A Response From My Father-in-law

I want to share an email message that I received from my father-in-law in response to an article that I sent him from Truthout.org. The article was http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/090305Y.shtml.

--Email begins--
It's tough.  One really has to feel for the folks who for whatever reason remained in New Orleans.  The bulk were old, infirm, hospitalized or poor; a few were foolish.  None should be sentenced to what they got.  It's very discouraging when the product doesn't match the promise; better to make no promise at all, whether it be disaster preparedness or preparations for war.  An old college buddy (probably the closest person I have to a brother) expressed the same concerns about this storm.  I've attached his note along with my reply to him below.  It reflects my level of frustration:

"Right on, *friend’s name*!  From my own past experience with disasters, a response of 4 to 5 days is the industry standard...for Russia, for Armenia and for Indonesia.  And throughout the world, even back to the Titanic, how well you fare is directly related to your socio-economic status, not your race.
In the Titanic, for example, the death rate amongst the 3rd class passengers was a multiple of that of the first class passengers.  We haven't changed much, it appears.  It is also clear from previous experience that how a population does during that inevitable 5 day wait is totally dependent on local resources and the ability of people to help themselves and the others around them.

It was also known at all levels of government, years BEFORE the hurricane, in New Orleans there would be about 125,000 people who COULD not evacuate for reasons of infirmity or poverty.  Nothing was in the "plan" for them!
The discouraging thing is that all of the "disaster planning" proved to be a scam...a waste of millions of tax dollars.  We have done no better with planning and ample warning than the third world has done with no resources and no warning.  Our societal priorities are also clear; we focus on those who can best help themselves while turning our backs or giving low priority to those known to be the most vulnerable.

But you're absolutely correct.  The response represents a total failure of government at the local, state and national level!  But, please remember, this failure has been brought to you by the same administration that did the planning for the Iraq invasion.  Furthermore, they were as surprised and helpless to stop looting in Baghdad as they are in New Orleans.  So, how could we have expected more?

Those who voted for this administration should fall down on their knees and pray for forgiveness!  Those who didn't vote at all should rot in Hades, in a long gas line, strapped in an SUV that gets 5 mpg!!

End of lecture #2!”
--Email ends—

My father-in-law is obviously a man of intellect and great conviction. He is a world renowned Pediatric Nephrologist with many accolades bestowed upon him. The title he wears most proudly, however, is “PePa,” the nickname given him by his grandchildren.