BF2S Forums Does GWB care more about Iraqis than people from New Orleans?

As Tupac said, "They got money for wars but cant feed the poor"

In short, yes.

sergeriver wrote:

Road to New Life After Katrina Is Closed to Many

NYTimes wrote:

“Americans want the Gulf Coast not just to survive, but to thrive; not just to cope, but to overcome,” Mr. Bush said. “We want evacuees to come home, for the best of reasons — because they have a real chance at a better life in a place they love.” Sept. 15, 2005

As of late May, however, there were still more than 30,000 families displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita spread across the country in apartments paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and another 13,000 families, down from a peak of nearly 18,000, marooned in trailer or mobile home parks, where hunger is so prevalent that lines form when the truck from the food bank appears.

30,000 families displaced and 13,000 more living in a trailer park.  How much money would it cost to help them?  Meanwhile GWB keeps spending almost 200M a day in Iraq, and forgets about his people.  Does he care more about Iraqis than American citizens?

Disclaimer: this isn't an anti-American post, this is a pro-American post.  America deserves much better than this guy.  Look at the whole picture and you'll see the man does not give a shit for his own people.  America is a rich country.  There's no excuse for this.

Ok here's some stuff you didn't include:
1) Emergency aid was temporary, to help people get back on their feet.
2) Many businesses that existed prior to the Hurricane do not exist anymore, the city has yet to recover so there are actually jobs available in the area.
3) Even IF no businesses were affected, the city was one of the poorest cities in the US prior to the storm.  So much so that the unemployment rate was absolutely ridiculous BEFORE the storm.
4) Prior to the storm more than 50% of NOLA's economy was based on tourist revenue.  There also was a great deal of money coming in as it was one of the busiest ports in the US.  After the storm, tourists aren't coming...and the port will not be fully operational for years.
5) The Ninth Ward is predominately the Projects.  If we got a flat in that area, we'd drive on it until we got into another part of the city.  The lady was paying $275/month for an apartment in a city where apartment costs are relatively high.

Your opinion is your opinion.  However, the disaster aid was supposed to help people get back on their feet...not support them.  For some, Katrina represented an opportunity for them to get out of NOLA and relocate to another more economically viable area - they would not have had this "opportunity" to relocate without this aid.  You can't expect the government to continue paying forever, when simply there is no way for these people to support themselves if they were to move back - because there simply isn't enough jobs.

Last edited by Pug (2007-07-18 06:05:54)

Pug wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

Road to New Life After Katrina Is Closed to Many

NYTimes wrote:

“Americans want the Gulf Coast not just to survive, but to thrive; not just to cope, but to overcome,” Mr. Bush said. “We want evacuees to come home, for the best of reasons — because they have a real chance at a better life in a place they love.” Sept. 15, 2005

As of late May, however, there were still more than 30,000 families displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita spread across the country in apartments paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and another 13,000 families, down from a peak of nearly 18,000, marooned in trailer or mobile home parks, where hunger is so prevalent that lines form when the truck from the food bank appears.

30,000 families displaced and 13,000 more living in a trailer park.  How much money would it cost to help them?  Meanwhile GWB keeps spending almost 200M a day in Iraq, and forgets about his people.  Does he care more about Iraqis than American citizens?

Disclaimer: this isn't an anti-American post, this is a pro-American post.  America deserves much better than this guy.  Look at the whole picture and you'll see the man does not give a shit for his own people.  America is a rich country.  There's no excuse for this.

Ok here's some stuff you didn't include:
1) Emergency aid was temporary, to help people get back on their feet.
2) Many businesses that existed prior to the Hurricane do not exist anymore, the city has yet to recover so there are actually jobs available in the area.
3) Even IF no businesses were affected, the city was one of the poorest cities in the US prior to the storm.  So much so that the unemployment rate was absolutely ridiculous BEFORE the storm.
4) Prior to the storm more than 50% of NOLA's economy was based on tourist revenue.  There also was a great deal of money coming in as it was one of the busiest ports in the US.  After the storm, tourists aren't coming...and the port will not be fully operational for years.
5) The Ninth Ward is predominately the Projects.  If we got a flat in that area, we'd drive on it until we got into another part of the city.  The lady was paying $275/month for an apartment in a city where apartment costs are relatively high.

Your opinion is your opinion.  However, the disaster aid was supposed to help people get back on their feet...not support them.  For some, Katrina represented an opportunity for them to get out of NOLA and relocate to another more economically viable area - they would not have had this "opportunity" to relocate without this aid.  You can't expect the government to continue paying forever, when simply there is no way for these people to support themselves if they were to move back - because there simply isn't enough jobs.

