Sunday, September 04, 2005
Iraq's really paying off!
This story from The Observer suggests that in the half-assed evacuation of those remaining in New Orleans (you know, those without the means to drive themselves out during the laissez-faire pre-storm evacuation), it's Americans first and to hell with everyone else?
The Brazilians have got the right idea. A little more reciprocity might make US authorities realize that this sort of preferentialism is unacceptable (assuming it is systematic). When the quake strikes Wellington, will the emergency services have a "New Zealanders First" policy, and leave everyone else to fend for themselves in knee-deep sewage?? I'd fucking hope not.
Although assistance was offered to US residents, British nationals were told they would have to fend for themselves. According to those who remain stranded in the stricken city, police had visited hotels and guest houses on the eve of the hurricane offering to evacuate Americans, but not Britons.Special relationship my ass.
The order meant UK holidaymakers without cars were left helpless in the face of the hurricane. Some have been trapped in hotels and guest houses since the hurricane struck at 7am local time last Monday.
One family from Liverpool, trapped in a flooded section of the city, told relatives yesterday of their bewilderment when they realised US citizens would be offered preferential treatment.
The Brazilians have got the right idea. A little more reciprocity might make US authorities realize that this sort of preferentialism is unacceptable (assuming it is systematic). When the quake strikes Wellington, will the emergency services have a "New Zealanders First" policy, and leave everyone else to fend for themselves in knee-deep sewage?? I'd fucking hope not.
Comments:
DC
You do realise that the New Orleans Police Department is run by the City of New Orleans. It is nothing to do with the US Federal Government or Bush, although don't let that stop you bringing Iraq into your argument.
Now, who runs the City of New Orleans? That would of course be the Mayor of New Orleans and he is a Democrat (no, not some evil Republican). However, what happens, when the Federal {Republican-controlled) Government takes control, British Nationals are evacuated.
Does this mean that Democrats discriminate and Repubicans don't? Actually, I don't believe the story in the first place. What I think is the more likely situation is that the New Orleans Police Department decided that tourists have the means & money to leave themselves whereas some of the poor locals didn't (a poor assumption to make).
-Dinkas
P.S I am not watching the Australian TV News at the moment. Friday was the last straw, they had one of the Australian TV crews interviewing some stupid Australian tourist who was complaining the Australian government wasn't do enough to evacuate her. Then, I was reading the ABC website and the idiot arrived the night before the hurricaine - which was after the evacuation order had been given - fuck I was aware the day before this from watching TV that New Orleans was being evacuated. What kind of idiot would travel to a city when everyone else is leaving? Unfortunately, I can't find the link to the article.
Here is another example of what I am talking about though,
"The 22-year-old, of Castlereagh in Sydney, last contacted her family on Tuesday from New Orleans after arriving in the city by train in the aftermath of the hurricane."
Now, what are her family doing? Whining on TV all the time that the Australian government isn't doing enough.
You do realise that the New Orleans Police Department is run by the City of New Orleans. It is nothing to do with the US Federal Government or Bush, although don't let that stop you bringing Iraq into your argument.
Now, who runs the City of New Orleans? That would of course be the Mayor of New Orleans and he is a Democrat (no, not some evil Republican). However, what happens, when the Federal {Republican-controlled) Government takes control, British Nationals are evacuated.
Does this mean that Democrats discriminate and Repubicans don't? Actually, I don't believe the story in the first place. What I think is the more likely situation is that the New Orleans Police Department decided that tourists have the means & money to leave themselves whereas some of the poor locals didn't (a poor assumption to make).
-Dinkas
P.S I am not watching the Australian TV News at the moment. Friday was the last straw, they had one of the Australian TV crews interviewing some stupid Australian tourist who was complaining the Australian government wasn't do enough to evacuate her. Then, I was reading the ABC website and the idiot arrived the night before the hurricaine - which was after the evacuation order had been given - fuck I was aware the day before this from watching TV that New Orleans was being evacuated. What kind of idiot would travel to a city when everyone else is leaving? Unfortunately, I can't find the link to the article.
Here is another example of what I am talking about though,
"The 22-year-old, of Castlereagh in Sydney, last contacted her family on Tuesday from New Orleans after arriving in the city by train in the aftermath of the hurricane."
Now, what are her family doing? Whining on TV all the time that the Australian government isn't doing enough.
# posted by 
: 4 September 2005 at 21:39
: 4 September 2005 at 21:39
Dinkas - some fair points you make there, although the "special relationship" isn't supposed to exist merely at the Federal levels I would have thought.
On the issue of who to prioritize, your Ozi tourist can be low down the list, but at this point I would guess whether or not someone has money is fairly irrelevant. Money being a means of exchange, and there is nothing to exchange it for in New Orleans at the moment. In any case, citizenship is a very crude indicator of "need" at this point, as I think you suggest.
If the story is true (and note I did say if), I think it may be indicative of a broader trend in the US.
On the issue of who to prioritize, your Ozi tourist can be low down the list, but at this point I would guess whether or not someone has money is fairly irrelevant. Money being a means of exchange, and there is nothing to exchange it for in New Orleans at the moment. In any case, citizenship is a very crude indicator of "need" at this point, as I think you suggest.
If the story is true (and note I did say if), I think it may be indicative of a broader trend in the US.
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