Why doesn't law enforcement just open stores and hand the stuff out?

[Carni]

Now bear with me here...emminent domain of private property for the public good was already found to be legal by our wonderful supreme court.

Fema and the red cross and whoever else are going to pay to bring food, water and supplies in anyway, right? (if they ever bless the people with their actual presence)

Wouldn't it make more sense to have law enforcement commandeer the places with essential supplies early on(secure the weapons obviously) and then allow the goods that are essential to be distributed/taken in an orderly way?

By and large I am seeing people taking stuff that they are either going to eat, wear on their backs, drink or put on their feet.

Why waste all this time on people hoarding basic essentials and focus instead on the people stealing obviously non-essential items?

It would seem to me that later the merchants could just be reimbursed by Fema or whoever--doesn't that make more sense than letting normal ordinary people who are desperate, resort to measures they probably wouldn't take otherwise?

Maybe it's just me but I think it's asinine to let people go without provisions when there are provisions on site????

[liberaliraqvet26]

1. conservatives need something to be outraged about...

Hungry Black mobs taking food and diapers from Winn Dixie and Wal Mart should be enough to drive the right wingers nuts

[serryjw]

2. FEMA has every right to do it under

Martial Law..so why are they NOT doing it?

[Carni]

9. I know and that is what I don't get?

I mean they are all desperate for supplies (or were until the looting started)but they have to wait so the government can procure crap under a hugely inflated price somewhere?

These large chains like walmart have computerized inventory.

I would imagine they know exactly what everything amounts to in the store at any given time.

It's not like looting like this due to a cat 5 storm and the flooding of a major city happens every week--I mean Hello?

[serryjw]

13. Stupid question?

I think FEMA has a new director. Is it possible he doesn't KNOW he has the right to do this?.....He was appointed by Bushit, that explains a lot.

[Carni]

19. I listened to that guy and his response was something like

"we know who you are and what you are doing and stop it this is not the time for this"

It wasn't exactly that, but it was about as moronic.

I don't think the guy could find his way out of a bag!

[Sin]

27. I know exactly what you mean

and I saw the same thing hes like just stop it or we will use what we can to stop it and all the people down there with out power and or any form of communication are going to hear him. let alone let loved ones suffer because some rich repuke with news broadcast has something to say about them.
these dam neo-cons are truly the backwash of this country and should be flushed the whole stinking lot of them. dam repukes have me so angry I feel like strangling the few I know on sight.

[mcg]

14. Scene of a hero who looted to save a life...

I saw a video of a looted air mattress being used to carry a sick woman across the water to safety. I hope she pulls through.

[Carni]

20. I saw that video / had no idea the mattress was looted

I remember it distinctly because I thought how resourceful are they to think so logically in this situation!

[smtpgirl]

3. "giving"

necessities away will "cut" into Wal-Mart's profits

[I_Make_Mistakes]

4. Probably, because it's LOGICAL!

[William769]

5. That is happening in Jefferson Parrish.

According to the EOC of that Parrish.

[wtmusic]

6. Two good reasons

1) accounting nightmare
2) paves the way for major abuses

[Carni]

10. I mean just in situations of major catastrophe like this

These situations don't happen all that frequently (has this EVER happened other than in CA during an earthquake on a more limited scale?)

As to the accounting--anything the government procures seems to be at the worst possible price so what's the difference?

[sandnsea]

15. money money money

Can't let people's lives get in the way of a stack of green. :eyes:

[wtmusic]

16. Right now supplies are not at issue

It's help. It's putting roofs over people's heads. It's medical treatment.

[sandnsea]

17. You're not paying attention

People have no food and water. From New Orleans to Mobile. They don't need a roof, they need food and water and clothes and shoes, which is in many of those stores. Open the damned things up.

[wtmusic]

31. oh sheesh

more condescending bullshit...

healthcare and getting people out of town are the most important things right now. Getting them off the tops of buildings. NOT opening the grocery store sitting in 10 feet of water.

http://www.cnn.com/
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050901/ap_on_re_us/katrina_health_emergency

More links at your request

[sandnsea]

32. Not everybody is on top of a building

That's the point. Let the people get water and food from wherever they can get it, so aid workers can do more important things. Not to mention, as I said, we're talking about people in need from New Orleans to Mobile. It's stupid to have water and food sitting in any store when people haven't had anything to drink or eat since Monday.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/12527681.htm

[Carni]

21. There's no drinkable water or food

The survivors are walking through raw sewage, oil, snakes and other crap and we are three days into this thing.

Supplies are not an issue?

If I were trying to weave my way through that cesspool I think I would beg to differ about the supplies.

In addition the argument that they had warning and could have stocked up on supplies doesn't hold--HTF do we know that they didn't stock the old larder and then have the first floor flooded? Besides who can carry all that stuff as you walk around?

