Chiefin Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 An Unnatural Disaster: A Hurricane Exposes the Man-Made Disaster of the Welfare State An Objectivist Review by Robert Tracinski | The Intellectual Activist September 2, 2005 It has taken four long days for state and federal officials to figure out how to deal with the disaster in New Orleans. I can't blame them, because it has also taken me four long days to figure out what is going on there. The reason is that the events there make no sense if you think that we are confronting a natural disaster. If this is just a natural disaster, the response for public officials is obvious: you bring in food, water, and doctors; you send transportation to evacuate refugees to temporary shelters; you send engineers to stop the flooding and rebuild the city's infrastructure. For journalists, natural disasters also have a familiar pattern: the heroism of ordinary people pulling together to survive; the hard work and dedication of doctors, nurses, and rescue workers; the steps being taken to clean up and rebuild. Public officials did not expect that the first thing they would have to do is to send thousands of armed troops in armored vehicle, as if they are suppressing an enemy insurgency. And journalists--myself included--did not expect that the story would not be about rain, wind, and flooding, but about rape, murder, and looting. But this is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made disaster. The man-made disaster is not an inadequate or incompetent response by federal relief agencies, and it was not directly caused by Hurricane Katrina. This is where just about every newspaper and television channel has gotten the story wrong. The man-made disaster we are now witnessing in New Orleans did not happen over the past four days. It happened over the past four decades. Hurricane Katrina merely exposed it to public view. The man-made disaster is the welfare state. For the past few days, I have found the news from New Orleans to be confusing. People were not behaving as you would expect them to behave in an emergency--indeed, they were not behaving as they have behaved in other emergencies. That is what has shocked so many people: they have been saying that this is not what we expect from America. In fact, it is not even what we expect from a Third World country. When confronted with a disaster, people usually rise to the occasion. They work together to rescue people in danger, and they spontaneously organize to keep order and solve problems. This is especially true in America. We are an enterprising people, used to relying on our own initiative rather than waiting around for the government to take care of us. I have seen this a hundred times, in small examples (a small town whose main traffic light had gone out, causing ordinary citizens to get out of their cars and serve as impromptu traffic cops, directing cars through the intersection) and large ones (the spontaneous response of New Yorkers to September 11). So what explains the chaos in New Orleans? To give you an idea of the magnitude of what is going on, here is a description from a Washington Times story: "Storm victims are raped and beaten; fights erupt with flying fists, knives and guns; fires are breaking out; corpses litter the streets; and police and rescue helicopters are repeatedly fired on. "The plea from Mayor C. Ray Nagin came even as National Guardsmen poured in to restore order and stop the looting, carjackings and gunfire.... "Last night, Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco said 300 Iraq-hardened Arkansas National Guard members were inside New Orleans with shoot-to-kill orders. "'These troops are...under my orders to restore order in the streets,' she said. 'They have M-16s, and they are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so if necessary and I expect they will.' " The reference to Iraq is eerie. The photo that accompanies this article shows National Guard troops, with rifles and armored vests, riding on an armored vehicle through trash-strewn streets lined by a rabble of squalid, listless people, one of whom appears to be yelling at them. It looks exactly like a scene from Sadr City in Baghdad. What explains bands of thugs using a natural disaster as an excuse for an orgy of looting, armed robbery, and rape? What causes unruly mobs to storm the very buses that have arrived to evacuate them, causing the drivers to drive away, frightened for their lives? What causes people to attack the doctors trying to treat patients at the Super Dome? Why are people responding to natural destruction by causing further destruction? Why are they attacking the people who are trying to help them? My wife, Sherri, figured it out first, and she figured it out on a sense-of-life level. While watching the coverage last night on Fox News Channel, she told me that she was getting a familiar feeling. She studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Chicago, which is located in the South Side of Chicago just blocks away from the Robert Taylor Homes, one of the largest high-rise public housing projects in America. "The projects," as they were known, were infamous for uncontrollable crime and irremediable squalor. (They have since, mercifully, been demolished.) What Sherri was getting from last night's television coverage was a whiff of the sense of life of "the projects." Then the "crawl"--the informational phrases flashed at the bottom of the screen on most news channels--gave some vital statistics to confirm this sense: 75% of the residents of New Orleans had already evacuated before the hurricane, and of the 300,000 or so who remained, a large number were from the city's public housing projects. Jack Wakeland then gave me an additional, crucial fact: early reports from CNN and Fox indicated that the city had no plan for evacuating all of the prisoners in the city's jails--so they just let many of them loose. There is no doubt a significant overlap between these two populations--that is, a large number of people in the jails used to live in the housing projects, and vice versa. There were many decent, innocent people trapped in New Orleans when the deluge hit--but they were trapped alongside large numbers of people from two groups: criminals--and wards of the welfare state, people selected, over decades, for their lack of initiative and self-induced helplessness. The welfare wards were a mass of sheep--on whom the incompetent administration of New Orleans unleashed a pack of wolves. All of this is