The Lefts reaction to hurricane Katrina

[nino_savatte]

Why is mears still allowed on these boards? His only reason for starting this thread is obvious: to pick a fight and to spread more lies and disinformation.

 

[nino_savatte]

To identify a Straw Man Argument, you must be familiar enough with the topic in question to recognize when someone is setting up a caricature. Understanding when someone is using this deceptive tactic is the best way to call attention to the weakness of the straw man position.
A Straw Man Argument is a statement a person makes if they want to more easily attack an opposing position.

Let's take the following position: "Evolution has been the main engine of speciation throughout natural history."

A person using a Straw Man against that position will intentionally make a ridiculous caricature of evolution, one that only the most ignorant might believe. These are the steps they might use to try to "disprove evolution".

Either these words are not your own or you really are a computer program/virus. In fact I know you have plagiarised this text from this site
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~lilyth/strawman.html

What is it with you US rightwingers? Why can't you write in your own words ? Why do you have to steal words from other people? Is it because you lack both the intelligence and wit to create your own texts?

 

[Coyote]

To identify a Straw Man Argument, you must be familiar enough with the topic in question to recognize when someone is setting up a caricature. Understanding when someone is using this deceptive tactic is the best way to call attention to the weakness of the straw man position.
A Straw Man Argument is a statement a person makes if they want to more easily attack an opposing position.

Let's take the following position: "Evolution has been the main engine of speciation throughout natural history."

A person using a Straw Man against that position will intentionally make a ridiculous caricature of evolution, one that only the most ignorant might believe. These are the steps they might use to try to "disprove evolution".

Golly Geewilligers Pbman! All them fancy words and sentences strung together with nary a spelling or syntax error. Sacre bleu!!!

Oh wait. Nice cut & paste Fuckstain!


And you failed the test Junior. Fanta wasn't attempting an argument. It's called mockery tinged with contempt.

 

[rocketman]

Thing is dear bushbots, the big difference between you guys and the rest of the world is that the Left has at least had a reaction to Katrina.
Unfortunately in the US it's the right that has the power, so the left's reaction has been limited in it's immediate effect,
So while you make excuses for your ruling elite's lack of action, the left is galvanised to act. Yes, the left hasn't presently got the political power to act, but now above all other existing reasons the right wing has messed up so badky that leftward leaning forces across the planet finally have one common moment to galvanise into action.
At least we had a reaction. You did not. I pray to all the gods that the left across the planet now takes you abject failures of humanity to task. It may take time, but so what?
Your hegemony is tattered and torn; you have sacrificed your consent and created dissonance and anger within your media. You have failed to such an extent that the ugliness inherent in your global vision is exposed, and now judged is found wanting on a global scale.
How can America be a good country to do business with, when you cannot trust the country to guard your back? A failure to meet the social compact you had with the victims in this disaster shows that your country does not and cannot match its responsibilities, meet its promises.
You have failed.
Now watch the left react - because in my mind your compliance in allowing such a slow response to happen effectively means that all you Bushbots have blood on your hands.
I pray once again for a new America, a better America, an America in which people are not judged by wealth, status, sex, sexuality, race, religion or skin tone.
An America where equal opportuinity and social mobility can happen. A compassionate America capable of offering more than lip service to its vulnerable, its poor, it's needy.
An America dedicated to finding peace through peace across the planet as a good, equal, reasonable global citizen.
An America that values its children enough to tackle the very real threats we are leaving them with, global warming, world peace and more.
An America that puts down its swords ti take up the ploughshares.
An America that turns its back on the phrase "America at War", and instead embraces the notion of "A world at peace".
To all the gods I beg for this new era.

 

[fishfingerer]

And were not exactly a rich state, but we do consider our lives important.

Why aren't you rich? Stupid lazy bastards.

 

[fishfingerer]

Anyway, back off troll topic.

 

[Coyote]

Mears is a smug crank who's convinced of his own brilliance. Self-satisfied in the notion that somehow his naff barbs will make those lefty euroweenies squirm. Some of us may be squirming but not for the reasons he believes.

