# WTF? The Astrodome is FULL? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699 "2005-09-02T03:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/81 "2005-09-02T11:35:18Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Please tell me why petrol prices went up a week ago in NZ because of predicted damage to refinery capicity in the gulf of Mexico yet the Americam govt could not find a way to provide free transport to evacuate New Orleans…even after they deemed evacuation Mandatory? Plenty of people chose to stay. And just how would _you_ provide free transportation to hundreds of thousands of people in a very, _very_ short amount of time? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/82 "2005-09-02T11:43:06Z")
Just how short was the time? As I said petrol pries went up here a week ago…there was some warning! I am fully open to being wrong but it seems, NO you left if you could afford to. Surely with the warning available some transport could have been made available for those who couldn’t afford it. Day 5, Bush tours? Too fucking little and wayyyyyyy too fucking late! ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/83 "2005-09-02T11:46:06Z")
We all want to be safe. I think that in these kinds of circumstances people like **Stephe96** need to find a way to make the people in the cituation be the **OTHER** otherwise danger could happen to them. Anyone who loses a job is Other. Anyone who lives in tornado zone, or earthquake zone, or near a river, or whatever the current natural disaster is, is somehow Other. It is essential for his idea of safty for those people to be somehow responsible for their own fate. If they aren’t then disaster could happen to him, and that is just too hard to cope with. I look around my cluttered livingroom with its cacoon of books, art supplies and cats and wonder how I would respond if it was all swept away. Most people aren’t the nasty people that loot and burn, but most aren’t also like the young man with the violin who are still even able to think of giving when all else is gone. I hope in the circumstances, I would like the violin man. It can happy to any of us, we are not really as safe as we try to convince ourselves we are. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/84 "2005-09-02T11:47:28Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Just how short was the time? As I said petrol pries went up here a week ago…there was some warning! > > I am fully open to being wrong but it seems, NO you left if you could afford to. Surely with the warning available some transport could have been made available for those who couldn’t afford it. > > Day 5, Bush tours? Too fucking little and wayyyyyyy too fucking late! Do have any concept of the fact that some natural disasters are bigger than any government? Fats Domino, for one, could certainly have afforded to leave. He chose to stay and, as he told a friend, “ride it out.” Is that Bush’s fault, too? Should President Bush have sent federal troops to storm into Fats Domino’s home and dragged him out by the ear? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/85 "2005-09-02T11:52:31Z")
> [@furlibusea](#): > > We all want to be safe. I think that in these kinds of circumstances people like **Stephe96** need to find a way to make the people in the cituation be the **OTHER** otherwise danger could happen to them. Anyone who loses a job is Other. Anyone who lives in tornado zone, or earthquake zone, or near a river, or whatever the current natural disaster is, is somehow Other. It is essential for his idea of safty for those people to be somehow responsible for their own fate. If they aren’t then disaster could happen to him, and that is just too hard to cope with. > > I look around my cluttered livingroom with its cacoon of books, art supplies and cats and wonder how I would respond if it was all swept away. Most people aren’t the nasty people that loot and burn, but most aren’t also like the young man with the violin who are still even able to think of giving when all else is gone. I hope in the circumstances, I would like the violin man. It can happy to any of us, we are not really as safe as we try to convince ourselves we are. “Anyone who loses a job is Other?” I have no clue what you’re talking about here. I don’t _think_ people trying to survive in New Orleans are “responsible for their own fate”…they _fucking are_ responsible for their own fate right now! Sitting around in the water and bitching about government response is _not_ going to feed your family or keep them safe! My God, at what point does a person think, “You know what? We’re on our own here for awhile” and band together and come up with some kind of plan? Wow, some overwhelmed cop who is dealing with same chaos you are wasn’t quite sure where to send you, so you complain about the fact that he’s not doing anything to help you? Why not pitch in and help _him_ ?!?! ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/86 "2005-09-02T11:55:55Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Because there are certain situations in which ‘the govt’ is not the answer. There comes a point where people, these “Americans” you’re talking about, have to rely on themselves for a while. Pretend for the moment that government isn’t available, pretend they _can’t_ help you. What are you gonna do? Simply lie down in the water and die? These people should be ashamed to call themselves “American,” if you ask me. It looks like this “gimmee, gimmee” welfare mentality has sapped them of their natural human survival instincts. You don’t just wander around the streets and ask reporters, “Where should I go? Why isn’t anyone helping us?” You fucking take a look around, read the situation and start working on the problem. Jesus Christ. This is one of those “mile in their mocassins” things, Stephe. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/87 "2005-09-02T12:02:06Z")
By chance, do you work in the Bush administration, Stephe96? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/88 "2005-09-02T12:02:35Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > This is one of those “mile in their mocassins” things, Stephe. I’m not saying these people are not in a desperate situation. But I _am_ saying that bitching about government response isn’t really the answer right now. There comes a time when you just have to pretend that there is no government to help you. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/89 "2005-09-02T12:04:23Z")
