damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

[starkyld]

yes, i'm using that offensive icon again. maybe the statement wasn't entirely accurate and fair, but i think it's important for us to start talking about race.

vulgarlad sent me on an information-sleuthing expedition to find out the demographic breakdown of the texas gulf coast in comparison to the areas most heavily affected by hurricane katrina. here's

Comments

[lookngglassgirl]

I am kind of a conspiracy theorist.
I read the news that instead of funding a levee restoration in NOLA, Bush sent money to Iraq.
After the hurricane/levee breach, contractors bid on the repair and restoration of the levee and NOLA. Guess who gets the contract?
If you guessed "Some of Bush's cronies", you win a prize!
I honestly wouldn't put it past that giant pile of reeking dogshit to very intentionally NOT fund a restoration of the levee knowing full well that his buddies could make money on it at a later date.

[39orangestreet]

i have to say that it is silly for people to argue that if the government acts better in a fture occurrence that they are only doing so because it is wealthy white folks in the way. i am sure that you are right that people will say that, but i would then feel some amount of need to defend Bush (which is my least favorite position to be in). We should applaud people who learn from their mistakes.

of course, i also think it is far too simplistic for people to say that they bungled Katrina "because" it was black/poor people. I think they bungled it and this had a disproportionate effect on certain groups, but as much as I hate the GOP, I don't really think they are that evil. Most of the time.

[starkyld]

oh, i agree. not quite to the point that i'd actually start to defend bush, mind you, but i agree with your take on this. even so, there's that whole sticky situation where perception becomes reality and where it (in most cases, unfortunately) doesn't matter so much what actually happens as what people believe.

i can see this opening up a lot of really interesting situations where my political self and my scientific-academic self aren't in accord. and in nearly all circumstances, i come down on the side of my scientific-academic self. with this one, though, i think i might just keep my mouth shut and watch.

[starkyld]

also, i can't remember if you also have family in texas or if you just went to school there (rice?)...refresh my memory?

[39orangestreet]

i am indeed a rice alumnus. no family down there, but still lots of friends in Houston and Austin.

[morbid_o]

http://www.weatherwars.info

turns out that it's the japanese with uber weapon machines. CAN'T YOU SEE THE GRID??!!?!?