergency situation the government is not going to be of help\n\nI oppose martial law because it is just an excuse for crazy cops and nutter military people to shoot innocent civilians
476972
I don't think it was preventable at all.\n\nIf you piss off a large proportion of the world for long enough then someone is going to do something crazy.\n\nEven with the somewhat police state methods now being used we're still due for more terrorism. \n\nHurricane Katrina couldn't have been prevented as it was caused by weather, but the reaction in terms of getting people out could have been better. So could actually rebuilding the levies properly before the hurricane. bit of a pity most of the national guard  and army engineers who were supposed to be working on it were out of the state relieving other national guards sent to iraq or sent there themselves....
162234
WHOAAAAAAAAAA........WAIT A MINUTE HERE...\nFOR YOUR INFORMATION KATRINA DISASTER HAPPENNED ON AUGUST OF LAST YEAR... AND EVEN IF FEMA WAS LATE AND THEY DROPPED THE BALL THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING TO HELP THEM.. SINCE THE DISASTER HAPPENED FEMA GAVE EVERYONE 2K TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND NEGOTIATED A PLAN WITH BANKS TO PARDON THEIR MORTGAGE FOR 6 MONHTS... AND ON DECEMBER THEY EXTENDED THEIR HELP TO FEBRUARY,, DON'T YOU THINK THAT THIS PEOPLE HAD ENOUGHT TIME TO SORT THEIR PROBLEMS OUT... ALSO THEY GAVE THEM SOMEWHERE TO LIVE LIKE HOTELS... FREE APARTMENTS, FREE HOUSING AND SORRY TO SAY IT BUT PEOPLE JUST GOT USED TO THE FREEBIES AND WON'T LIFT A FINGER TO GET BACK ON THEIR TRACKS.\nSO YES, ALL OF THAT HELP IS WEIGHTING DOWN ON THE GOVERMENT AND IS ABOUT TIME PEOPLE WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES...
558965
I do believe we went to make it better. We removed Saddam from power - a true mad man. The people are more free than they have been in a decade. The numbers who came out to vote prove that they feel more free. The women have quit wearing the horrid black coverings from head to toe & gone back to school - something illegal before. The violent death toll is 25.1 out of 100,000 - 1/2 of New Orleans before Katrina at 54.6 out of 100,000. Yes I have to agree it is working, not at the speed we want, but nothing is ever fast enough for us Americans.
172500
I live in New Orleans.  I am one of those other thousands of people that you are NOT hearing about; I found a place to live, I did not ask for more FEMA money.  It has been over 5 months since we all lost practically everything.  That's 5 months.  That's a lot of time to pull oneself together and get on with getting on.  Thousands of us did just that, but you aren't reading about us, are you?  I think it is right, and anyone still expecting FEMA to pay for a hotel room should be able to show FEMA proof why they would still need it.
124645
Katrina didnt discover as much oil as the middle east!Its sad to say but the goverment would rather fix other places before he fixes home.We live in sooo much discomfort so that other countries can benefit off of us.It is ridiculous that the homeless here in america starve while Iraq has 200 billion of our dollars.Katrina has come along and shown us who we really gave leadership to.I just wish some americans could have understood that before election 2004.Katrina was a tragedy that could NOT have been prevented,but it may have been handled better.To late to sing the shoulda,coulda,woulda's now.
1117923
It has been almost a year since Katrina hit.  There is no reason you shouldn't be working to get these things that you need.  The American people were VERY sympathetic when Katrina struck,  donating MILLIONS and MILLIONS worth of dollars and goods.  That time is up.  It's time for you "victims" to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and stop expecting the rest of the US to make it all better for you.  While I am sorry for the devistation that you and so many others suffered,  I am also very tired of working my a$$ into the ground to make ends meet just so my tax dollars can continue being spent to keep you guys up.  Get a job,  put money back and go from there.
517010
I don't believe the local authorities ever requested a Federal State of Emergency be declared.  FEMA does not respond unless a State of Emergency is declared.  That's why you'll often see a State of Emergency declared BEFORE a hurricane hits. Well, in Florida you will.  \n\nYou conservatives are supposed to be against "big Federal government."  This is an example of letting the states run their own show. And it looks like in this case, the states did not do it right. But you can't preach "no big government" and want FEMA involved in every natural disaster at the same time.
193085
These people aren't rich because they are homeowners, ESPECIALLY since they still have to pay their mortgages!  Their houses were destroyed and insurance will not cover the cost, regardless if the house was destroyed by the wind (many roofs were ripped off) or the eventual flood.  The insurance companies have been fighting this from the moment it began...they would be out millions and they aren't willing to do that.  So these people are homeless, jobless, pennyless, and still forced to pay the mortgage to the bank.  I think a little government assistance is expected, espicially since the AP has now provided those wonderful tapes in which the president WAS warned of the devastation and damage that the storm would cause.  "No one expected the levees to breach."  Give me a break.  He knew DAYS before he made that comment.
1166839
I had an aunt that died in 9/11. Seriously, I feel that our country is still not ready for disasters ever since George Bush got into office. Just look at Hurricane Katrina. How does it take a week to get down there? He has private jets up the a** and they can get to places faster than airplanes or any other jet on Earth. I seriously think he is lazy and he don't want to help anybody but himself and people he only knows. He doesn't care for anyone else. That's the way I feel.
328728
The Katrina evacuation was a disaster no matter which way you look at it.  Anyone with a leadership role failed miserably.  People who didn't get out, cast aside all personal responsibility.  \n\nThis tragedy put the spotlight on America, from all of the worst possible angles.\n\nGreed, Corruption, Ineptitude, Scapegoating, Destruction