What's happening in New Orleans could happen anywhere

[radfringe]

no - I'm not talking about the hurricane or flooding

I'm talking about the breakdown of a civil society due to the failure of the government's response...

any disaster (be it man-made or nature) is going to cause some confusion and have people running around not knowing what to do and where to go. but a quick response from authorities would bring some order and sense of "normalcy"

part of the function of government is to provide services to people - in the case of a disaster -- government is expected to provide aid and information. the longer it takes for the government to respond the more difficult the task becomes.

When government fails to respond -- society breaks down and with it goes all civility -- it's every person for themselves and this means getting what you need to survive by any means possible. It also erodes confidence in the government - it says you can't count on the government. It says that in the future should a disaster hit your area -- you are on your own. People are going to more likely to reach for a gun than to offer a helping hand to a neighbor in trouble.

The watchword is going to be "shoot first and survive"

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Only to poor,and most of all, Only during Shrubs reign of terror!

I'm not saying being on Wall street or the fact that most of those people were affluent and fit, I choose to Believe, 5 yrs. of Shrub has brought All of us to this pathetic State!

[radfringe]

4. We live in Northeast PA

on top of a mountain -- high enough up and far enough away from brooks, creeks, streams and rivers so flooding in our immediate vicinity is not a concern...

but 10 minutes away is the Susquehanna River, and there has been flooding in Wilkes-Barre (and surrounding areas) in the major disaster category and due to hurricanes. People from Wilkes-Barre area have been evacuted up to the mountains in the past. For the most part there was little confusion and chaos.

People worked together, they co-operated and got through it - they did so because there was a plan and a response from the government.

My partner did something yesterday that took me by surprise - this is what prompted me to post -- she went to the closet, unlocked the cabinet (in the closet) and pulled out her rifle and handgun. She checked them over, cleaned them and then made sure I knew where they were.

I asked why did she do that. She said - "should there ever be something like New Orleans happening here - we have to be prepared to defend ourselves."

in the past - when a hurricane warning, or major snow storm has been predicted to hit our area - her first concerns are to batten down the house, put away/tie down outside items, trim away branches, fill containers with water and stock up on some food items...

[orpupilofnature57]

10. Kkkarl loves that shit, though she by no means is a" militia freak"

[Solly Mack]

2. Yes it could indeed

But some people will tell themselves it couldn't possibly happen to them..or that they'll would never be subjected to such conditions.

They tell themselves they're so above it all. Some people tell themselves that it's "those" people doing that (looting for survival) and "they" would never...

[radfringe]

6. But some people will tell themselves it couldn't possibly happen to them

yep - but when it hits -- they'll be grabbing for guns

the breakdown of a neighborhood will happen more quickly

[orpupilofnature57]

11. No, and I would definitely "loot" And if I felt the need, refuse to Obey

I by no means am wealthy, but live among White landowning Republicans ! AND THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN!

[Solly Mack]

12. Me, too.

[whistle]

3. So what the fuck are Homeland Security and FEMA and other

....disaster preparedness agencies funded with tax dollars doing? That's their job to be prepared and offer immediate direction, decision making and relief to an otherwise chaotic situation.

As far as "shoot first and survive", I think the events and how the situation in New Orleans unfolded as Katrina approached and then the immediate aftermath, pretty much explains why there evolved a "shoot first and survive" temperament among the victims.

Intimidation, neglect, mistreatment, deplorable conditions, forced confinement, deprivation of sanitation, food, water, supplies and hope of being rescued for six days and now the federal response to this is the deployment of 40,000 armed national guard troops to shoot on site anyone showing any signs of rebellion to these conditions.

[ThomWV]

5. Not Really

There are citys where it would not happen.

It did not happen, for instance, during the horrible flooding and subsequent fires in Grand Forks, North Dakota back about a decade ago.

[DemBones DemBones]

7. So the people of Grand Forks are better than

the people of New Orleans? Or did they, perhaps, get help a bit sooner?

[ThomWV]

9. No Better, No Worse - But Clearly Different

Grand Forks, as I recall, was inaccessable for several weeks.

You may think the people in Grand Forks are better, I do not. If my memory of the events are clear, and they may not be, it seems that their response to disaster was difference though. Is that difficult for you to process?

[highplainsdem]

13. There was some looting in East Grand Forks after that flood.

See this article

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199811/18_deutscherh_schools-m/

which mentions schools having to replace computer systems "after losing many computers to the flood and post-flood looting." And that wouldn't be scavenging for survival, as most of the looting in New Orleans apparently was.

[radfringe]

8. a decade ago

people had some confidence in the government

yeah, it may not happen in some areas where people are use to fending for themselves and have adapted to that mindset...

but in other areas -- a very different scenario

people were breaking into stores to get food -- how long before someone else comes along and tries to take that food away from you - what are you going to do? give them the food YOU need for yourself and loved ones or will you fight them for it? More likely you will have a gallon of gatorade in one hand and a gun in the other