In the Wake of Katrina, Part III
An Unnatural Disaster: A Hurricane Exposes the Man-Made Disaster of the Welfare State
An Objectivist Review by Robert Tracinski | The Intellectual Activist
Read the rest of this entry »
8 Comments »
This is “Progress”
Europe, long lauded as more progressive than the US, struts its compassion with laws like this “sunshine directive.”
Of course it would be more funny if the US were not headed down the same path.
In other news, I get to register for classes at the UW today. I have yet to report on the business trip – expect that in the near future – and there is much interesting news on Katrina, including the forced evacuation of people for their own good. It just keeps getting better down there.
Do Your Part
I am a strong believer that the federal government really shouldn’t be spending $27 billion to fix up Florida and $10.5 billion to fix up the Gulf States after hurricanes. Through various types of insurance, the private sector provides a system for providing money after a disaster that places the payment burden on those that take the risk. People that chose to live in the dangerous areas should pay the insurance premiums, not those that chose to live in places where disasters are less likely to occur.
On the other hand, the scope of suffering in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana truly is unprecedented in this country and in this age. Although I’m disturbed by the complete sense of victimization and seeming inability of these people to help themselves, I don’t I don’t believe they should be forced to fend for themselves. I encourage anyone who has the means to make a donation with to the Red Cross Hurricane relief fund by clicking the image above.
In the Wake of Katrina, Part II
How’s this for a dumb place to put a city in the first place:
Thanks to Science Museum of Minnesota for this image
And the result…
Amid the sympathy, however, there was criticism.
Experts in the Netherlands expressed surprise that New Orleans’ flood systems failed to restrain the waters.
With half of the country’s population of 16 million living below sea level, the Netherlands prepared for a “perfect storm” soon after floods in 1953 killed 2,000 people. The nation installed massive hydraulic sea walls.
“I don’t want to sound overly critical, but it’s hard to imagine that [the damage caused by Katrina] could happen in a Western country,” said Ted Sluijter, spokesman for the park where the sea walls are exhibited.
— Seattle Times, September 1, 2005
In the Wake of Katrina
The Hurricane known as Katrina exposed the weaknesses of a city below sea level as well as the weaknesses of a society largely free of a moral compass. Just as the flooding, though horrific, was inevitable, without morality, a good society without a good economy seems to be an impossibility. I recall clearly a night at BYU in the basement of Deseret Towers’ W Hall having to stare down those who would have wantonly stolen from a distressed vending machine until the repairman arrived. In New Orleans, it is worse, with gangs looting everything from basic supplies to flat-screen TVs. The destruction is agonizing even if inevitable, and the desolation of civilization is distressing, though perhaps it should have been expected. With government assistance already fueling so much dependency, should anyone really expect a response other than “when is the help coming?”
The Tsunami
On a much more somber note, how about that tsunami? If you aren’t too squeamish, check out these videos. Its looking like the death toll will reach 100,000… Despite all mankind has done, we are still so insignificant compared to the forces that surround us… the power of the earthis truly astounding when it decides to show up.UPDATE: Death toll now exceeds 114,000. Yikes.