Looting? or self-preservation?

[SoCalDem]

Several times in the last day or so, we have been shown pictures and have heard about how the military in Chile is trying to maintain order by stopping looters..

maintain order? really?

Order in a calamitous aftermath like those people are enduring?

It would seem to me that governments would be money ahead if they aided people to get what they needed in the aftermath, and then reimbursed the merchants. It;s very likely that their stores & merchandise were damaged as well, and at the very least, the lack of electricity would surely spoil everything perishable and create a mold/health issue that would cost them money and time cleaning up later anyway... so why not encourage "foraging" in the time-frame where no real aid is coming anyway?

In a place like Chile, with its past history with all things military, it would seem that having armed military roaming around intimidating people would be about the worst thing they could do.

There will always be the knuckleheads who will take tvs & furniture, but if the police & military were supervising, instead of chasing these people down, maybe that would be lessened too..

People who are hungry, thirsty, or who have children in need , will do whatever is necessary to fill those needs...so if it means they "loot", they will do it, especially if there is little or no aid available.

Following a devastating disaster, people will automatically change their thinking, and will concentrate on their own interests and those of their immediate families.. It's not unusual or odd to go into "survival mode".

Instead of having military guard damaged stores full of rotting food, maybe their assistance would be needed elsewhere..

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Ann Whatsherface on The Today Show just said

"looting" then she corrected herself and explained these were desperate people in Chile looking for food.

I was talking back to my TV ~ "You mean WHITE people, Ann?"

[av8rdave]

2. When you're down to Maslow's bottom rung (basic survival),

the luxuries of waiting for the store to open and standing in line with money in your hand go away. Like the OP said, this is a basic humanitarian disaster. The military and police would be put to good service insuring the orderly distribution of food and supplies from all available sources. Like anything else in a disaster, the accounting can be settled up when things get back to normal.

The loss of inventory to those in need in a situation like this should be treated as any other loss. E.g., it should be no different than repairing a collapsed roof.

[malaise]

3. The President of Chile announced that all food in supermarkets would be given to people

free so there was no need to loot, but the truth is that people have been stealing high end tech stuff. I saw video with people with TVs and DVDs - certainly not needed for disaster necessities.

In some coastal towns where the tsunami washed away everything I can understand people helping themselves to food stuff.

[SoCalDem]

4. TVs & stuff like that will be taken too, but they will probably be used as "currency"

so the loss could surely be handled after the fact.. eventually they damaged stores will "run out" of them"...and if their economy is limping along like ours, maybe the shelves are not that stocked anyway..

I AM glad the president offered the food in supermarkets.. I had not heard that.

[malaise]

5. Here

The President has ordered supermarkets to be opened with government supervised give-aways of free food and supplies to Chileans who queue up to receive them in an orderly fashion.

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/02/27/blogging-great-chile-quaketsunamis-bachelet-a-steady-leader-japan-prepares-for-tsunamis/

[KharmaTrain]

6. Breakdown Of Authority...

Guess what...looting in the aftermath of a disaster has been going on since "civilization" began. When lines of communications break down, when it's up to the individual to find a way to survive, they'll "loot" or grab the spoils. This ignores the fact that not only is there a collapse of buildings, but of the economy and civil authority as well. A power vaccuum exsits and the individual is on their own. Be it Concepcion, Chile, Port Au Prince, Haiti, New Orleans or even South Central LA.

[Egalitariat]

7. A guy carrying a flat screen TV out of an electronics store is a looter. A guy with a loaf of bread

and baby formula - don't cross him. He's trying to survive.

[SoCalDem]

8. in some cases , the guy with the TV may be planning on selling it

so he and his family can escape the devastation.. probably not, but it IS a possibility...