[independentmind]

Do you have any idea of how much money FEMA/Homeland Security has funneled to local and state governments around the country since 911 specifically for the purpose of emergency preparedness? It is inconceivable to me that more planning wasn't done in New Orleans. Someone made the decision that the underclass was expendable.

[Swanks]

much money FEMA/Homeland Security has funneled to local and state governments around the country

That money is for Gov't jobs, benefits and Democrat votes. Not for preparedness and citizen help. They can't even get basic thingsa highway artery roots, right. You saw the pix: 12 lanes of highway. 11 wide open, and 1...a parking lot. Oh, and from other posts here, all the criminals are out of harm's way, judging from the empty prisoner busses returning south.

[kingu]

Someone made the decision that the underclass was expendable.

The issue is that the underclass has rights. Every mayor has been frustrated that their planning sessions are legal consultations, where lawyers are telling the politicians what is legal and what is not legal. Many parishes couldn't declare mandatory evacuations because of possible court challenges.

The legal framework is broken and needs to be fixed. Lives will be lost because some person looking out for civil liberties has tied the hands of officials. And of course, once this is all done with, those lawyers will also come in and sue cities and parishes for not doing enough.

I'm praying for this beast to swing dramatically east.

[mvpel]

Someone made the decision that the underclass was expendable.

Leftists have always felt that way about people they see as "lower" than them - just look at the DDT ban, which led to the death of 50 million Africans from malaria.