# Won't somebody PLEASE help lil' ol' us? ! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 31, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494 "2005-08-31T22:06:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/41 "2005-09-02T03:47:51Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > [In response to: “On a more cynical bent, a radio host from a local private broadcaster wondered if the Americans would be needing a lot of softwood while rebuilding.”] > > I don’t understand this. Is it some sort of criticism of the building codes that exist in Louisiana? The US and Canada are at the brink of a trade war over a US tariff on Canadian softwood lumber. Basically, the strong sentiment in Canada is that the US is illegally restricting one of their biggest exports, raising the cost of softwood lumber in the US to benefit the US softwood lumber industry. (From what I understand the US position is “we’re the US what the fuck can you do about it, even if we have been ruled against at every possible level of trade courts”) Softwood lumber is what houses are built out of. NO will need to build many houses soon. Thus, a cynical Canadian broadcaster fancies that this large unexpected demand of softwood lumber will encourage the US to be more willing to import Canadian softwood and allow the price of softwood to come down as the US and Canadian lumber industries compete on an equal footing again. I had to admit, having read the whole story on another thread, I had a cynical chuckle as well. Then again, I think the President of Indonesia ought to offer a couple insultingly small offers before announcing anything that could be taken seriously. There’s probably a good reason they don’t entrust me with those sorts of powers. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/42 "2005-09-02T03:55:29Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Why would it, or am I being whooshed? Nobody thinks it’s cynical if the insurance industry jumps into action in the wake of a disaster. I would think it was Good Business Sense, usually a trait Americans appreciate, as well as preparing to help people in need to start checking if you have enough lumber they can spend all that insurance money on. It’s gotta be spent on someone’s lumber and you guys have the most. Nothing to do with the insurance industry. Canada and the US are in the middle of a severe trade dispute over softwood lumber sanctions that is threatening the future of NAFTA. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/43 "2005-09-02T03:57:23Z")
> [@Banquet Bear](#): > > …but unfortunately they can’t get permission to fly into the country. > [http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/31/235829/261](http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/31/235829/261) I hadn’t heard anything about any hitches getting into the country. They were on the ground late on the 31st, anyway, although they’re [in the same boat](http://vancouver.ca/usar/) as other relief workers. > [@](#): > > We’ve been attached to the Louisiana State Troopers, and we also have the National Guard assisting us. Unfortunately, from time we were given orders to move from Lafayette at 4:30 a.m. this morning up here, the lid has blown off this place. There’s a lot of gun fire, a number of hostage situations right down the street. So, all search and rescue has been halted in this area for now. We will not be performing any search and rescue operations for at least the next 8-12 hours. > > "It’s far too dangerous for even the state troopers and police to wander out. It’s absolutely crazy, the devastation is unreal – the gunfire, the shooting, the looting is like something you see in a movie. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![ramesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ramesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ramesh)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/44 "2005-09-02T04:05:03Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Am I being whooshed here? You’re really sure there were no fire and rescue and so on people from the U.K. (and I shoul think from Canada etc) helping in NYC re. 9/11? 😕 Hmmm… I was thinking more like China sending aid workers when I wrote that post. Maybe I am just being paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/45 "2005-09-02T04:35:25Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > I hadn’t heard anything about any hitches getting into the country. They were on the ground late on the 31st, anyway, although they’re [in the same boat](http://vancouver.ca/usar/) as other relief workers.Sigh. It’s beginning to look like we should have sent the Princess Patricias instead of search and rescue teams. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/46 "2005-09-02T04:35:38Z")
Does anyone remember how long it took the US government to make a [meaningful response the Tsunami](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/29/politics/main663680.shtml)? These things always take a few days to get organized. That’s not a political comment, it’s just the way the real world works. And were did \*\* lk1932\*\*'s ball of hate originate? It couldn’t possibly be [Fucksnews](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168045,00.html) could it? > [@](#): > > Maybe I missed it, but I have a question: Where’s the global relief effort for us today? > > New Orleans (search) is under water. Mississippi (search) is a disaster. Scores are dead. Homes are destroyed. Businesses are shut down. > > When this kind of stuff happens to other folks, we’re there. When this kind of stuff happens to us, who’s here? Folks, if you want to learn about the real world, please turn the channel to something else. Anything else. If you want to listen to hate filled shit, stay tuned. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/47 "2005-09-02T04:55:08Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > DAnd were did \*\* lk1932\*\*'s ball of hate originate? It couldn’t possibly be [Fucksnews](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168045,00.html) could it? Seeing as **lk** ’s OP was made two days before FoxNews got around to it, I’d have to say “no.” That’s a new low for Fox, though. It’s one thing for some schmuck on the internets to send forth ignorant spew like that, but it’s another thing altogether when you have a “news” outlet spreading it around. I mean, presumably Mr. Cavuto has access to wire services, right? And those wire services carried stories about offers of assistance from foreign governments and nationals? What a fucking moron. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/48 "2005-09-02T04:59:34Z")
And Sec-Gen Kofi Annan was just shown on CNN, saying that the United States is one of the most generous nations in the world, ready to help others in their hour of need - and now it’s the turn for the rest of us to help the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/49 "2005-09-02T11:23:01Z")
If the fucking oil companies would donate those record profits, no help would be needed from any other country. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494/50 "2005-09-02T12:59:42Z")
> [@Abbie Normal](#): > > If the fucking oil companies would donate those record profits, no help would be needed from any other country. :mad: O’Reilly on Foxnews suggested yesterday that doing away with 20% of the profit alone would be a great help, but he got a nice statement on how undercutting the sacred machinations of capitalism would not help, for which the honorable representative of said OPEC kartel affiliate postulated 1973 as a defense. Not that O’Reilly’s suggestion bore even a resemblance to that, but oh well. > [@http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/12543574.htm](#): > > European nations are offering aid, most commonly manpower or emergency equipment, for the rescue efforts. French officials have pledged to send help from their civil rescue facilities in Martinique and Guadalupe. Germany is offering to send oil from reserves and is preparing to ship emergency water purification facilities, shelters and medical equipment. British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said humanitarian aid and disaster relief materials were ready to be shipped. > > The European Union - 25 European nations - has promised to send “whatever aid is needed,” which also includes oil from reserves. In addition, they’re ready to send water supply and temporary shelter construction experts. > > Russian Homeland Security has two transport planes ready for takeoff, with crews trained in search and rescue. And Italy said has air force transport planes ready to deliver civil defense teams and equipment. > > Europeans have been stunned by the unfolding tragedy. National television stations have pre-empted local programming for footage and reports from New Orleans - a city founded by French settlers. Rome’s La Repubblica called it, “America’s Pompeii.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wont-somebody-please-help-lil-ol-us/319494.md?page=2)