"This is the police. This club is closed."

[strredwolf]

Folks partied to the very end in New Orleans.  Now they have a Katrina-sized hangover that's shared from Louisiana across to Florida... a hangover that's shared now as many refineries are closed, as well as off-shore rigs that may have been destroyed.  Gas prices are now AT $3/gallon regular unleaded -- a news report via local TV station reported they went up a quarter over the span of 5 hours.  I hope they can get things back up and running quickly for that industry.

One of Fox News' talking heads, Neil Cavuto, ended his show with one intresting thought:  Where is the support for the US, after all that the US has given to the international community?  And to be honest, there's been no report of it that I've seen from Fox, CNN, MSNBC, nor CBS -- it's been mosty localized coverage of the storm itself, not any aid offered by Brittan or France or even Iran.

So, before I pull up the BBC, I'd like to ask the furs reading my blog, who are "across the great pond" in Asia, Africa, South America, Austrailia and Europe.  Has the country in your neck of the woods offered aid to the USA?

Comments

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

As far as the support goes, we don't need it. We have insurance.

The increase in gas price is probably an overreaction to prevent what happened after 9/11. With all of the TV stations reporting potential shortages and price hikes, they wanted to head off a last-minute run to the pumps by bumping the price a bit. I remember after 9/11 one of our local gas stations running out of both regular unleaded and midgrade and being low on super as well.

The price differential yesterday was 26 cents between the gas stations that hadn't changed the price and the ones who had. ($2.63 to $2.89) The ones who hadn't did have a run on gasoline as well.

[the-samsee.livejournal.com]

"Has the country in your neck of the woods offered aid to the USA?"

Ok, that's not fair strredwolf. The vast majority of countries in this world don't have the resources to help themselves, let alone the US. Most of asia, africa, south america and europe need continual aid to properly address their own issue, so how are they supposed to help out? And Australia, though far better off than most of them, well compared to the economic might of the US itself, it'd probably only be able to offer a drop in the water compared to what the US can muster on its own.

Giving is about helping others in need when you have the opportunity. It's not about getting something back later.

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

It may not be fair, but my intent is "Is this Cavuto guy really saying the truth, or is he blowing smoke because such reports are being pushed out of the news cycle?"

[digitalwar.livejournal.com]

Well we are still pissed off at Bush after the G8 summit.

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

We're still pissed off at Bush for Iraq and alot of other places. The only good thing is that he's out come 2008.

[kisai.livejournal.com]

Canada usually helps, but the USA has been giving us the finger for the last few years and is ignoring it's obligations under NAFTA for free trade.

If the USA want's to be treated fairly, it needs to stop acting like a bully to it's neighbours.

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

Like I said before, we likely won't need the external aid.

Secondly, if we did, would it honestly be fair to say that just because you don't like the dealings the other country had done that you're going to turn your backs on thousands who need that aid? Thousands who are not in an area that produces softwood and had no economic benefit at all, and were not involved in the least?

Gee, I guess the US shouldn't have helped Iran out in all those earthquakes.

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

(I can see it now, "USA usually helps, but Iran has been giving us the finger for the last few years and is ignoring it's obligations under NPT. If the Iran want's to be treated fairly, it needs to stop acting like a bully to it's neighbours."

See how well that one would fare in public opinion.)

[kesarra.livejournal.com]

I'd ask other countries for support only after the US actually pays up on financial support it's promised to other countries. (Israel and Egypt don't count.) The last tsunami is still unpaid.

[kisai.livejournal.com]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050831_katrina_template_050831?s_name=&no_ads=

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

Last I heard, the US was one of the few countries who had already actually ALLOCATED the money that they've promised. More than 350 million has already been spent as well. The remaining 600 million is allocated to a reconstruction project in Thailand and is just awaiting the crews to go down there and get the project going.

[kazriko.livejournal.com]

:) Thank you BC for the help and for proving that Canada isn't as petty as that post made it sound. (Which, given the number of Canadian friends I have, I already knew.)