The Class Nature of Disaster Response

[IMPress Polly]

I know that many of the more progressive-minded people out there have focused their energies on discussing issues of global warming and Mr. Romney's previous proposals to privatize the Federal Emergency Relief Agency. While those are certainly pertinent topics at a time like this, I'd like to address another topic related to the recent super storm that even progressive-minded people broadly seem to be ignoring: how wealth affects the response you get.

This was definitely one of the better reports I've seen this week. Beginning at about the 4:55 mark, it highlights a story that our media more broadly is ignoring and will quickly bury: the remarkably different speeds at which different social classes are getting disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Wealthier, more affluent communities get their power and transportation and so forth back almost immediately. Working class communities, by contrast, get to...keep finding bodies.

President Obama's FEMA may be quite a bit more efficient at responding to these sorts of disasters than the former president's was, but his priorities remain fundamentally the same: the rich come first, the poor last.

[Larry Dickman]

At all times those most in need should be aided first, but all things being equal (disaster-wise) those who pay the most taxes should be aided first.

Polly, not to always appear to you as one who thinks he is wiser, but I must offer, you have learned from this aspect of the story one of the salient truths of life in regards to people in power, that being- power is a corrupting influence that many seek in order to control others, fill their pockets with cash, and separate themselves from "the rabble". The reason the people with money get help first is because they wield influence, and this is something most socialist-minded people fail to grasp. It's human nature, which is why many of us will say that socialist ideals (although often quite noble) have not nor will they ever work in any way, except on extremely small micro scale, like an individual family or small community.

Even people who you think care about the plight of others, most often have other motives behind their actions. No one on earth does anything without thinking of themselves first, but some of us will admit that while others will wear the Red badge of altruism while they only want to control, or to get their jollies playing hero with other people's money.

[Carygrant]

Good Topic .
I suspect that your assumed concern applies , but in the real world it is inevitable , imo , and most times it is reasonable and pragmatic .
Of course there will be exceptions which will muddy the broad principle but cruelly they will be quickly forgotten .

[IGetItAlready]

I know that many of the more progressive-minded people out there have focused their energies on discussing issues of global warming and Mr. Romney's previous proposals to privatize the Federal Emergency Relief Agency. While those are certainly pertinent topics at a time like this, I'd like to address another topic related to the recent super storm that even progressive-minded people broadly seem to be ignoring: how wealth affects the response you get.

This was definitely one of the better reports I've seen this week. Beginning at about the 4:55 mark, it highlights a story that our media more broadly is ignoring and will quickly bury: the remarkably different speeds at which different social classes are getting disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Wealthier, more affluent communities get their power and transportation and so forth back almost immediately. Working class communities, by contrast, get to...keep finding bodies.

President Obama's FEMA may be quite a bit more efficient at responding to these sorts of disasters than the former president's was, but his priorities remain fundamentally the same: the rich come first, the poor last.

How so and what "magic juice" has Obama sprinkled over FEMA in order to achieve these superior results?

[KC]

At all times those most in need should be aided first, but all things being equal (disaster-wise) those who pay the most taxes should be aided first.

Polly, not to always appear to you as one who thinks he is wiser, but I must offer, you have learned from this aspect of the story one of the salient truths of life in regards to people in power, that being- power is a corrupting influence that many seek in order to control others, fill their pockets with cash, and separate themselves from "the rabble". The reason the people with money get help first is because they wield influence, and this is something most socialist-minded people fail to grasp. It's human nature, which is why many of us will say that socialist ideals (although often quite noble) have not nor will they ever work in any way, except on extremely small micro scale, like an individual family or small community.

Even people who you think care about the plight of others, most often have other motives behind their actions. No one on earth does anything without thinking of themselves first, but some of us will admit that while others will wear the Red badge of altruism while they only want to control, or to get their jollies playing hero with other people's money.

Whenever you read the words and hear the stories of people who experienced socialist movements this is largely what you find. People tend to dislike politics, but in much of eastern Europe's socialist experiments, politics mattered more than productivity, skill or intelligence.

[Calypso Jones]

November 2, 2012 and neither FEMA nor Red Cross have shown up in Coney Island. Those people are on their own. Where's the promised response Of our messiah in contrast to the alleged poor response time of the Bush administration. How much did we send to New Orleans the chocolate city? And how much has gone to NYC the 1% vanilla bean city? significantly less.

Do you know how New Yorkers behave to their neighbors. Well. It's not good. Some people in more isolated neighborhoods have the old folks barricading themselves in their apartments/homes hoping to keep out the 'wolf packs'. Who's checking on these people. So far. no one. Where is FEMA? Where is the Red Cross?

How's Staten Island doing now? Where's emergency response teams? You got New Yorkers dumpster diving. You have newly homeless people living in shelters, hotel lobbies, anywhere. And what are hotel lobbies doing to these newly homeless people? They're throwing them out because the NYC Marathon is going to be run this weekend come hell or high water. Well the high water was the first of the week. Here comes hell.

[Calypso Jones]

New Yorkers. This is part of what you've brought on yourselves. You elect people like Bloomberg who has spent his time banning your salt, fat, soft drinks, etc. and he's ignored your flood emergency response or setting up anti-flood barricades, locks, anything. Now you see what has been left out. Nanny Bloomberg, while you were living thru one of the worst storms of the century, was preparing an editorial on Support of BroncoBama. Something seems amiss here. What do you think?

[Mainecoons]

Not to mention he's concerned with running a foot race on Sunday.

When you elect progressives, this is what you get. Enjoy the ride New York.

[truthmatters]

How is this "footrace" going to harm any of the recovery?

[Calypso Jones]

How is this "footrace" going to harm any of the recovery?

oh bring it on. That's no doubt Bloomberg's attitude also. There are New yorkers without food, power, many with no homes and some with dead and/or lost family members. HELL. LET"S HAVE A PARTY AFTER THE FOOTRACE.


I hear, that the tables for water are being set up very near the site where the two year old and 4 years old's body's were found. They were the toddlers who were swept out of their mother's arms as she was trying to evacuate the area.