[Chiledog]

As with all of us, the news of the suffering has me deeply grieved. The news of the crime in the midst of such a terrible disaster (apart from stealing food and water) has me scratching my head in unbeilief and boiling with indignation. But the whole situation also brings up a big question for me, and that is, couldn't 90% of this problem, at least the suffering by those who are still stuck in the city, been avoided?

I read all the way down here in Chile that there was concern that the levees would break, and that was before the hurricane arrived. I read that this has been a concern for years in New Orleans, that one direct hit by a huricane and they were probably going to fail. Is it the fed govenment's fault that it occurred? Is it the city's fault that it occurred? Everyone is involved at this point is finger-pointing to place the blame elsewhere (typical politics). Let's face it, a lot of leaders, elected and given the responsibility to avoid the types of problems that we now see going on, just dropped the ball. The possibility of a hurricane hitting New Orleans has always been there. Noone wanted to do anything to prepare for it.

One other thing that really has me scratching my head: The governor of the State ordered mandatory evacuation of the city! To me, that means everyone out except those who are physically unable to get out and those who need to remain to help the physically unable. Why the heck are so many people still in the city? Could it be that if everyone capable of obeying this order had done so, much of the chaos we now see in the city could have been avoided?

Maybe I'm out in left field, but I just don't get it.

-