I'm going to be guilty of over-simplification I'm sure... but I would say most of them were not fortunate to have been born into the opportunities I've had (you can read that as middle-class white). To a certain degree people make their own path, but you've got to be dealt a hand to play.Rambozo wrote:Why are they so poor? Honest question.the2bears wrote:New Orleans has a large black population, and the unfortunate reality is that a lot of them are very poor.
So it's White America's fault? I'm just trying to understand, mind you.the2bears wrote:I'm going to be guilty of over-simplification I'm sure... but I would say most of them were not fortunate to have been born into the opportunities I've had (you can read that as middle-class white). To a certain degree people make their own path, but you've got to be dealt a hand to play.Rambozo wrote:Why are they so poor? Honest question.the2bears wrote:New Orleans has a large black population, and the unfortunate reality is that a lot of them are very poor.
Bill
Some of the areas like Biloxi in Mississipi received an economic boom in the 90'sRambozo wrote: Why are they so poor? Honest question.
No. Where did you draw that question from?Rambozo wrote:So it's White America's fault? I'm just trying to understand, mind you.the2bears wrote:I'm going to be guilty of over-simplification I'm sure... but I would say most of them were not fortunate to have been born into the opportunities I've had (you can read that as middle-class white). To a certain degree people make their own path, but you've got to be dealt a hand to play.Rambozo wrote:Why are they so poor? Honest question.the2bears wrote:New Orleans has a large black population, and the unfortunate reality is that a lot of them are very poor.
Bill
You said it was the misfortune of not being born privileged. I assume you were implying that those born white have an advantage over those born black, and that is the reason for the unbalanced white-to-black poverty ratio.the2bears wrote:[No. Where did you draw that question from?
Bill
Fuck me! I agree with Matrix!Matrix wrote:Dude, ive been to Liverpool, and believe me, Liverpool under 20ft of water would be a hell of an improvement - plus it would get a long needed wash
The Netherlands is not the only place below sea level, take a look at the fens (where I'm originally from). About 15 miles from where I was born is "Ramsey Forty Foot", which is, yes, forty feet below sea level. That's about 13m for those in euro-land.Matrix wrote:Netherlands, under sea level too Cripes.... and you're a lot closer to the ice caps too...... not good. Bonkers is relative really, I have serious concerns for people who chose to live below sea level - it's not like theres a lack of "above" sea level land is it ?
Three days ago, police and national guard troops told citizens to head toward the Crescent City Connection Bridge to await transportation out of the area. The citizens trekked over to the Convention Center and waited for the buses which they were told would take them to Houston or Alabama or somewhere else, out of this area.
It's been 3 days, and the buses have yet to appear.
Although obviously he has no exact count, he estimates more than 10,000 people are packed into and around and outside the convention center still waiting for the buses. They had no food, no water, and no medicine for the last three days, until today, when the National Guard drove over the bridge above them, and tossed out supplies over the side crashing down to the ground below. Much of the supplies were destroyed from the drop. Many people tried to catch the supplies to protect them before they hit the ground. Some offered to walk all the way around up the bridge and bring the supplies down, but any attempt to approach the police or national guard resulted in weapons being aimed at them.
There are many infants and elderly people among them, as well as many people who were injured jumping out of windows to escape flood water and the like -- all of them in dire straights.
Any attempt to flag down police results in being told to get away at gunpoint. Hour after hour they watch buses pass by filled with people from other areas. Tensions are very high, and there has been at least one murder and several fights. 8 or 9 dead people have been stored in a freezer in the area, and 2 of these dead people are kids.
The people are so desperate that they're doing anything they can think of to impress the authorities enough to bring some buses. These things include standing in single file lines with the eldery in front, women and children next; sweeping up the area and cleaning the windows and anything else that would show the people are not barbarians.
The buses never stop.
Before the supplies were pitched off the bridge today, people had to break into buildings in the area to try to find food and water for their families. There was not enough. This spurred many families to break into cars to try to escape the city. There was no police response to the auto thefts until the mob reached the rich area -- Saulet Condos -- once they tried to get cars from there... well then the whole swat teams began showing up with rifles pointed. Snipers got on the roof and told people to get back.
He reports that the conditions are horrendous. Heat, mosquitoes and utter misery. The smell, he says, is "horrific."
He says it's the slowest mandatory evacuation ever, and he wants to know why they were told to go to the Convention Center area in the first place; furthermore, he reports that many of them with cell phones have contacts willing to come rescue them, but people are not being allowed through to pick them up
Not about me implying any racism.Rambozo wrote:You said it was the misfortune of not being born privileged. I assume you were implying that those born white have an advantage over those born black, and that is the reason for the unbalanced white-to-black poverty ratio.the2bears wrote:[No. Where did you draw that question from?
Bill
You seemed to be saying that it was racism on the part of white Americans that was to blame for the high numbers of poor black people.
Am I correct?
That's because the only thing Americans really know how to do to any kind of crisis is shoot at it. If that doesn't work they're pretty much fucked.HGFB wrote:For the richest country in the world they sure as hell don't have a fucking clue how to deal with a disaster
I really can't believe that its so long after it happened now and there are still people dying in the streets, when the country is so huge and has so many resources. It beggars believe. I have been horrified seeing the pics of babies screaming for water and food. The place should be bulldozed and they should rebuild a New New Orleans somewhere safer.Rev. Stuart Campbell wrote:That's because the only thing Americans really know how to do to any kind of crisis is shoot at it. If that doesn't work they're pretty much fucked.HGFB wrote:For the richest country in the world they sure as hell don't have a fucking clue how to deal with a disaster
..Rhythm wrote:This is weird. Check the synopsis for this programme that aired in June on FX in the States:
Clicky
Depends where you live and what happens.Matrix wrote:Neatherlands, under sea level tooCripes.... and you're a lot closer to the ice caps too...... not good. Bonkers is relative really, I have serious concerns for people who chose to live below sea level - it's not like theres a lack of "above" sea level land is it ?
