Katrina: Property Killed

The conservative cult of property has been discussed exhaustively on dKos. However, its manifestation in Katrina is truly breathtaking. Never mind that it can cause degradation, humiliation and anguish - as far as I'm concerned it killed innocent people.

In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, people needed basics: food, water, air and shelter. To breathe, they ran from the flood. For the rest they went to the Superdome and Convention Center. For the rest, they depended on the government. The government let them down. Children and elderly dehydrated. Blood sugar went haywire.

But there was plenty of food and water in New Orleans. There always is. Everywhere. All the time. ... over the fold.

A modern city's food distribution system is a work of art. Cheapest food in the world. Supermarkets. Convenience Stores. Gas stations. Beverage machines in every restaurant, coffee shop, and magazine shop. Doesn't New Orleans have restaurants? I bet there's even a food distributor or two.

But its someone's property. So it must be locked up. The police must guard it.

To bring 'free' food and water, the government buys MRE's from defense contractors and flies them in - by Chinook. With National Guardsmen to guard it. Locked and Loaded. What a bargain!

They imported food that was already there. Food that insurance companies will dispose after the flood. In landfills. Food that was store-owners' property.

Gretna Sheriffs stopped people on a bridge. To keep them from looting food and water. After, all it was someone's  property.

Strange that New Orleanians knew the food was there. I guess the government missed the memo. But then, it was someone's property?

What should have happened?

Governor's can issue states of emergency that authorize police to commandeer private assets.

Police could carry a list of neighborhood stores in their pocket - with a pre-planned distribution schedule. Four cops meet at the next one on the list. Open it with the tire iron in their squad. Form people in a line. Tell them where to go and what they can take. The law-abiding will line up.

It's easy to tell the white hats from the black ones. Wander into the TV section and you are a 'looter'. Risk being arrested or shot.

When a store is empty, lock it and go to the next on the list. Tell anyone still in line that the store down the street will open in half an hour.

Meanwhile, a National Guard deuce-and-a-half cleans out a Supercenter - and rolls to the Convention Center. Next trip in an hour.

FEMA could have phoned Bentonville and bought a whole Walmart SuperCenter at 'everyday low prices'. Phone Jacksonville for a Winn-Dixie. Phone Deerfield, IL to open the Walgreens.

How long will the food and water last? No idea - but at least a day or two longer than it did.

Not just NOLA

There will be future disasters. An earthquake in California. A hurricane in Miami or Jacksonville. Those people will be stranded, hungry, thirsty and desperate.

FEMA could train police to 'officially loot'. FEMA could promise to reimburse owners for anything 'officially' taken.  Be creative. Have Congress pass a law that makes insurance companies liable for 30% of goods that the government commandeers (instead of the 100% they would pay to buy a landfill).

Owners will post detailed lists of contents on their door before they evacuate!

Only one problem - its someone's property.

•  Instead of preventing "looting,"

  the authorities should have been organizing it, as least as the necessities were concerned.

  The owners could have been paid back generously later.

  by jpk on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 09:34:38 PM PDT

•  The only problem with your suggestions is

  that they are rife with common sense. What were you thinking? This is the Bush govt, after all.
  <end snark>

  by epluribus on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 09:51:01 PM PDT

•  Amazing..

  This has been a night of glaring revelations, and your diary is high among them. You moved me tonight, sir!

  Recommended with emphasis!

  by Scoopster on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 09:52:24 PM PDT

•  Intelligent diary, it deserves to do well. n/t

  by greeseyparrot on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 09:58:15 PM PDT

•  Excellent diary!

  The same thought applies to new car shw rooms, used car lots, boats, school buses, city buses, city taxis, maintenance vehicles, etc. In other words any vehicle that you now see underwater, damaged, destroyed....

  Even if the poor were to drive a new car to safety and then steal the damn thing, it would still be an insurance claim only not covered with water and debris.

  The flip side? After the storm passed the poor could drive back to NOLA.

  As far as calling the theft of food or water or medical supplies an act of looting, I submit that the person so hung up on this type of thinking be immediately placed in the next superdome, the moment it comes available. And it will.

  Let's see how long his/her self rightous ass holds dear his/her definition of looting.

  by 0hio on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 10:02:56 PM PDT

  •  Durable Goods are in a different category

    My diary drew an implicit distinction between consumable and durable goods.

    But I can see your point that transportation is a 'necessity' before a Category 4 storm. Plus, an 'organized' vehicle relocation effort probably wouldn't hurt.

    What's the worst that can happen? Someone steals a car without ownership papers? Offer a 15% bounty for cars that are returned in good condition. Take a few hundred dollars off for coffee stains on the upholstery.

    The insurance company will still save a bundle.

    The only difference with these items is that some of the most desperate people (infirm, children, elderly), can't take advantage.

    Thanks - your comment moved the idea a bit further along.

    by grapes on Wed Sep 14, 2005 at 10:11:08 PM PDT

•  I am reminded of Japan

  when they had a large earthquake. The government was very quick to respond to fixing the infrastructure, but slow to help their citizens. The Japanese mafia stepped in. They "looted" in a very organized way telling each buisness what they were going to "donate" to the cause. They did a good job of bring relief to many.

  It seems that in NO, it was armed thugs who helped provide order and relief.

  by white blitz on Thu Sep 15, 2005 at 06:35:55 AM PDT