The victims of Iowa flooding vs. Hurricane Katrina

[DEADEYE]

I heard on talk radio there actually was one confirmed case of looting. lol. What I also don't see are people suggesting we should as a country, write off these towns in Iowa. No one is blaming them for living there. How's that for the other side of the coin?

[Bobpantax]

I think that, among other things, you have to consider the difference between a region that is perceived to grow a good part of our food and a city that was perceived to grow a good part of our crime. This difference, already noted by the media, leads different people to different viewpoints. As for me, I believe, as stated above, that what happended in New Orleans was a failure of local leadership to fulfill its duty to its citizens and the subsequent pandering to that leadership by Democrats and Republicans at all levels.

[ViperJay]

i think the similarities are uncanny. a contained and large population. levee's that broke and caused the main damage. however, in iowa the damage is still coming. i bet sociologists could make a very good case study here if they had the balls. i wonder if fema will hand out free atm cards or provide free trailors to iowans?

[NukedGTS]

Originally Posted by ViperJay

i think the similarities are uncanny. a contained and large population. levee's that broke and caused the main damage. however, in iowa the damage is still coming. i bet sociologists could make a very good case study here if they had the balls. i wonder if fema will hand out free atm cards or provide free trailors to iowans?

Jay, Judging by the recent firings or forced resignations of academics suggesting anything non-pc, a person would have to have a set large enough to prevent him from walking through the Callahan Tunnel without rubbing the sides. Just ask ex-Harvard president Lawrence Summers.

[NukedGTS]

Originally Posted by Bobpantax

I think that, among other things, you have to consider the difference between a region that is perceived to grow a good part of our food and a city that was perceived to grow a good part of our crime. This difference, already noted by the media, leads different people to different viewpoints. As for me, I believe, as stated above, that what happended in New Orleans was a failure of local leadership to fulfill its duty to its citizens and the subsequent pandering to that leadership by Democrats and Republicans at all levels.

Bob,
I think your arguement holds more merit regarding the outset of the N.O. disaster and the time immediately following. However, there comes a time when an indivudual, family or even community must start to take SOME initiative with or without the governments' help. Watch Iowa over the coming months and I think you will see what I am referring to. I still don't see it in N.O. and I visit there often. Did the Iowa politicians handle things better than the LA politicians as you suggest? Perhaps, I am just not close enough to the politics of either area to make an educated comparison.

[Bobpantax]

The preflood, during the flood and post flood data available to the population of Iowa was excellent. For instance, take a look at the Ames, Iowa city website ( It had a flood update, etc. every day ) and the Iowa State website. I think that we are going to see a much different and more orderly recovery in the Midwest - just as there was after the 1993 flood. With that said, I am impressed with Lousiana's new Governor and I am hopeful that he will continue to provide the kind of leadership that has long been needed in that state.

[Solid Red 98]

I came across these clips of interest on this subject.

YouTube - Rush Limbaugh: People of Iowa Better than New Orleans
YouTube - UNDECLARED MARTIAL LAW CONTINUES FOR IOWA FLOOD RESIDENTS

[NukedGTS]

Originally Posted by Solid Red 98

I came across these clips of interest on this subject.

YouTube - Rush Limbaugh: People of Iowa Better than New Orleans
YouTube - UNDECLARED MARTIAL LAW CONTINUES FOR IOWA FLOOD RESIDENTS

I'd love to know the search words you used in YouTube when you "came across" the vids. Just to differentiate between looking for something and "coming across" it.

[DrDJ]

Sorry to break up the rally, but don't pat yourselves on the back too hard for being so superior (at least in your own minds.) So you guys can't see any difference between the N.O. and Iowa floods beyond the demographics of the respective populations? Everything else is the same? That's far from the truth. The density of population in N.O.was much higher, for example. That presents all kinds of problems for disaster relief.

How about the captions from the A.P. photos from N.O.? One person "found some food for survival" while the other had looted their food. Sounds a bit biased to me.

DrDJ

[Blue Pilot]

Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?

Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are?

Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?

When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?

Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?

Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?

When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a 'vanilla' Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?

Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?

Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?

How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?