He walks away from an evening's postings thinking he comes away smelling like roses while to the rest of us he reeks of a tainted burrito.

He accuses people of poltical opportunism and lack of empathy. Yet I see nothing in any of his remarks that indicates to me that he has a shred more compassion than anyone here. More likely he's just another detached clambaked fartsack sniffing the crotch hemlines of his Freeper heros.

Even some of the most gumption bereft members of his jolly GOP party have bitchslapped Georgie, yet Mears and his mini-me Mr. Pib stand by their fella.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Actually fuckwit, what fanta said isn't a "straw man", it's irony.

Not that I'd expect you to be able to differentiate.

 

[phildwyer]

if i hear one more fuckwit mention looting i'll fucking explode.

Looting!

 

[ViolentPanda]

Looting!

Bit of a slip there, Phil.

You don't usually acknowledge that you're a fuckwit.

(saves thread for posterity)

 

[mears]

Mears is a smug crank who's convinced of his own brilliance. Self-satisfied in the notion that somehow his naff barbs will make those lefty euroweenies squirm. Some of us may be squirming but not for the reasons he believes.

He walks away from an evening's postings thinking he comes away smelling like roses while to the rest of us he reeks of a tainted burrito.

He accuses people of poltical opportunism and lack of empathy. Yet I see nothing in any of his remarks that indicates to me that he has a shred more compassion than anyone here. More likely he's just another detached clambaked fartsack sniffing the crotch hemlines of his Freeper heros.

Even some of the most gumption bereft members of his jolly GOP party have bitchslapped Georgie, yet Mears and his mini-me Mr. Pib stand by their fella.

The boys really got their game down. Here he is refuting my stances point by point. Not the personal attacks but rational discourse on this tradgedy.

Another one who must surely vote

 

[mears]

A million refugees created in less than a week. People who refuse the leave the city and are engulfed in water. Many of these people can't be reached by automobile or helicopter. One of the worst hurricanes on record.

And none of you care until you can apportion blame.

Blame George Bush

 

[Bernie Gunther]

The people without credit cards were left to die. You expect us to stand around saying, "Wow, the free market's great isn't it? look how well it works"

The great free market society just left those poor sods to die in the street.

 

[mears]

going back to the tsunami business, as i recall there were buckets going round the supemarkets here three days after the event. then there was he disscusion amongst the fatcats and it came to light that beakons that warned of an approaching tsunami were deemed to expensive £15million iirc. the money that ending up being laid out was more than 15 times that amount after the tsunami.

thats what makes this disaster so cowing to pbman and JC2 is that something could and should have been done. to stop the current disaster but instead put their faith in a ruling class that quite frankly didnt give a shit about the people left behind in all the cities and towns arond the geographical area of New Orleans..

It was common knowledge that over 100,000 people in New Orleans relied on public transport, therefore why wasnt it suggested that all transport out of the immediate areas were free and hat the drivers of trains and buses were asked to get as many people out as possible? then

it comes to the young poor and infirm, most of these people would be in touch with atleast some, school, care, health agency...when they knew that the hurricane was upon them take the necessary action to get these vunerable people out...

but it goes without saying now, that these people are now dead.

and its precisly the rulers whom, represtented by bush, are looked at with such scorn because it is they and their policies of wealth creation that disenfranchised the now desperate and dead in the first place cos the most of the annual budget on health welfare and education has been slashed. This in a country were there is more money spent on prisons, homeland security (sic) and occupations abroad- nevermind the ruling class ...

hail the cheif....

Do you believe Asian countries had prepared sufficiently for the Tsunami disaster.

Everyone around here must have been happy with their preperation. I don't remember many post criticizing the Thai government for instance.

But there was some discussion about American bombs that might have caused the Tsunami.

Makes sense. Its always about blaming the US.

