Why Have Military Bases Not Been Considered To House NOLA Evacuees?

[DistressedAmerican]

They seem just perfect to me. They have beds, plenty of toilets and mess halls.

We are getting ready to close a bunch of them. Why not relocate folks to military bases for a while? Keep them open as refugee centers. Beats the hell out of the Superdome.

Many have airfields already so we could fly people right in.

Seems quite logical to me.

[wakeme2008]

1. KBR could feed them and Cheney make some money

and a lot of beds at empty with the troops over there.

[SlipperySlope]

2. Bases close to NOLA are just as messed up by Katrina

[DistressedAmerican]

4. Take Them Further Away...

[rodeodance]

3. a couple of military bases along the cost got lots of damage themselves

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Texas and Other Areas Are Just Fine. We Are Talking About Huge Numbers

They would have to be spread out at many different bases.

[Qanisqineq]

6. if you are talking about military bases that are still open

... then I don't know of any that have enough housing for the soldiers stationed there much less more people.

[ugarte]

7. We're talking Rumsfeld and poor black people here

"Not in my neighborhood."

[theHandpuppet]

13. Bingo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you really think if these were upper class white folk they would be shuffled from one corral to another, herded and guarded by soldiers?

TPTB are AFRAID of these folks, the poor and black in our society. They must be contained like wild animals so as not to frighten the god-fearing folks of Amerika.

I can't believe some folks can't see this -- it's really as transparent as cellophane. Wake up, people!!!!!!!

[DURHAM D]

8. Don't we have some empty bases in Arkansas that

previously handled all the Cuban refugees ? Surely those have been emptied out by now.

[Chef]

9. Ft. Plok

Ft. Polk LA is 120 miles NW of NO and not likely to be damaged much. This would be an ideal use.

[dejaboutique]

10. anything is better than another Dome

how demoralizing for these people. Are they just livestock being shipped to another stockyard. Give them dignity with real beds not stadium seats!

[GOPisEvil]

16. Did you stop to think that the Astrodome has a floor?

A floor that can hold beds.

This is TEMPORARY SHELTER until a more permanent solution can be devised. We have to get these people OUT of New Orleans.

[dejaboutique]

18. no, I did not

I did not think that domes have floors. I thought that sporting events were played in the rafters. I would REFUSE to go to another dome whether it had floors or not. Im sure the people in the current dome dont want to either.

[GOPisEvil]

21. It's temporary shelter.

Do you have a better option? I'm listening. The plan is for the evacuees to be in one place then be sentto more permanent locations as they become available.

Good lord...

[DistressedAmerican]

23. Military Bases. That Is the Better Option.

Remember the point of the whole thread.

These stadiums were not built for people to live in them. Military bases are.

Simple.

[GOPisEvil]

24. Yes, but it takes time to set things up.

New Orleans has to be evacuated NOW. There isn't time. Get the people OUT of New Orleans, THEN place them in more permanent housing.

[DistressedAmerican]

27. Fine. Permenant Housing On The Bases. Frankly I Was Thinking

long term anyway.

Others got off on the dome to dome discussion. That is a distraction. What needs be done on the short term needs to be done.

I am really interested in what we do with these people for the coming months.

[GOPisEvil]

30. Ah, ok. Long-term, I agree.

Let's get these people housing. Not a shelter.

[GOPisEvil]

11. Keep in mind that the Astrodome is a "staging area".

Perhaps military installations will be a more permanent setting once the initial evacuation from NO is complete.

[Telly Savalas]

15. Why let that little consideration get in the way of some good whining

[faithfulcitizen]

20. amen to that

[DURHAM D]

12. If they send all of those young people from NO to a military

base won't that be a real opportunity for recruiters - a bird's nest on the ground ? So, on second thought, lets not send anyone to a military base that is under 50.

[theboss]

14. I don't think military bases are as big as you think they are

Any evacuees will just end up living in tents somewhere.

[TrueAmerican]

17. Barksdale aFB has a whole lot of land

and it's in Lousiana.

[faithfulcitizen]

19. do you mean outside? I'd take a dome w/ AC anyday nt

[theboss]

22. So, you'd prefer a tent in a swamp to a giant arena?

The Astrodome is not under water, has electricity, and air conditiong. It's s perfect staging area.

[DistressedAmerican]

25. There is Nothing I Am Saying That Has Anything To Do With Tents In Swamps.

Even if in tnets, they would clearly not be in the swamp. I'd take a tent on a dry base where I could establish myself a bit over another temporary stay in another dome.

There are bases all over the country. These folks are going to need homes for a long time. Many have available buildings.

If the Astrodome and others are temporary, are they going to end up on a base in the end anyway?

Why are folks so snarky about this issue? I was just asking and folks are replying like I am a fucking idiot for even suggesting the possibility.

WTF?

[MildyRules]

28. You are right and it's going to happen

Tent cities will be established on some military bases to take care of those folks. Watch.

[dejaboutique]

31. to ALL those with their PANTIES in a BUNCH....

I agree Distressed American, I posted on this and people asked me if I planned on moving people out of the current hotels and putting in the people from the dome and making others homeless, I was called "Brilliant" with sarcasm. My whole point was to - yes, OF COURSE evacuate the dome but why oh why send them to another dome. I would kick and scream if I was being herded like that. So to all the people with their panties in a bunch - pull them out! we all need to be together. I am sick of the DU today, I will let everyone post their swarmy attitudes on someone else.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4527251&mesg_id=4527251

[MildyRules]

26. And I'm willing to bet that

Colonel Chartian (sp?) is preparing right now to take in "refugees" at Barksdale AFB.

[malta blue]

29. damn it, even a freakin aircraft carrier could hold these

people. Evacuate them out now!!!!
DA - been thinking alot about Hurky and the Voodoo priestess of New Orleans today...I just want to curl up in a little ball.
:cry: :cry: :cry:

[DistressedAmerican]

32. We Can Certainly Agree This Is The Worst Kind Of Mojo.

Sure hope they got out safe. More than likely they are standing on an overpass waiting to be rescued.

Bad Moon Arisin'!

[malta blue]

33. I certainly hope they did n/t

[NoPasaran]

34. Call me cynical, but I'm sure that if it was announced

That the plan was to move the Superdome refugees to surplus military bases, half the board would be breathing fire about people being confined behind barbed wire, surrounded by troops armed with machine guns.

Geez, folks, why not just house them in the secret FEMA concentration camps the tinfoil crowd insists are everywhere? :sarcasm: