Time, hurricanes, the end of our economy, and foreign sympathy

[Deja Q]

1. They've had big-ass hurricanes before. 26 years ago in Mobile, as I recall.

2. Let's assume Katarina hits. It will not kill our economy. Just dampen it for a while. Let's hope nobody takes advantage while we're down on the count until then.

3. Let's assume Katarina hits. Will foreign nations help us? If so, how much? On the same level we've helped other countries in trouble? More? Less? Not at all? This will be a litmus test to see just how well liked we currently are in the world.

[ananda]

1. It's -Katrina-

Katrina is acting like Camille, a big huge killer monster, and tracking like Betsy.

Poor NOLA. RIP.

Sue

[Deja Q]

3. Who cares how it's spelled (and what if I did misspell it deliberately?)

O8)

[greenbriar]

2. we are not liked in the world

don't need a litmus test for that

[Deja Q]

4. Words versus actions, my dear fellow. Words versus actions.

[Child_Of_Isis]

5. They'll make a lot of noise, then forget to send the check...

you know, like shrub does.

[ima_sinnic]

6. well it seems like it wasn't that long ago when a place somewhere

in the world was devastated by earthquakes and mudslides -- in fact these happen quite often in China and other places --what did we do? children are literally starving in Africa and Asia, what are we doing? why do we Americans, who control a disproportionate share of the world's resources, think the rest of the world should drop everything and rush to our aid when we have a disaster? what makes us so different from the rest of the world? do we do that for them?

[Deja Q]

8. But what if they do drop everything?

As an observer, I am fascinated by the situation.

As an inhabitant of America, I wish our government cared more. But they are neocons (aka deranged libertarians); they don't want government for anything except military (both for external and internal situations and even then I'd be doubtful as such an industry would be profitable...)

[malaise]

9. Governments may not help

but most citizens of the world are quite generous and do help out their neighbours (even when they are greedy bullies) in a crisis.

[wanpete]

7. sadly, and no pun intended, it really does seem to be the perfect storm...

[niallmac]

10. Did the British ever send over instructors

to bail out our dumb ass schools?
Did the French ever help us fight wine in a box?
Did the Germans mount an aid effort when Colt 45 was introduced into the beer market?
Where were the Italians when Spaghetti 'O's invaded our food supply?
They didn't care then and they don't give a damn now!

[wli]

11. Chavez offered to send gas to our poor and doctors, too n/t

[niallmac]

12. Oh man. Chavez. I really really love that guy! n/t