Katrina aide, FEMA...

[Leggester]

So, where are our neighbors and allies jumping to the aide of the Hurricane victims?

Bush got ragged on for not giving a response within 24 hours on the Tsunami. It took him 48 hours no? Or wasit four days. I disremember.

We could really use some engineers and Helos down there right now. And food,water... ... basics.

Or even a "statement" of condolence? Where's Canada? Mexico? Japan? Indonesia?

Sometimes I'd really like this country to go Isolationist.

[chavez]

Leggester, Uncle Hugo has offered food, fuel & even optometry.

[Bill Y Bob]

chavez, Let's take the fuel. Then gas prices will go down

[chavez]

Bill Y Bob, yeah, I'm thinking optometry is not so helpful right now.

[microman]

[Dragonlady8]

Unfortunately politics will always come into play during any disaster. Lest not forget when the Tsumani occurred, the USA was "accused" of not giving enough $$$$$ support.

[unsponsored]

Its a really tragic event.

But i dont think criticising other countries is by any means positive to the cause or helping anything really in particular.

Think about the past and im sure many countries have helped America and vise versa in many other instances.

[Leggester]

Well! Great for Canada! Really, no sarcasm at all.

Unfortunately MM;

"it shouldn't be a time to play politics by pointing fingers at the international community."

That is EXACTLY what happend to us! So I respectfully disagree.

[microman]

[Leggester]

I'm sure you are right MM. It does bug me though. I am very ready to embrace the Libertarian ideals and turn isolationist. That has always been the main sticking point before, for me, to not fully embrace the Libertarian Party.

Even though I voted for Badnarik in the last election.

[riverfreak]

Legg - I got hammered and basically called an idiot for the same statement yesterday -

sure we are a wealthy country - but holy @#$# - this is complete devastation - I'm just saying it would be nice if some of the countries we have lent our hearts to would return the favor

There are a lot of people from there in our town - it is very sad - I mean what do you say? They have nothing to go back to - Thousands of people are basically homeless / jobless - yes I think we should expect some foreign charity

Many made comments that - we will rebuild - simple - I don't think it will be that easy considering the water levels are continuing to rise - 3 days after the fact

[Neognosis]

[Leggester]

Hi CB, welcome back.

Not talking about war. Sorry.

[Neognosis]

[Josh R]

Wow... How petty.

[Leggester]

I dunno Josh. I figure it's more of a WTF.

We'll see the next time the U.N. or a country needs aide and money...

Of course, we'll give it. Even though, so far, only a fairly bitter enemy has offered anything.

[MojoPin]

What I don't get is why this has to turn in to a fight about who has given to who and why they should or should not pay it back? Sure if I had the choice I would tell all countries to help out when something like this happens no matter if it is in europe, asia or the states? And stop comparing to the tsunami...there we are talking about people and countries who had little or nothing before it happened.
I agree that it was a tragedy to see other countries critizise the US for not "doing enough fast enough" but that's their bad. Most people know what the us did and are damn grateful for it..

[microman]

[Leggester]

"Most people know what the us did and are damn grateful for it.."

I doubt it very much. That's what the irritating part is to me.

As to any pay back? I don't believe anyone has asked for the US to be payed back any of the moneys it's spend over the decades. Or at least, no one has bitched about it.

OK, it's people like me who make everyone hate the US. Happy now?

Let's see what happens in Taiwan.

[MojoPin]

Leggester,
"I doubt it very much. That's what the irritating part is to me. " .. At least most of the talk here in my country were about the fact that the US was faster with help than sweden. You are not so hated like most of the media tend to show..

[Neognosis]

[Leggester]

I wasn't aware of that Mojo.

[svt_gEEk]

I posted my $.02 on this in another thread a second ago but I do find it sickening that there haven't been any offers of help to us in any form yet. I don't expect any of the countries actually affected by the tsunami to help because they are kind of third world countries and don't have alot, but I do expect countries in the same kind of economic shape as us to help.

[microman]

[unsponsored]

Leggester, Who are the countries you are expecting to recieve help from?

And didnt the president pledge something like 35 million initially for the Tsunami aid? and then had to change his mind after the world told him the tight a$$ he was??

[chavez]

unsponsored, he only pledged that amount as the scope of the disaster there was not known.

Lets not get in to that discussion again.

[Leggester]

With "unsponsored"'s reply, I rest my case.

Personally, I don't expect jack shi-ite from any other country. I'm pleasantly surprised when it's offered though.

[unsponsored]

True Chavez, But the media in other countries doesnt always explain things like it is... As we all know.

Many people around the world probably think that. "Thats shocking, but its America they can pick themselves back up"

Leggester, I am just suprised that people are putting their energy into criticising others during a time like this.

[timmy]

the real question in my mind is should New Orleans even consider rebuilding?

The place is essentially trashed, why rebuild when it is inevitable that it will happen again. It may be a hundred years , two hundred years off, unless the global warming theory is accurate, in which case it would be a lot sooner.

another option is to clean it up, fill in the "bowl" until it is above sea level, then require all structures to sit atop pilings that go to bedrock. that way when it starts sinking again you won't have to worry about the houses flooding again. while they are at it, add to the code that the pilings have to be a certain height above sea level to account for future storm surge, like they do in the Big Bend area of FL. Suwaunee and Horseshoe Beach and all those little fishing communities all of the houses are about 12 feet up off the ground, in anticipation of flooding.

I can definately see some "andrew" like building codes being put in place around the gulf coast now.

[Leggester]

hehehe, Unsponsored... What energy? My mina point was against the Bush bashers that were soooooo quick to jump the poor fella for not responding within 24 hours. That's all.

This is a terrible tragedy. I've already sent money and food donations to various organizations.

Timmy, sure. Why not rebuild. All the rubble from this disastor can be used to raise the level of N.O. Much like Chicago did with the rubble from their fire. It increased usable land in Chi-town by over a mile.

You know what really gets me? With all the looting and everything? They have 500 cops gaurding the road TO THE EFFING CASINOS!!! Not helping to protect and serve, not assisting with rescue, not trying to stem the vandalism and looting, just protecting the Casinos. ( I-90 ).

Also, part of this catastrophe rests with the residents of Louisianna. They could have been building, repairing, re-inforcing the levies for decades, yet have not done so. The levies are over 100 years old. Why haven't they been building and strengthining them over the past 50 years? If I lived below sea level at the ocean's edge, I would have been looking towards the future. You know it was only a matter of time for a cat 4 or 5 to come through. Galveston proved that.

[microman]