Former Sen. John Edwards said at a Hurricane Katrina conference he would propose what he called “Brownie’s Law” requiring that qualified people, not political hacks, lead key federal agencies.
“It’s an absolute travesty to have people who are essentially political hacks in a very responsible position,” he told the audience at the University of New Orleans.
“Brownie” refers to Michael Brown, who was head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency when Katrina struck the United States on August 29, 2005. He resigned shortly after President George W. Bush, who appointed him to the post, told him publicly, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” as chaos reigned in the devastated city.
We’re just about at the 2-year anniversary of the Katrina disaster. Most published reports estimate the various government efforts have accomplished little more than 20% infrastructure recovery. Pitiful scorecard for the richest nation in the world.
>>and I still own a home in the Caribbean
Well, good for you. However, millions of people in the U.S. who are in harm’s way that do NOT have the resources to build a home from 12 inch stone with 12 in poured cement square supports with rebar inside, truss roof, 400 feet above sea level on a tropical isle.
So we just tell them to go fuck themselves, because we’ve got more important things to do with our disaster relief money, like pump it into some more war profiteering money for Halliburton and President Cheney?
There are people everywhere in the country who are susceptible to west coast earthquakes, midwest tornados, south-east hurricanes, flooding, and on and on and on. And even for those lucky few who CAN afford the 12-inch stone and rebar, how are they supposed to grow rebar-reinforced orange trees? The agricultural damage from Andrew was well over a billion dollars. Oh, I forgot. Those dimwits should have gone to Vancouver or Anchorage to grow their produce, right?
31. “Well, good for you. However, millions of people in the U.S. who are in harm’s way that do NOT have the resources to build a home from 12 inch stone with 12 in poured cement square supports with rebar inside, truss roof, 400 feet above sea level on a tropical isle.”
Thats usually the response I get, from those who dont have any experience in this. The fact is, the way it is built is more cost effective than building what would be perceived as “cheaper”, for reasons I wont go into here. If you think I am wealthy, I assure you I’m not. A large portion of the work was done by myself.
I also spent years on the east coast, Cape Hatteras, to be specific. I watched year after year while the northeast storms in the winter eroded the coastline. And took houses with them. These people all qualified for government subsidized insurance. And when the storms were over, the same people put their houses back in the same areas they were before. And built them just as badly. These were not “poor” people. Ya think thats OK too? Is it OK that greedy developers in Florida build in low lying and flood prone areas?
Earthquakes and tornados are a different thing altogether. I agree with you that disaster asssistance should be provided when necessary, that we need to take care of people in this country before we worry about those in other countries. Disaster should also be reserved for agricultural damage. But to rebuild a city that resides below sea level for sentimental reasons is just not logical.
>>we need to take care of people in this country before we worry
>>about those in other countries.
So, we’re in agreement.
>>But to rebuild a city that resides below sea level for
>>sentimental reasons is just not logical.
I guess you won’t be running for mayor of Amsterdam or Rotterdam (or anywhere else in the Netherlands, 50% of which is below sea level). Somehow, they managed to get the dam/ levee thing right in the 17th century.
33. Yes, we are in agreement, for the most part. I too am sick and tired of seeing our tax dollars wasted in other parts of the world while we ignore our own citizenry. And if I had any faith in this government to actually build and maintain a levee, maybe, I would change my mind. As for now, no.
>>And if I had any faith in this government …. maybe, I would change
>>my mind.
Well, we’re in agreement about that too.
However, New Orleans has been around since its founding in the 1700’s, and there’s a lot of American heritage there. If it’s not going to be rebuilt (properly), then SOMETHING has to be done to (properly) assist the victims of Katrina. Most of the displaced, homeless, and dead were not rock stars or the Neville Brothers who could just load up the truck and move to Beverly. Hills that is. Swimming pools. Movie stars. They’re just regular old American citizens who paid their taxes and expect their government to provide services that citizens cannot reasonably be expected to provide for themselves.
Yeah, if you’re in a disaster area, you should be prepared for the disasters. If you bail people out, then people are going to keep building there, and you’ll end up spending more money on bailouts. They should at least cap at 100k or something, so people will think twice about living in hurricane and flood areas.
By the way, conservatives should favor incompetent government to an extent. With all the government surveillance and databases, I would like the people in charge to at least not be capable of monitoring everything.
Competence required of government employees?
It would mean that government services were prompt and polite and our tax money would be spent wisely.
There is no way will this idea will ever catch hold at any level of government. It is way too radical an idea for the US.
This is how they convince you that government should be “abolished”, by trying to demonstrate its incompetence. Instead of saying, “Let’s make a government that is responsive and competent”, it’s “let’s populate the government with cowardly toadies who are loyal “yes men” rather that people who know what they’re doing. Remember that it is OUR government, and that is something that people have fought and died for, so don’t run around screaming that it should be abolished (which it never will be). Do you actually believe that it will simply “go away”? Of course not, something (like what we see now) will fill the vacuum and will demand everything for its friends, esp. those in the war-making business.
