Dismayed...

[nashbridges]

For every truly progressive effort (I've got my bucket, and just about an extra $1200 going to where I think it will help), there has been no less than 40 fucking threads justifying doing nothing and taking advantage of an extraordinary situation.

Looting is simply a fact of every emergency, and it's a sad fact that most that do it aren't the needy. Just is, deal with it.

It's fine for the folks on DU to debate the value of looting - everyone who is posting here isn't in a position to lose something from looting. In fact, I'd venture a guess that everyone here hasn't ever had something stolen from them. When you have been through that experience, you will have a different opinion.

That said, Katrina is an extraordinary circumstance, and public behavior will not resemble anything the rest of the country is used to. That's fine. Looting is expected, at least for survival items, and especially if they are there for the taking.

However, I cannot condone any defense of a looter shooting a law officer. EVER. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. Apparently, some of you can. Numerous threads offer barely logical justifications for attempting to kill the very people who are tasked with making sure the citizenry are safe.

There is an immense difference between anarchy and progressive thought, and anarchy should never win out. Shooting a cop while committing a crime is wrong, no matter what you were stealing.

And for the crying "FOOD" people - if I'm stealing food, I'll tell the cop. If he doesn't let me, he's an asshole. I'll steal from somewhere else.

Shoot him? Fuck that.