Starting over...
As I mentioned in my allocution below/above, I may spring a leak and actually discuss my thoughts on the recent events. In the meantime, I will allow others' perspectives to speak for me.
(1) David "Not-A-Leftie" Brooks wrote on the question of how Katrina fits into this decade's likely place in historybooks and, more importantly, what Katrina means for politics in the near future.
(2) A fomer SCOTUS clerk's entirely human obituary for "Bill Rehnquist" rather than the Chief Justice.
(3) Slate's frank analysis of the missing discussion of race/class and in coverage of Katrina. MUST-READ: Referenced in the commentary is the 2002 five-part series in the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Washing Away.
(4) Another reason for change on Capitol Hill: just-passed bankruptcy bill will punish Katrina's victims.
(5) Orin Kerr at Volokh asked where is our nation's fearless leader? This time last year, our President was campaigning on a single-issue platform: I'm a better leader in times of trouble. He garnered more votes than his opponent; therefore, we have his brand of leadership to carry us through this crisis. Decide for yourself: how's he doing? NYT's editorial board assesses his belated speech to the nation like this.
(6) Even attempts to defend our government's reaction recognize the extensive failures which have culminated in the present situation. See here and here
(7) Victor Fleischer at TheConglomerate attempts to make a point that I cannot escape: Hurricane Katrina may be a natural occurrence but the disastrous effects and ensuing crisis are man-made and preventable. Someone used the word "negligence." Look it up:
The omission to do someting which a reasonable man, guided by those ordinary considerations which ordinarily regulate human affairs, would do, or the doing of something which a reasonable and prudent man would not do...
The failure to use such care as a reasonably prudent and carefule person would use under similar circumstances...
The doing of some act...or failure to do what a person of ordinary prudence would have done under similar circumstances...
Conduct which falls below the standard established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm...
That legal delinquency which results whenever a man fails to exhibit the care which he ought to exhibit, whether it be slight, ordinary, or great...
Characterized chiefly by inadvertence, thoughtlessness, inattention, and the like...
Black's Law Dict. See also Fault, Criminal Negligence, Gross Negligence, Negligent Homicide, Negligent Manslaughter.
In order to consider the depths of the negligence at play here, one must consider the approach our government (and society) has taken towards the poor in our midst and those segregated to "the other side of the tracks." What means of escape were made available to the segment of our society which is most vulnerable? How have they become "most vulnerable"?
(8) Via D. Berman's mention of the fact that our "current political reality" may impact the filling of the most recent vacancy on the SCOTUS, we find this article from yesterday's WaPo.
(9) A salient point was heard at a press conference held by the Congressional Black Caucus. The media continue to refer to those displaced by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermatch as "refugees." The Congresswoman stated that this adds insult to injury: they are not refugees, they are Americans. Those displaced are our brothers and sisters and the sooner we start referring to them as such, the sooner we as a nation will recognize that we owe them our all and the sooner they will realize that they can count on us.
(10) I think the one element of this whole mess can be found at the heart of the quasi-debate/quasi-agreement between Keven Drum and Andrew Sullivan about what the response to Katrina says about the liberal-conservative divide. Much has been written about this, but Prof. Althouse provides her own summary and opinion on the matter. Some have focused on how this disaster has revealed the underbelly of the the disparate worldviews held by liberals and conservatives. I agree.
- posted by C @ 11:48:00 AM