Mmmm, my opinion, no, real facts here.  30,000 families displaced and 13,000 more living in a trailer park.  Are these people on their feet?

there is no oil in New Orleans

Pug wrote:

Braddock wrote:

But you can expect the Government to pump around a billion dollars into Iraq every week?

You missed the point.  Why haven't they tried a different city?

I may have missed your point but I think you missed mine too. The money spent in Iraq could have rebuilt New Orleans several times over.

They shouldn't have to move, measures should have been in place or initiated after the initial disaster to save the area.

Braddock wrote:

I may have missed your point but I think you missed mine too. The money spent in Iraq could have rebuilt New Orleans several times over.

They shouldn't have to move, measures should have been in place or initiated after the initial disaster to save the area.

True, but the rebuilding is going to take years.  Even if the money poured in immediately, most of the businesses will relocate - so people who had jobs in NOLA prior still wouldn't have that option.

sergeriver wrote:

Pug wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

Would you leave your home?

The city's unemployment was high before the storm.  Now there are less jobs.  Is there actually an opportunity to move back?

Without the government help, no.  But I suppose they don't deserve to be helped coz they are poor people aka lazy bastards.  The conservative solution to this kind of problem, just give the middle finger and you'll be fine.

No Serge, they have to 'pull themselves up by their own bootstraps', that's the American way!

sergeriver wrote:

Pug wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

Would you leave your home?

The city's unemployment was high before the storm.  Now there are less jobs.  Is there actually an opportunity to move back?

Without the government help, no.  But I suppose they don't deserve to be helped coz they are poor people aka lazy bastards.  The conservative solution to this kind of problem, just give the middle finger and you'll be fine.

WHAT?  Go rub yourself with peanut butter.

Your solution is that they should never work again?  Are there jobs in New Orleans?  NO.  Then what are the options?  The aid was not designed for them to sit on their ass when they can find work elsewhere!

My belief is they were given enough aid to make it through the tough time - enough for them to get back on their feet.  It may not be NOLA but certainly enough for them to make a living elsewhere.  Not only that, but here in Texas the governor pushed for businesses to hire Katrina victims.  The most conservative state in the US.

Pug wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

Pug wrote:

The city's unemployment was high before the storm.  Now there are less jobs.  Is there actually an opportunity to move back?

Without the government help, no.  But I suppose they don't deserve to be helped coz they are poor people aka lazy bastards.  The conservative solution to this kind of problem, just give the middle finger and you'll be fine.

WHAT?  Go rub yourself with peanut butter.

Your solution is that they should never work again?  Are there jobs in New Orleans?  NO.  Then what are the options?  The aid was not designed for them to sit on their ass when they can find work elsewhere!

My belief is they were given enough aid to make it through the tough time - enough for them to get back on their feet.  It may not be NOLA but certainly enough for them to make a living elsewhere.  Not only that, but here in Texas the governor pushed for businesses to hire Katrina victims.  The most conservative state in the US.

In Iraq did the US occupation not put in the ground work to make conditions favourable for the creation and establishment of public and private businesses? Take the same approach in New Orleans, don't just throw money at people, take a proactive approach ...rejuvenate the area so as to make it tempting to start up businesses there. If it can be done on some level in a warzone I'm sure it can be done in New Orleans.

Braddock wrote:

In Iraq did the US occupation not put in the ground work to make conditions favourable for the creation and establishment of public and private businesses? Take the same approach in New Orleans, don't just throw money at people, take a proactive approach ...rejuvenate the area so as to make it tempting to start up businesses there. If it can be done on some level in a warzone I'm sure it can be done in New Orleans.

Ummm...you need to do some research.  Tax breaks and incentives abound.

Pug wrote:

sergeriver wrote:

I'm out of peanut butter, do you have any?

I find it ridiculous that you are suggesting NO should be closed coz there are no jobs.  It's the federal government who should create the conditions for people to come back.  The situation won't fix alone.  If you expect a miracle it won't happen without help.  Good for the governor of Texas, I'm not criticizing him.  It's GWB the one to blame here.

Texas, the most conservative state.  Motto: "Howdy Ya'll" with middle finger extended.

Again, I didn't say that.  I said that there aren't enough jobs for everyone to move back.  Pre-Katrina largest industries: tourism and port services.

If the jobs aren't there and won't recover for years.  You want the people back and do what all day?  I would expect that many people would eventually move back.

But before we go on.  Did you know that over 50% of population of New Orleans was below the poverty line BEFORE Katrina?

You can put them to work in NO rebuilding.  I don't get the poverty thing.  What is your point with the before Katrina poverty situation?