#10 I have to disagree with you Mustard.
Janet Reno is a great example. Although she filed against Microsoft there was no real sanction.
In addition Waco was Reno’s baby and what an abortion that was. As I recall the Feds killed some 72-86 Davidians(depending on whos count you prefer), mostly women and children. Of special significance is that the claimed justification for the paramilitary action was to protect the deceased.
That said the American federal response to the Katrina hurricane crisis was a travesty. The Feds sent Blackwater mercenaries to disarm the population at gunpoint (in violation of the second amendment) instead of helping evacuate them.
GigG
#2 “is the law going to spell out the required qualifications for each and every department head?”
I sure hope so. Have you ever read a job description, filled out a job application, maybe submitted a resume? If so you understand the procedure.
#9 “Oh and BTW. Cheney was not appointed he was elected twice.”
Elected once on tainted voting machines in a controversial election, appointed by the courts the other time. You sir stand corrected!
#17 please just give us a link. A list of 267 I don’t knows could refer to what he had for lunch a year and a day prior.
Who pays you to post here anyway?
>>Janet Reno is a great example. Although she filed against
>>Microsoft there was no real sanction.
No there wasn’t. Janet Reno and the Clinton administration tried everything in their power, but the wheels of justice move slowly. So by the time the appeals were in progress, Little King Georgie was in power, and (as usual), money talks. So they dropped the case. If the Microsoft case is evidence of anyone’s incompetence, it would be Little King Georgie and his underlings. All hail the new software overlords.
And yeah, she fucked up Waco. As I said, nobody’s perfect. At least she was trying to do SOMETHING. I haven’t seen anybody claim that the Branch Davidians are not a wacko separatist group of religious fanatics, practicing polygamy with underage girls, stockpiling illegal weapons, and child abuse. If ‘berto had been in charge, he would have done what he did in every tight situation, sitting in the corner jibbering like a chimp “I don’t remember, I can’t remember, I can’t recall”.
I am not sure why but the 2008 Democratic National Convention is being held in Denver. It really should be held in New Orleans.
This would highlight the stark differences between the parties, and make future Presidents think twice about leaving American Cities devastated as a means of doing normal business.
But, that would be smart and courageous, and courage is something the pandering DEMs have not been known to have much of.
C’mon you people the US you have get your shit in order now!
Isn’t that what people in the US say to everyone else? ROTFL!
Just too funny – but no one seems to see that in the US. 😉
Cheers
>>They should at least cap at 100k or something, so people
>>will think twice about living in hurricane and flood areas
I’ll bet that at $100K a pop, most of the victims of Katrina would have been happy as pigs in shit.
Or do you mean $100K total to rebuild the roads, the hospitals, the fire stations, police stations, the schools, the levees, the power infrastructure, and all the businesses?
I’m talking about federal insurance payout for homes. I’m not particularly bothered by Katrina payouts, but rather in other areas that are very hurricane prone and people keep getting big payouts to rebuild.
>>I’m not particularly bothered by Katrina payouts
Well then, we’re in agreement, but we disagree with bobbo. He resents anyone “below sea level” being reimbursed for losses incurred due to a force majeur, although 30%-40% of the claims for flood damage come from regions rated “low-to-moderate risk” for flooding by FEMA.
47. It would seem a bargain to give the true victims the money in lieu of paying off a bunch of crooked government contractors to rebuild. I wouldnt have a problem with that. Probably 10% on the dollar. Of course I basically pulled that figure out of my ass based on the government charging us 10 more than what it should cost.
If you have an unquestioning alligieance to a party then others are corrupt and we are just trying and made a mistake. Thats how the parties coopt the political process and the voters become members of an organization instead of indepedant judges of public servants. If any type of corruption or incompetence is not judged harshly regardless of party affiliation then it all devolves into he said/she said crapola.
Well, they really should be rebuilding above sea level like they did Galveston way back when.
For incompetent Clinton Cabinet members, you have to include Bruce Babbitt, who managed to get himself found in contempt of court, something that hadn’t happened in over a hundred years. I think it was over a case where the government was managing money for Indian tribes, and they lost all the money.
>>For incompetent Clinton Cabinet members, you have to include
>>Bruce Babbitt,
Uh, Mikey. In case you haven’t seen a newspaper in the last decade, Bruce Babbitt was CLEAR OF ANY INVOLVEMENT in “wampumgate”.
Keep trying.
Incompetent bungling nitwits appointed by Little King George are a dime a dozen. Incopetents appointed by Clinton are a little harder to come by.
Maybe that’s because Little King George is a fucking incompetent nimrod. You think?