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Edited on Wed Aug-31-05 02:09 PM by eyepaddle
Edited for a more accurate title
And I hesitate to add fuel to the fire of nerves scraped raw by this tragedy and misery in America's Gulf coast--particularly New Orleans.
I posted this last night, but it was buried in a thread. I'm not sure of the propriety of copying and pasting my own post, but a few DUers have suggested I do this, so without and edits from last night:
This represents a breakdown of society
and no, not from personal failings (at least not in most cases) but a breakdown nonetheless.
It starts with most people only grabbing necessities (hell, I'd likely do that myself--we all would in similarly desperate circumstances--or at least understand why) but somebody will always sooner or later realize that order is gone and no ONE is there to stop them and they go farther. A recent thread had links describing theft and murder in London during the Blitz, check out what happened in Bosnia during its civil war (likely any civil war--but that's the one I am most familiar with. When people find themselves with instant unchecked power (like a strong person in an environment of anarchy) they almost never use it benevolently.
It goes to the hunter gatherer mentality "If I don't grab it now, somebody else will--I'll probably need it soon--I'd better get it and the flood begins. WItness the Wal Mart giveaway that turned into a riot with police taking part.
In a disaster what you need is a sense of community and teamwork--not an "every man for himself" environment. This is why authorities ALWAYS first secure the scene (impose order)and THEN deal with the catastrophe.
I'm not gonna engage in some internet flame-fest and pop off about looters being scum (or modern day Robin Hoods for that matter) who can say? Most of them are just folks, some good, some bad--however an air of complete lawlessness must be avoided or the weak WILL be preyed upon.
It's all pretty much symptomatic of insufficient resources. If there were enough Nat'l Guard and Police around to control the situation, people probably wouldn't feel like the either could 1) get away with anything they want, or 2) they have to do whatever they can to survive. If there are that many responders around help is clearly on the way and option 2 is unneccessary and option 1 impossible.
That's enough for now.
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