Editor,
After watching the news for the last week, it seems that the media are blaming the federal government for the chaos after Katrina. The media are proclaiming the federal agencies responded too slowly and are, therefore, responsible for people dying.
Most of the chaos was at the designated shelters - primarily the Superdome. The majority of the chaos ensued due to the lack of food, water and medicine. The question arises: Is it the federal government's responsibility to ensure that municipal evacuation centers have the fundamental basics?
Experts warned that New Orleans would suffer greatly if a hurricane were to hit the city directly. However, the municipal and state leaders failed to store basic items at the shelters.
It makes sense that a designated shelter should have food, water and medicine. These same leaders sure can host some of the largest parties in the United States and they can collect millions of dollars in taxes from casinos, yet they couldn't supply the fundamental basics during a predicted natural catastrophe.
There is no doubt that the federal government has a large role to play. Have we reached such a welfare state that the federal government must provide the basics for emergencies in states with full awareness of their susceptibility to natural disasters?
The media should look first to the fragile human condition, second to the power of nature and third to the municipal and state leaders of Louisiana.
Benjamin Sanchez
UNM alumnus
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