related, incidentally, to the apparent incompetence of the city government, which failed to plan for a total evacuation of the city, despite the knowledge that this might be necessary. But in a city corrupted by the welfare state, the job of city officials is to ensure the flow of handouts to welfare recipients and patronage to political supporters--not to ensure a lawful, orderly evacuation in case of emergency. No one has really reported this story, as far as I can tell. In fact, some are already actively distorting it, blaming President Bush, for example, for failing to personally ensure that the Mayor of New Orleans had drafted an adequate evacuation plan. The worst example is an execrable piece from the Toronto Globe and Mail, by a supercilious Canadian who blames the chaos on American "individualism." But the truth is precisely the opposite: the chaos was caused by a system that was the exact opposite of individualism. What Hurricane Katrina exposed was the psychological consequences of the welfare state. What we consider "normal" behavior in an emergency is behavior that is normal for people who have values and take the responsibility to pursue and protect them. People with values respond to a disaster by fighting against it and doing whatever it takes to overcome the difficulties they face. They don't sit around and complain that the government hasn't taken care of them. They don't use the chaos of a disaster as an opportunity to prey on their fellow men. But what about criminals and welfare parasites? Do they worry about saving their houses and property? They don't, because they don't own anything. Do they worry about what is going to happen to their businesses or how they are going to make a living? They never worried about those things before. Do they worry about crime and looting? But living off of stolen wealth is a way of life for them. The welfare state--and the brutish, uncivilized mentality it sustains and encourages--is the man-made disaster that explains the moral ugliness that has swamped New Orleans. And that is the story that no one is reporting. Source: TIA Daily -- September 2, 2005 Copyright© 2002 The Intellectual Activist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest_ikonboard Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grumpy Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firebird77clone Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 more and more it seems the truth of the matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted September 10, 2005 Author Share Posted September 10, 2005 Its just easer to blame the government for ones shortcomings ,,, but then again ,,,it could just be "Whities" fault... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badcad Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badcad Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Those damn crackers they're just as bad as those honkey's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homer Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Those damn crackers they're just as bad as those honkey's. eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest_ikonboard Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Those damn crackers they're just as bad as those honkey's. eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlkChief Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 It all makes sense to me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leelynn Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 glad some get it and another good read chiefin. been saying it for years! read my tag line, nuff said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted September 11, 2005 Author Share Posted September 11, 2005 glad some get it and another good read chiefin.been saying it for years! read my tag line, nuff said WORK HARDER millions on welfare depend on you Sad but true Lee............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthgoddes2 Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 you know i've been reading about all you ppl bitchen about ppl on welfare, i beleive those who imigrated and come with dozens of kids and get on welfare cus they are greedy, and want a free ride,some of those ppl are actually struggling to survive and need the help, i'm gonna get a little personal here,, and then ,,,be what it may,,,,,,when i got pregnant with my 15 yr old,,,the father skipped out, i was working all the way up till his birth,,,supported myself,,,i was evicted by roommates,and had nowhere to go,so i signed up for (welfare), i finally met someone who needed a roommate,,i still couldnt work, so i remained on the (free ride) for 10 yrs,then got a job and got off welfare,,,up until may of this yr,i have been able to help support my family, but as of recent events am now a single mother,with young school age children and a child with ADD, i work 6 days a week and still only can make enough to pay rent,, no child support, so i have to rely on (the state) to help me out. i wish not to be supported by the state ,but it is not easy out there for a single mother of 3 boys to survive and be above poverty level.so think of me what you may, but if it werent for the food and medical i get from the state,then my children would go hungry with no health benefits. thank you, earthgoddes2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Cheef Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 you know i've been reading about all you ppl bitchen about ppl on welfare, i beleive those who imigrated and come with dozens of kids and get on welfare cus they are greedy, and want a free ride,some of those ppl are actually struggling to survive and need the help, i'm gonna get a little personal here,, and then ,,,be what it may,,,,,,when i got pregnant with my 15 yr old,,,the father skipped out, i was working all the way up till his birth,,,supported myself,,,i was evicted by roommates,and had nowhere to go,so i signed up for (welfare), i finally met someone who needed a roommate,,i still couldnt work, so i remained on the (free ride) for 10 yrs,then got a job and got off welfare,,,up until may of this yr,i have been able to help support my family, but as of recent events am now a single mother,with young school age children and a child with ADD, i work 6 days a week and still only can make enough to pay rent,, no child support, so i have to rely on (the state) to help me out. i wish not to be supported by the state ,but it is not easy out there for a single mother of 3 boys to survive and be above poverty level.so think of me what you may, but if it werent for the food and medical i get from the state,then my children would go hungry with no health benefits. thank you, earthgoddes2 I'm not trying to sound unsympathetic. But my question would be--where is the Father or Fathers of your children? If he is deceased--OK--if he's a worthless lazy fuck--toss his ass in jail or make him support his kids. Pretty damn simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Cheef Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Those damn crackers they're just as bad as those honkey's. Well--I'm just a country boy. What's the difference between a cracker and a honky? