Is Katrina Damage Attributable to Bush and FEMA?

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    Damage Fault
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the attribution of responsibility for the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, focusing on the roles of President Bush, FEMA, local government, and other factors such as city planning and historical decisions. Participants explore various perspectives on accountability, including governmental failures and environmental factors.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that President Bush and FEMA are primarily to blame for the damage due to funding cuts and inadequate emergency response.
  • Others suggest that the city planners and historical decisions to build New Orleans below sea level also contributed significantly to the disaster.
  • There are claims that the Army Corps of Engineers should share some blame for the levee failures, although some defend them by citing funding cuts.
  • A few participants emphasize that the hurricane itself and natural factors should be considered as the primary cause of the damage.
  • Some argue that local government failures, particularly by Mayor Nagin, played a crucial role in the chaos following the hurricane.
  • There are discussions about the impact of the Iraq War on funding and resources available for disaster preparedness and response.
  • Several participants express frustration over the tendency to blame Bush without considering the broader context of governmental and historical failures.
  • Some participants highlight the complexity of the situation, suggesting that multiple parties share responsibility for both the damage and the loss of life.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on who is primarily responsible for the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. There are multiple competing views regarding the roles of Bush, FEMA, local government, and historical decisions, indicating an unresolved debate.

Contextual Notes

Participants express various assumptions about the effectiveness of government agencies, the impact of historical decisions, and the nature of responsibility in disaster scenarios. The discussion reflects a range of opinions on the interplay between natural disasters and human governance.

  • #31
Agnostic said:
Pick up a copy of the NewYork Times, the LA Times, or the Washington Post for any day of last week or the week before...or ask Kanya West :smile:
... The articles I have read from these sources spread the blame around.
 

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