My take on looting is this - yours is?

[HEyHEY]

In my view, if someone is carrying groceries, blankets, campgear etc...leave them alone. But, if they have a stereo, TV, CDs... arrest them. I understand the plight of the poor and things being a result of society... but stealing such items is still wrong.

Please, without getting into debates about what's happening... what is your opinion when it comes to what is acceptable looting?

The real sad thing is these people have to loot food... why is it not at the ready?

[MercutioATC]

1. That's what I think.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. I concur completly.

:applause:

[tedoll78]

3. My attitude..

At this point, I really don't care. I'm tired of hearing about the looting. It's been discussed to death.

My thoughts are more with those still trapped in their attics. Those battling chemicals, animals, raw sewage, etc. Hunger is a legit issue; looting, in light of the other issues surrounding this catastrophe, is a distractor.

[HEyHEY]

4. Fair enough. I agree, this is taking attention away from those still trapp

ed.

[Cleita]

5. About arresting the bad looters, where are they going to put

them, and feed them and get them showers and in other words give them the rights prisoners are supposed to have? I'm afraid dear buddy, they will have to be left to carry on because they know under the circumstances the law can't really be enforced.

[HEyHEY]

7. good point... but if they don't do something it will just keep going

Perhaps a navy ship? Throw them in the brig

[Hello_Kitty]

15. A Navy brig would be preferable

To what a lot of people there are dealing with. Shit...I'd loot just so I'd get put in one!

[chalky]

6. My take is your take.

And if they'd HAD food there for the victims, this constant discussion about looting would have been moot. The law abiders who just wanted food would have been fed, and law enforcement would have been free to concentrate on the real criminals.

[Wizard777]

8. Stereo's and TV's are Communication devices. We need to get information

in to them. Do we still have the emergency Broadcasting System?

[HEyHEY]

9. A radio I can understand.... but a CD player?

Plus, who doesn't have a radio?.. even amongst the poorest of the poor, it's very common

[Wizard777]

18. Okay I give on the CD player. With radio's the key word is working.

Go put your house in the bathtub. When you take it out. Tell us what you need. If your computer still works. That's how you have to think of this.

[HEyHEY]

22. "Hey you! Is your radio at home working?"

"Uh...no"

"Okay, carry on"

Seriously though, I agree with you on that point, I was just using stereos as an example of a luxury item

[Mr Rabble]

10. Agreed.

[ewoden]

11. I watched the looting of Walmart and

I was torn between two thoughts. (1) What a terrible thing to be reduced to in this land of plenty. (2) The conservatives are constantly stating that Walmart is critical to our economy because it provides low cost goods to low income people and maybe this is just the logical extent to how low cost those goods can really reach.

[HEyHEY]

12. As far as I'm concerned though

Why isn't Walmart...or any other Corp there, handing out supplies?

[glarius]

20. I've had the thought that bottled water companies and food chains should

be handing out free water and food supplies to these people....It's a crisis for God's sake....They could even let their brand names be seen so that they would get some good publicity....Watching the whole thing is like watching a nightmare....

[dchill]

27. Just consider it a ...

ROLLBACK! Walmart has been looting for years. Doesn't make it right, I know, but in the circumstances, doesn't make it all that wrong, either. This is the kind of ethical treatment Big Republican Business deserves. And how about them gas prices? Wanna talk about looting?

[VolcanoJen]

13. I'm with you.

:thumbsup:

[Daphne08]

14. I agree.

[darkism]

16. Ignore all looting. To enforce it detracts from the rescue effort.

The stuff (should be) already insured. On the other hand, if someone is carrying something priceless or not brand-new (that is, something that obviously came from a private residence...or a freaking hospital generator), confiscate it.

And in the case of people looting hospitals, well, that's just repulsive and definitely wrong. But who am I to judge these people? I'm hundreds of miles away on dry land.

[eridani]

17. If the merchandise is going to be under water soon--

--it just doesn't matter, unless you're talking about gold and diamonds (or anything very small, very valuable, and very non-perishable). The merchant will lose it one way or another, and the people who take it will very likely lose it as well. They sure aren't going to sell it to anybody.

[puddycat]

19. Its time we stop being naive about these looters. THEY ARE CRIMINALS

Most of the people who are law-abiding citizens are up on the highways, in the shelters, trying the best they can to protect their families and get away from the low-life which is roaming freely in their already crime-infested neighborhoods.

there is NO need for liberals to defend criminals. None. Looting, raping, pillaging, plundering, thieving, breaking, smashing, burning--ARE NOT VALUES WHICH LIBERALS SHOULD SUPPORT.

Listen up people. If you live in any city, you should know what I mean. the Poor are not any different than you or me. They have a right to live their lives free of fear. They have a right to live their lives away from criminals.

There have been many articles on the net about the exact nature of these looters. They have been shooting at rescue workers, attacking and robbing old people, stealing supplies from hospitals. They are SCUM. They are the scum who terrorize these poor neighborhoods even in ordinary times, but now they have been given free reign.

[HEyHEY]

21. But, do you consider those taking only food and blankets to be scum?

I don't four days in such a situation...and no cashiers are on duty.. As I said to you before... if they are taking stereos, sure...throw them in the can.

[doublethink]

23. My take can be summarized in the following thread .....

a must read for this subject...... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4536995
because I am special, :) Peace.

[Child_Of_Isis]

24. What caught my eye

was the amazing amount of diapers the looters were carrying out. Now why the guard or whoever was/in charge didn't do this for them, is beyond me.

[JDPriestly]

25. Law School Hypothetical Redux

Out Late is traveling in a remote area in winter when his car breaks down. He settles in for the night hoping help will come. It begins to snow, and the snow turns into a blizzard. In the morning it is still snowing, but Out Late is extremely hungry, has nothing to eat, and therefore decides to get out of his car to search for help. After he has walked for quite some time in the cold, Out Late comes across a cabin. His feet are very wet by this time, and he decides to knock and see if maybe someone is home and will let him come in and offer him a bite to eat.

Out Late goes to the door. The cabin is empty, but he sees a window that is open just a crack. He decides to open the window and get inside out of the wind and snow. Once inside, his hunger gets the best of him so he looks around until he finds food, which he eats. After he has rested, dried his feet and eaten plenty, Out Late leaves a note thanking his absent host. He signs his name, provides his telephone number and states that he wants the chance to repay the host. Did he commit a crime? If so, what is his defense. Hint: "necessity" is the name of a defense. You be the judge and jury.

I share this hypo because I would not want people to starve because they were in the situation of the refugees in New Orleans -- without food or water, but around stores or homes that have food and water. Stealing is a crime, regardless of the situation, but stealing to survive, if it could be shown that it was really necessary, might not be punished. It would depend.

Anyway, if you are really facing hunger that could lead to death or serious bodily damage, you might have the right to take food. I'm not sure the fellow in the hypo was in a situation that would justify breaking, entering and stealing. That's why I said you be the judge and jury.

My partner submits that anyone who is stealing food in NO at this time is a survivor, while anyone stealing furniture or electronic equipment should plead insanity.

[roguevalley]

26. Keith Olbermann said they would have to leave the TV's behind

when they are taken out and there isn't any electricity anyway. It sort of is moot anyway. I would stick a shiv in someone's gut if they were between me and food and water for my family. I would loot for my family to keep them alive.