How Much of an Obligation should we have to the Stupid?

Published on September 3, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

I have a memory that lasts longer than the past week.

And I can recall that Hurricane Katrina had scarcely passed the tip of Florida and made her turn to the north before the New Orleans mayor ORDERED everyone out of New Orleans.

Now, I admit to being a little less than thrilled with the concept of "mandatory evacuations", but that's the point for another article, not this one. The fact is, the residents of New Orleans had ample warning to get their heinies out of the city.

Some may have been unable to make the move. The city set up shelter at the Superdome for many of those individuals, yet many STILL chose to stay in their homes.

And yet, every night, I see helicopters flying from rooftop to rooftop of homes in which residents have been trapped in the attic or have climbed out on the rooftop and thus imperiled themselves further as they are fully at the mercy of the elements. The resources of helicopters, which could well be used to distribute aid to shelters desperately in need of supplies, are being appropriated for single person rescues because of the value we as a society place on human life. While such value is noble, it seems it would be in our best interests to consider the needs of the many over the needs of the few (damn, I hate quoting Spock in an article!).

The fact is, far too many of these people that we are spending valuable time anbd resources in saving are there because of their own stupidity. Maybe it's my naivete, but I'd figure anyone able bodied enough to climb up into their attic and onto their rooftop is able bodied enough to get their butt down to emergency shelter or, better yet, out of town. The TRUE tragic losses, those of the handicapped and elderly, won't even begin to be discovered until the flooding is brought under control.

I can't say what the answer is, but I have a lot of disgust for those selfish individuals who thought only of themselves and are consuming a disproportionate share of our time and/or resources because of their own foolishness. They should be eternally grateful that our government doesn't base its decisions on who to help on the intelligence of one's actions.

Comments (Page 1)

COL Gene

on Sep 03, 2005

The fact that some did not evacuate the city does not change the fact they lost their homes. We lost a major port and the area needs to be rebuilt. If 100% of the people had gotten out, we would still be faced with a similar rebuilding effort. What would have been saved is many lives.

Island Dog

on Sep 03, 2005

Col and his "we" bs again. Col what exactly did you lose in this disaster?

COL Gene

on Sep 03, 2005

I lost nothing but I want our country to help thoes that did lose most, if not, everything they had. I also want us to rebuild the ports that are essential to the economy of this country. That will take money that simply does not exist given the current tax rates and the budget deficit. We can not affort the Bush tax cuts!!!!! There was never any surplus that was the reason Bush gave for passing the cuts in the first place. His $5.7 Trillion Projected surplus NEVER existed!

Island Dog

on Sep 03, 2005

Then col will you send at least 80% of your income to the government?

Professor Tournesol

on Sep 03, 2005

Then col will you send at least 80% of your income to the government?

Do you really not see these people as a part of your community? if you do what obligation do you have to each other? What does community mean?

dabe

on Sep 04, 2005

From what I'm hearing there were certainly some stupid and arrogant people who refused to leave their homes. But, there were a host of reasons, some quite legitimate, in my opinion. First of all, many of those people endured Hurricane Camille, and thought well, we endured that one, so we can endure this one. It was a wrong decision, in hindsight, and they are well aware of that, if they survived. Others were warned that if they left, they'd lose jobs and/or housing. These are dirt poor people who were more afraid of the reality of losing jobs and homes, rather than the posibility of losing lives. Finally, there were those who were basically infirm, shut-ins. Calling them stupid is rather harsh. In a city like NYC, I'd bet there are thousands of shut-ins who would not make it out.

It's easy to sit back and pass judgment when we really don't know the circumstances. And generalizing them all as stupid is really not very smart.

kingbee

on Sep 04, 2005

although i know you didn't intend it as such, that statement is equally accurate and appropriate if applied to the executive and legislators who provided only 1/3 to 1/5 of the hurricane protection funding for new orleans requested by the us army corps of engineers from 2001 thru 2005.

for that matter, your title could as easily apply to anyone who voted for those who cut the requested funding.

Island Dog

on Sep 04, 2005

Increasing the funding for New Orleans would not have stopped what happened. The Army Corp of Engineers has already stated that.

kingbee

on Sep 04, 2005

I agree. And as far as claiming that all these 'poor' people simply couldn't get out--why do I see thousands of cars lining some of these streets?

i dunno how much time you've spent there, but i'm inclined to believe the new orleans times-picayune has a better feel for its city. three years ago, the paper envisioned the consequences of just such a catastrophic flood (for which they were criticized for being alarmists). here's how they saw it then:

"Once it's certain a major storm is about to hit, evacuation offers the best chance for survival. But for those who wait, getting out will become nearly impossible as the few routes out of town grow hopelessly clogged. And 100,000 people without transportation will be especially threatened."

25% of the households in the lower 9th have annual incomes of $10k or less. a used kia sells for about that don't it?

Island Dog

on Sep 04, 2005

And 100,000 people without transportation will be especially threatened."

Island Dog

on Sep 04, 2005

Which Nagin failed to do, of course, letting all those buses just sit there. Seems to me he was thinking Pres Bush and the FEMA folks were being "alarmists."

And yet they still continue to blame Bush.

bakerstreet

on Sep 04, 2005

"Idiot people elect idiot mayors."

And then make Jesse Jacksons out of them when they later, long after their negligence, rant at a press conference for people to help.

Ionolast

on Sep 04, 2005

Increasing the funding for New Orleans would not have stopped what happened. The Army Corp of Engineers has already stated that.

Your naivete and blind allegiance are astounding. Any military person would lie to save his Commander-in-Chief's ass.

Grammar correction.

Island Dog

on Sep 04, 2005

Your naivete and blind allegiance is astounding. Any military person would lie to save his Commander-in-Chief's ass.

So you are saying this person is lying? Do you have proof to back that up?

Ionolast

on Sep 04, 2005

So you are saying this person is lying? Do you have proof to back that up?

Can you prove he isn't?

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