Simply put, FEMA sucks!!

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

FEMA was and still is an antiquated system. While it's true Bush did appoint Brown, I don't think the blame starts or ends with either of them. All of the previous administrations have to share some of the blame by ignoring the glaring red flags that existed all along.

It just so happen, unfortunately, that Katrina actually exposed the weaknesses in an already flawed and poorly run system.

Exactly. And matty is right too. Our Gov just sucks. It works wrongly and those who can do anything about it have no motiation or not enough support. It is our fault the governemt works so poorly. Democrats and republicans suck. It is time for the two part system to end totally in my opinion.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Exactly. And matty is right too. Our Gov just sucks. It works wrongly and those who can do anything about it have no motiation or not enough support. It is our fault the governemt works so poorly. Democrats and republicans suck. It is time for the two part system to end totally in my opinion.

I think in part, and this is just my theory and speculation, the problem with this and many government agencies is that they are run with a "crisis management" mindset. Take for instance Homeland Security.
How many shakeups have we seen within this organization? Truthfully, the average joe didn't even know this agency existed until 911, but it did.
And look at how much heat they took in the aftermath. But I digress....

Our dollars are put where our collective priorities are, as a country we put emphasis on enterprises that are, well, profitable. Doesn't in anyway shape or form absolve Bush and his administration for what happened in New Orleans, but we can't lay everything at their feet either. I think it's part government and part culuture that has been perpetuated over the years. Social security is another example.

I think it's a case of taking the bitter with the sweet.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I think in part, and this is just my theory and speculation, the problem with this and many government agencies is that they are run with a "crisis management" mindset. Take for instance Homeland Security.
How many shakeups have we seen within this organization? Truthfully, the average joe didn't even know this agency existed until 911, but it did.
And look at how much heat they took in the aftermath. But I digress....

Our dollars are put where our collective priorities are, as a country we put emphasis on enterprises that are, well, profitable. Doesn't in anyway shape or form absolve Bush and his administration for what happened in New Orleans, but we can't lay everything at their feet either. I think it's part government and part culuture that has been perpetuated over the years. Social security is another example.

I think it's a case of taking the bitter with the sweet.

Homeland Security was a result of 9/11 and was developed after 9/11.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Homeland Security was a result of 9/11 and was developed after 9/11.

Yeah the dept was made post 9/11. The agencies within though were all pre-exisiting though. There was no Homeland Security agency or dept before. I am sure that is totally Bush's fault.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Yeah the dept was made post 9/11. The agencies within though were all pre-exisiting though. There was no Homeland Security agency or dept before. I am sure that is Bush's fault for sure.

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, they pretty much took an alrady existing agency and put Tom Ridges' face on it and called it Homeland Security.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, they pretty much took an alrady existing agency and put Tom Ridges' face on it and called it Homeland Security.

Actually, the DHS provided an organizational link between all of the agencies which got rid of the wall that Jamie Gorelick put up between the agencies in the Clinton years that prevented the agencies from sharing information. If they had been working together BEFORE 09-11, we could've prevented it by piecing all of their data together.

The DHS is a great thing, and very necessary. Notice how many terrorism plots we've foiled since 09-11...a LOT of them, most unreported by the media.

L.A. Airport for one, would've been blown to smitherines.

Yep, Bush's fault.

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by Buster

The DHS is a great thing, and very necessary. Notice how many terrorism plots we've foiled since 09-11...a LOT of them, most unreported by the media.

L.A. Airport for one, would've been blown to smitherines.

Yep, Bush's fault.

Amazing how real [good] news doesn't get aired, isn't it?

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, they pretty much took an alrady existing agency and put Tom Ridges' face on it and called it Homeland Security.

They took 22 different agencies and tried to have them coordinate efforts. Anyone who has ever been part of a corporate merger or departmental meger knows how well something like that goes. A bunch of independent agencies(in this case) trying to work together is bound to be a disaster. Especially when the agencies themselves(FEMA is the best example) barely function on their own.

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Yeah the dept was made post 9/11. The agencies within though were all pre-exisiting though. There was no Homeland Security agency or dept before. I am sure that is totally Bush's fault.

Actually, the pieces that now make up DHS were formed from chunks of 22 other government agencies. They weren't operating on their own.