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pig · 09-07-2005, 02:21 PM

I've been waiting out this topic a bit, but I have to say that I do think that ultimately we are seeing a systemic failure on a national level. I think the response of FEMA has inadequate, and from I can see its potentially symptomatic of the national agencies expecting / trying to transition to a more local-oriented response, and the local levels expecting more federal involvement. End result : no one takes responsibility. In a state of transition, no one knew where the responsibility lay, everyone thought it was someone else's job, and no one ponied up and took responsibility.

That's what I find so appalling. I personally don't hold the mayor as accountable as it seems some do (he seems to have been fairly vocal in expressing the needs of his city) - but I would be curious to know how much previous mayors and governors in disaster areas have had to personally head up evacuations? In previous situations, before the re-alignment of FEMA in the DHS, was their role mostly to make calls to the Feds and then following orders that the Feds passed down?

I'll admit I'm not a fan of the current administration. Regardless of my feelings on other political topics, I don't feel this is political. I am appalled by the lack of leadership that has been displayed on the national level. I would think that after the federal and state levels of emergency were declared, that if I were the head of FEMA and I saw practically nothing being done to get the relief in, I would calling everyone I could think of to get the ball rolling. And if I were the President, or the head of Homeland Security, and the guy underneath me wasn't making the calls - I would call his ass, and I would make the appropriate calls to get the process started. Even if the state and city totalled fucked up, if I had the authority to take over (which they did after the States of Emergency were issued) I'd like to think I'd do what was necessary to get the relief in.

It may not be part of Bush's resume. It may not be part of Chertoff's resume. In my opinion, a part of leadership is going above and beyond in critical times to make sure that the appropriate actions are taken, even if it's not your job.

09-07-2005, 02:21 PM	#66 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Location: Locash	I've been waiting out this topic a bit, but I have to say that I do think that ultimately we are seeing a systemic failure on a national level. I think the response of FEMA has inadequate, and from I can see its potentially symptomatic of the national agencies expecting / trying to transition to a more local-oriented response, and the local levels expecting more federal involvement. End result : no one takes responsibility. In a state of transition, no one knew where the responsibility lay, everyone thought it was someone else's job, and no one ponied up and took responsibility. That's what I find so appalling. I personally don't hold the mayor as accountable as it seems some do (he seems to have been fairly vocal in expressing the needs of his city) - but I would be curious to know how much previous mayors and governors in disaster areas have had to personally head up evacuations? In previous situations, before the re-alignment of FEMA in the DHS, was their role mostly to make calls to the Feds and then following orders that the Feds passed down? I'll admit I'm not a fan of the current administration. Regardless of my feelings on other political topics, I don't feel this is political. I am appalled by the lack of leadership that has been displayed on the national level. I would think that after the federal and state levels of emergency were declared, that if I were the head of FEMA and I saw practically nothing being done to get the relief in, I would calling everyone I could think of to get the ball rolling. And if I were the President, or the head of Homeland Security, and the guy underneath me wasn't making the calls - I would call his ass, and I would make the appropriate calls to get the process started. Even if the state and city totalled fucked up, if I had the authority to take over (which they did after the States of Emergency were issued) I'd like to think I'd do what was necessary to get the relief in. It may not be part of Bush's resume. It may not be part of Chertoff's resume. In my opinion, a part of leadership is going above and beyond in critical times to make sure that the appropriate actions are taken, even if it's not your job. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style Last edited by pig; 09-07-2005 at 02:35 PM..