The tragedy in NO is the price we pay for ignoring the urban poor

[Onlooker]

Since at least Reagan, the United States has had no urban policy, no effective plan for raising up the urban poor. The Democrats wrote off the poor so they could mimic Reagan and go after middle class votes. We've all known the problems of the inner city, yet scarcely paid any attention, and now New Orleans is in frightening chaos. What is taking place in New Orleans could just as easily take place in any city where the urban poor have been neglected for decades.

[mike_c]

1. the "looting" is the inevitable result...

...of forcing an entire population of folks into marginal social status in a materialistic society.

on edit, and somewhat delayed: I did not make it clear enough that my intent was to support your argument in principle-- BOTH democrats and republicans ultimately endorse a social structure that is founded upon satisfying the greed of the few by exploiting the many.

[KAZ]

2. Very good! n/t

n/t

[dejaboutique]

3. amen! n/t

[DianeG5385]

4. You are full of ***t!!!

All Bush had to do was fully fund FEMA.

[Webster Green]

5. Clinton's welfare reforms were horrible...

Sorry, I'm too weary to provide links about how completely fucked his welfare reforms were.

Google it.

[Onlooker]

7. Clinton's errors were nothing compared to Reagan's

Clinton's welfare reforms were nothing compared to Reagan's welfare and social program cuts.

[moc]

8. I completely agree.

I don't think I'll ever forgive Clinton for that.

[Qibing Zero]

6. Exactly, see this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4520980

I've been linking to this since seeing it - it's the best explanation of it I've found.

[Cleita]

9. We need to bring back the War on Poverty.

Lyndon Johnson was reviled for Vietnam, but he did two good things, Medicare and The War on Poverty.

In that day things didn't go far enough because people were so bigoted they didn't want their tax money going to help lift the poor into middle class.

I think we really have to put the race factor up in poverty and allocate the funds poor people need so that at least thier children can hope for the American dream.

[Onlooker]

10. I agree

Bring back the War on Poverty and the Great Society. Sadly, even the boldest Demoract in the last election--Dean--took only baby steps in that direction. Maybe now someone will step forward.

[chookie]

11. Scary how we are one step away from being a "Third World Country"

Persons have commented again and again that the scenes in NOLA are more sights one expects in Third World Countries when disaster strikes, and not the wealthiest nation on the planet. But -- in our nation, the "Third World" exists alongside the affluent, just as vulnerable, just as raw, just as desperate, as in developing nations. Since Reagan, the poor have been either blamed or ignored. They certainly are going to be overrepresented in the dead as this disaster unfolds. Once again, our national callousness and bigotry are being exposed to the world in these horrid events.

I am praying that this tragedy re-humanizes the poor and brings them to the intention of policy makers and planners and the general public again.

But -- and it pains me to say this, -- more likely, the thousands who die in this event will be considered expendible, because they are poor and vulnerable. Our poor are too docile to expect any different.

There were some women who shouted things to the CNN camera today, walking along I 10 -- "We're TRYING to be law abiding citizens, but we have no homes, no food, and no one is helping us. What are we supposed to do?" Indeed.

It also pains me to say this, but it will take a grassroots uprising to change this. The poor have no champions these days, for their basic human rights, so what will it take -- violence, as back in the 60s?

[wli]

12. Gini coefficient worse than Turkmenistan in 2000, Cote d'Ivoire 2004 n/t

[eleny]

13. Bernie Ward is talking about this now

His opening remarks revolved around this. And he asked if there was no plan to evacuate the poor of NO because 80% of them are black. He lobbed that verbal bomb and got it right out on the table in the first 20 minutes of his program.

Let them answer that question, damnit.