 

[mears]

The people without credit cards were left to die. You expect us to stand around saying, "Wow, the free market's great isn't it? look how well it works"

The great free market society just left those poor sods to die in the street.

I know you can't answer it but I will ask anyway.

What economic system would best care for these people?

 

[Jo/Joe]

Currently inexistance? Sweden's or Norway's. But not yours.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

Currently inexistance? Sweden's or Norway's. But not yours.

I think you're pretty spoiled for choice, India was far more efficient in responding to the aftermath of the tsunami. Sihii was quoting some stuff earlier about India having hundreds of helicopters loaded and on the way within a day or two. In fact, judging by previous performance, even Clinton-era FEMA would have be considerably more useful. This is what happens when you let your society's essential public safety infrastructure get privatised and its funds most likely squandered on war on terror boondoggles and fat tax cuts.

 

[fishfingerer]

Currently inexistance? Sweden's or Norway's. But not yours.

And Cuba's, as fucked up as it is by the evil embargo.

 

[sihhi]

I think you're pretty spoiled for choice, India was far more efficient in responding to the aftermath of the tsunami. Sihii was quoting some stuff earlier about India having hundreds of helicopters loaded and on the way within a day or two. In fact, judging by previous performance, even Clinton-era FEMA would have be considerably more useful. This is what happens when you let your society's essential public safety infrastructure get privatised and its funds most likely squandered on war on terror boondoggles and fat tax cuts.

I didn't say "hundreds" did I? I think that's wrong.

But they were out by the 27th December heading not only to the Indian coast but to Sri Lanka & Maldives aswell.

Indian relief and assistance efforts for Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Maldives are already underway. Four Indian Naval Ships sailed to Colombo on 27 Dec carrying medical stores and relief material. Six MI-17 helicopters also moved to Colombo on 27 Dec for search and rescue and relief missions.

http://www.indianembassy.org/Tsunami/Tsunami.htm

 

[Sorry.]

What economic system would best care for these people?

Can anyone come up with an example of a natural disaster that hasn't been dealt with better than Katrina? Extra points if its not a dictator deliberately punishing his people and even more super bonus points if its a rich country. Anyone?

 

[fishfingerer]

 

[mears]

I think you're pretty spoiled for choice, India was far more efficient in responding to the aftermath of the tsunami. Sihii was quoting some stuff earlier about India having hundreds of helicopters loaded and on the way within a day or two. In fact, judging by previous performance, even Clinton-era FEMA would have be considerably more useful. This is what happens when you let your society's essential public safety infrastructure get privatised and its funds most likely squandered on war on terror boondoggles and fat tax cuts.

You going to answer the question about economic systems, or do you let other do your work.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

If you wanted a straight answer mears. You got one. I think that the political and economic system of almost any civilised country would have done better.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

I didn't say "hundreds" did I? I think that's wrong.<snip>

My error. Sorry about that.

 

[james_walsh]

I have no inclination to back up pbman, especially following his ridiculous postings over the last few days, but I do want to stress that not everyone who posts on Urban is in agreement with the stupid remarks about lynch mobs made by James Walsh.

I wasn`t making any claims to be speaking for you, perhas you should not speak for anybody but yourself, i wasn`t claiming to be speaking for wet liberals. Im in an organisation that likes to quote Lucy Parsons and go on about the Poll Tax Riots(1991 or 1381). It was fair reply to the orginal remark!

 

[lizzieloo]

'News special' on BBC1 now

 

[mears]

If you wanted a straight answer mears. You got one. I think that the political and economic system of almost any civilised country would have done better.

Hopefully we will never know. But around a million refugees created in less than a week.

Not too many civilised countries ever have to deal with that

 

[Jo/Joe]

Not too many civilised countries ever have to deal with that

Just so as we're all clear, which countries are uncivilised?

 

[mears]

Just so as we're all clear, which countries are uncivilised?

Those with unresponsive, unelected governments. Examples would be most of the Middle East and Africa.

 

[nino_savatte]

All America all the time - eh?