You appear to be asking several different things. Can natural disasters can take the govt by suprise? Yes! We had major floods in NZ earlier this year that were a complete surprise. Was Katrina a suprise? NO Was New Orleans deemed to be in a sitiuation that required evacuted manditory evacution? YES Were poor people evacuated with govt (state or Federal) assistance? No. Have those people unable to evacuate (due to finances) been evacuated? No. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/90 "2005-09-02T12:05:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > By chance, do you work in the Bush administration, Stephe96? Nope. And I’d be saying the exact same thing if John Kerry was in the White House. This disaster is bigger than the government right now. As horrible as it is, many of these people are on their own right now. There _are_ times when you have to adapt to the situation. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/91 "2005-09-02T12:10:31Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Nope. And I’d be saying the exact same thing if John Kerry was in the White House. This disaster is bigger than the government right now. As horrible as it is, many of these people are on their own right now. There _are_ times when you have to adapt to the situation. And you may be right- the disaster IS bigger than the government. Maybe the government is only part of the solution. My beef with the government is that they are not doing very well at all on their part of the solution. In fact, I am far from alone in calling it a national disgrace. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/92 "2005-09-02T12:10:42Z")
A time when the govt should not help you? There are plenty of those times. When you are up to your arseholes in water with no food, no water, no power or phone then you ask the govt to help and help QUICKLY! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/93 "2005-09-02T12:11:17Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > “Anyone who loses a job is Other?” I have no clue what you’re talking about here. I don’t _think_ people trying to survive in New Orleans are “responsible for their own fate”…they _fucking are_ responsible for their own fate right now! Sitting around in the water and bitching about government response is _not_ going to feed your family or keep them safe! My God, at what point does a person think, “You know what? We’re on our own here for awhile” and band together and come up with some kind of plan? I would just like to point out that this neatly describes the thought processes of the the gangs who armed themselves by looting the WalMart and who are now attempting to threaten helicopter crews into rescuing their families first. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/94 "2005-09-02T12:11:47Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > Were poor people evacuated with govt (state or Federal) assistance? No. Actually, as hurricanes go, Katrina _was_ a bit of a surprise. Nobody knew exactly where she was going to hit. In those last few hours before landfall, a zig this way or a zag that way and we’d be looking at an entirely different situation. And a mandatory evacuation order was issued. People were warned. There is only so much any government can do in that situation. Would it have been beautiful if the state and federal government had provided each and every citizen in the path of Katrina their own personal helicopter and rescue team? Absolutely. But, unfortunately, that is not how things happen in the real world. Please tell me how you would have evacuated millions of people from their homes in two days or less, the criteria you would have used to determine just exactly who was in the path of the storm, and what you would’ve done with the hundreds of thousand who chose to remain home? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/95 "2005-09-02T12:14:22Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > I would just like to point out that this neatly describes the thought processes of the the gangs who armed themselves by looting the WalMart and who are now attempting to threaten helicopter crews into rescuing their families first. Are these people insane? What kind of idiot thinks that shooting at rescue crews will get them save first? The rational people down there ought to band together and take these morons out. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/96 "2005-09-02T12:15:26Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > A time when the govt should not help you? > > There are plenty of those times. When you are up to your arseholes in water with no food, no water, no power or phone then you ask the govt to help and help QUICKLY! I didn’t say “should not” help you…I said _can not_ help you! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/97 "2005-09-02T12:17:22Z")
Didn’t thousands evacuate themselves? Where was the govt assisted transport for those who couldn’t. I am not sure I could trust my lil socialist leaning govt to rescue me…I would have more faith in them though. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/98 "2005-09-02T12:19:50Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I am not sure I could trust my lil socialist leaning govt to rescue me…I would have more faith in them though. The first part of this is the most intelligent thing you’ve said yet…but then you go and contradict it. You’re not sure you could “trust” them but you’d have more “faith” in them? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/99 "2005-09-02T12:24:07Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > I didn’t say “should not” help you…I said _can not_ help you! Can not? Well they certainly have the resources and probably the warning. All that aside it is 4/5 days later! The ‘Richest country in the World’ does have the resources and is yet to ask for help? Huh? ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699/100 "2005-09-02T12:31:50Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > The first part of this is the most intelligent thing you’ve said yet…but then you go and contradict it. You’re not sure you could “trust” them but you’d have more “faith” in them? 😕 Oh dear, I would love to explain that to you but while my counties flood victims are S-L-O-W-L-Y being compensated, we are all still watching to see if you save yours. Sadly for those trapped there is no winner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-the-astrodome-is-full/319699.md?page=6)