Emergency Planning
We are lucky in the British Isles; so far. We have not been struck by major disasters, natural or man-made. The lessons of the Irish bombings were absorbed, and so the emergency services reacted well to the recent spate of terror strikes in London. Our nuclear power stations remain stable, bird flu has not yet struck us all down, nor has another group managed to pollute our water supplies, or release noxious substances into the air.We also have an experienced team of emergency planners, who continuously try to anticipate problems, and plan solutions.
In New Orleans the American Dream has collapsed.
The stark truth of a capitalist system based solely upon individual gain has been realised.
The rich are nowhere to be seen. They all escaped, and have gone to stay with relatives or friends or to live in another of their homes.
The poor, and in America that seems to equate with being black, are left behind. The insular nature of the American psyche is revealed. The National Guard are in place, not to help but to prevent looting. That seems illogical. Let these poor people loot whatever they want. Most of it will be worthless; damaged by water. What remains may help to sustain these wretched people.
Imagine being in that situation, with young children. You would seek food, water, shelter. The basic necessities of life would become extremely important, vital to your very existence.
America's emergency planning seems non-existent, or at best poorly planned. The rest of the world – and that means you – will now have to pay for at least one stupid planning blunder. America has stocks of crude oil, but no stock of refined oil products. There's no petrol (gasoline) in store, so America has rushed over to Europe, and is buying our reserves. In turn our prices will be forced up. American citizens will continue to pay low prices for petrol, and we will be forced to pay far more.
Those southern states need help. They need the thousands of troops presently creating tension in Iraq to come back home. These soldiers should be there, their trucks filled with provisions, clothing, tents. With a group of soldiers on every corner, intent on helping and assisting their fellow citizens there would be no need for looting, and the armed gangs now taking over parts of New Orleans would be effectively silenced.
America tries to live like a Hollywood movie. It's time it grew up, realised it has real problems in its homeland, and stopped trying to police – and that means exploit – the rest of the world.
We know how to look after our own.
America clearly does not.
posted by Suffolk Notes @ 7:41 am
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