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted September 11, 2005 Author Share Posted September 11, 2005 Those damn crackers they're just as bad as those honkey's. Well--I'm just a country boy. What's the difference between a cracker and a honky? Have you ever heard the term .."Florida Cracker"..? Well ,,now days it means someone like me who was born & raised in Florida. Florida was & still is to some extent a cattle state,( a lot of flat grass lands),, the horse riders that drove the cattle across state would use a long whip that would make a LOUD cracking sound,, when they would go through a town ,the towns folk wouls day,,,, would ya look at them crackers,,,,sometimes they would get drunk in the local saloon & fight and tear the place up .... the townsfolk would say ,,I sure hope them crackers keep going & stop somewhere else,,them crackers are a rowdy bunch ! Most of the if not all the Crackers were white men and were out in the sun all day and the backs of their necks got red ( sunburned) ... you could tell the men who just got back from a cattle drive,,hence the saying " Redneck Cracker" or " Look at all them Rednecks over there ,must be Crackers" Honkey... Honky comes from bohunk and hunky, derogatory terms for Bohemian, Hungarian, and Polish immigrants that came into use around the turn of the century. According to Robert Hendrickson, author of the Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, black workers in Chicago meat-packing plants picked up the term from white workers and began applying it indiscriminately to all Caucasians. Probably thought they all looked alike. Next question Please................. :cppl1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Cheef Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 DAMN!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leelynn Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 yep! thats a redneck allright, during the 20s it realy came to use by the upper class saying he's a redneck and a lower form of life so don't have anything to do with him. now earthgoddes2, I'm with kc cheef on this one. where is the father? ten years? I pay well over 500 bucks a month support and still make it. welfare was a good thing for short term but now its become a way of life for the lazy and now we are reaping what we sew, take a look again at nawlins. ten years??????? let me tell you about being BROKE! HOMELESS!! JOBLESS!! THAT WAS ME IN 1991 with a bank note because my ex drove us into bankrupsy and I was too proud to claim bankrupsy. 400 miles from anyone I knew or who could help. I grabbed myself up by the boot strings and marched on. in ten years I owned land and a home plus paid child support the whole time. no sympathy here BEEN THERE DONE IT!! ten years?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paolabob Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Ok fuck it I had a big long reply here but decided against posting it. EG I do have one question: If you were in financial pinch why have children? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted September 12, 2005 Author Share Posted September 12, 2005 Ok fuck it I had a big long reply here but decided against posting it. EG I do have one question: If you were in financial pinch why have children? Good Question, Have one child & the scumbag dad runs off ( I'm assuming he is a scumbag as you say he has not helped you or the child any),,, so why have two more children? & where is the dad/dad's of the other two ? any help at all ? Scumbags too? I'm glad the goverment is there to help them ( Chrildren ) as they had no say or choice in the matter........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TribalChief Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 1. I believe the journalist was pointing his remarks towards the people that are third or fourth generation welfare abusers. 2. We all make choices in our lives that impact our future. Kids, jobs, spouse, etc. In America, we all have the freedom to change our situation if we don't like it, every one of us. It may be hard and difficult, but there are ALWAYS options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefin Posted September 13, 2005 Author Share Posted September 13, 2005 1. I believe the journalist was pointing his remarks towards the people that are third or fourth generation welfare abusers. 2. We all make choices in our lives that impact our future. Kids, jobs, spouse, etc. In America, we all have the freedom to change our situation if we don't like it, every one of us. It may be hard and difficult, but there are ALWAYS options. TRUE..................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC Cheef Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I'm glad the goverment is there to help them ( Chrildren ) as they had no say or choice in the matter........ I'm glad they are getting help too. Kids are kids and no blame there. But -- same question. Where are the Fathers of these kids--and why aren't they paying child support? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiremanDave Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 perhaps the most important question here is what is being done to see that the children being helped out by state and federal programs, do not in turn come to rely on these same programs as young adults, and repete the unfortunate choices of their parents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leelynn Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I can't hardly eat a dried bean now LOL!! but for 35cents a bag I could eat for a week along with some sort of meat that was on sale that week. when smoked picnic hams went on sale for 59 cents a pound I was eating high on the hog then but only then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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