Yeah they need supplies or they WILL need IV's and medical treatment.

[magnolia]

7. It's not just you.

These people need food, clothes, diapers, etc...why not let them get the things they need. Why doesn't Walmart step up for a change and show some compassion.

[applegrove]

8. All the food will be thrown away anyways...

[Carni]

11. Honestly I can see the argument about everyone's insurance going up

Because these companies file claims, or whatever after the looting (and probably heavily pad the claim IMO) but we all know damned well the government will pay top buck for whatever they haul in and procure from some cohort company.

The taxpayers are going to get soaked anyway via what the government procures... so what's the difference?

It might be cheaper to just commandeer whatever is local!

And you are right--it's not like they can sell it after it sits for two months.

[applegrove]

28. I think there is some law that covers this. I just wish people would

not take other stuff - but then I am not dirt poor.

The weird economic arguments are odd. The first day after the hurricane out comes the story that insurance companies do okay after a Hurricane because they up prices. I said right then..someone is very concerned with the economy.

Then I heard somewhere that the north (who do not have hurricanes) should not have to subsidize the south with all their FEMA needs. (I forget where I heard that).

Country just seems so divided.

Everyone looking out for themselves.

Price gougers were bad now they are fine (they have less supply). Okay..the people on the street. Do you want them robbing other people or inanimate stores because they are desperate. The food will all be written off. So will the water. I doubt anybody who ran off with a T.V. will be watching that anytime soon. Likely it would be turned into cash and buy something to live on in the next few months. These people may have stayed home in tough neighborhoods - many because they were afraid everything they owned would get stolen if they didn't watch..and god knows they likely don't have insurance.

Can't we come to a conclusion that until the rule of law is back in place - people get to get food or water from where they can. And if everything they own is not on paper or in a file somewhere at an insurance industry - that they will break in to get a floating raft too?

Let's separate out the ones doing the gun violence from the others. There are hoodlums everywhere..even in the Army. That is just the way it is.

[lostnfound]

35. and the medicine too. Other stuff will become dollar-bin discounts

at best because of moisture, heat, mud splatters, obsolescence, or relative worth to redistribute to another city far away (especially if trucking becomes a problem). I'd guess that many stores will be deemed a total loss, based on inability to access it or redistribute it for several months. It sure won't be sold in New Orleans for a while.

[sandnsea]

12. It's all hurricane damage to insurance anyway

I don't get it either. I always assumed that is what anybody would do in that kind of catastrophe. Yeah, we all know about assuming...

[Ms. Clio]

18. I did see footage of a cop standing by the door of a store

letting people go in and come out with what looked like essentials to me--water, diapers, food, shoes. He seemed to be supervising the operation and it looked very orderly.

[Carni]

22. Call me a naive optimist but I would wager that only 5 or 10% are thugs

I have mostly seen people trying to get in while they can to get what they need to survive and frankly I think they made the prudent move given the length of the response of aid.

The guard and FEMA should have been stationed somewhere close by to get in post haste after the storm IMO

It's not like the FEMA people don't know what the hell a CAT 4 or 5 hurricane can do in that region (camille ring any bells morons?)

The whole thing is just inexcusable.

[Ms. Clio]

23. A MISERABLE FAILURE of literally catastrophic proportions

When I try to imagine what it's like for so many people right this very minute, in the dark, without light, water, medicine...christ, it's just beyond my grasp.

[Carni]

24. I am pissed off at epic levels

And now currently I am listening to MSNBC and they have a photo montage of some kind about this horrendous event, with some weird song that says "hallelujah" (sp? I have no idea)over and over again as the chorus.

The whole *just pray* thing hasn't proven to be too effective in the case of this storm -- yes, I do *pray* and send best vibes/wishes in my own way for the people there, but here is this damned media again, milking this for every bush dime they can get.

These SOBs were asleep at the wheel as usual (or they just didn't give a shit take your pick)

[Ms. Clio]

25. I think I saw something like that earlier, but had the sound turned down

I just can't shake the parallels to Baghdad--no apparent planning for the chaos and a very delayed and halfassed attempt to stop it after it began.

How bout they were asleep at the wheel because they just didn't give a shit?

[Holly_Hobby]

26. This country would be alot better off

if they listened to people like you.

[RPM]

29. they are - for all intents and purposes

police arepermitting non-violent looting...

[wli]

30. they did, and the MSM said the cops were looting too n/t

[2Design]

33. sounds right to me - give out food, water, and essentials

like diapers and other sanitary products

and leave a note to pay later - there is no one there to pay

and * and admin have sent no one with supplies to help or done anything for these people

as usually * is two days late and a whole brain short

[Stephanie]

34. Every single item in those stores is already written off

They are not going to recover those items and resell them - why not let the people who need it just have it?