Unlike how the title sounds, I'm not going to compare the two storms' devastation. I don't believe it's a contest, Sandy was only a category 1. I don't remember what Katrina was but Lousiana prepares a lot more for Hurricanes than the northeast simply because they get more with much more severity. With that said, and given that property in New York and New Jersey is more than New Orleans, Katrina caused 191 Billion in damage whereas, last estimate I heard, Sandy caused 30-50 Billion. I'm more interested in the people's reaction to it.
After Katrina hit, all I heard was how racist Bush was for not helping them. I didn't hear anyone fault President Obama for Sandy. I live in New York and nobody here said, "Why did he go to New Jersey and not New York?" The closest I heard is that Statan Islanders got mad that when the snow storm hit, FEMA evacuated and they set up their food donating services in areas that were not most affected. This got to the point that Statan Island resident have started collecting things such as suits and food to hand out to the beach front people who were most affected by the storm. This will not get national news....hell it didn't even get local news. I know this because I work with a woman who lives on Statan Island. So, why is it that Bush can be blamed for Katrina but Obama can't be blamed for Sandy?
Some know that President Obama had an extremely good reason not to come to New York.....Mayor Bloomberg asked him not to. What you may not know is that the mayor of New Orleans also asked Bush not to come. They did this for the same reason. Their cities were a mess and they couldn't handle blocking off more streets and diverting resources to host the President of the United States. This is completely understandable which is why Bush and Obama should not be faulted for national disasters. That's not what happened though. Kanye West says, "Bush hates black people" at a fund raiser for hurricane victims. Why doesn't Kanye West say "Obama hates White people" afterall, most of the people who have ocean front properties and live in Long Beach Island, NJ, and Breezy Point, New York (two of the most devastated areas for Sandy) are White. How about, "Obama hates rich people." Those houses are very expensive. Or "Obama hates Italians" because Seaside Height, the Jersey Shore that the show made famous, was absolutely destroyed by Sandy. But you don't hear this from anyone. I'm going to repeat again, none of these things should be said, but I'm sure people would be appalled and accused of racism if they were said. I wish this same animosity and bitterness would be shown toward those who criticized Bush for Katrina.
I still would have no problem with FEMA being cut 30% like Romney suggested. Individual giving is skyrocketing to help the northeast. The NFL and the University of Kentucky alone have given over 2 million dollars. I know 2 million is nothing compared to 30-50 billion, but these are just two of the multiple private sector people giving money for the relief effort. I also think that States have more incentive to give. Yes, New York's government claim to be broke but when you have one of the highest taxes and tolls in the country to enter, you shouldn't be unless you are horrible at budgeting and managing money. The fact that they probably are is why the government needs to be small. Sure those who took the train from central jersey to Manhattan for work every day are happy that they get a free bus since their train won't be fixed for about a year, but that doesn't mean FEMA is underfunded or necesary of the amount they receive. I just wish that natural disasters wouldn't be so politicized the way liberals do. Name one conservative that even hinted at Obama being at fault for Sandy or Irene. Now compare that to the droves of liberals that blamed Bush for Katrina.
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