New Orleans, Labor Day

There has been lots of talk about the looting in New Orleans. The President has said how he wishes to persecute looters. This, mind you, as according to Associated Press "The New Orleans police chief ran off looters while city officials themselves were commandeering equipment from an Office Depot". Hmmm. . . a discrepancy? Apparently during a state of emergency the police have broad powers to take private goods and households. Actually guys, the Constitution's Third and Sixth Ammendment protect against that! The Constitution is not suspended in times of unrest (although in times of insurrection Habeas Corpus can be suspended as Republican Abraham Lincoln did).

While I'm questioning the illegalities of the current Administration, how can they use the military in New Orleans? Bush has talked about violating the Posse Comitatus Act and using the military to restore order. I'm all for restoring order and certainly desperate times call for desperate measures but it just seems that an Administration that was ill-prepared for a disaster that was known to be coming just decides whatever laws it wants to have as laws.

I did see some interesting articles on foreign countries reactions to the disaster as well as an interesting article on when looting is ethical. This dealt with the feeding of the family/getting medicines to keep yourself alive. This makes some sense and is probably why the police were letting it go at first - when people were just taking some basic things and not TVs, stereos, etc.

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My plans for Labor Day are not as grand as I had orginally hoped. I have a four day weekend and had hoped to go somewhere interesting. Well, I still could but have plenty to do yet and with gas prices, it really puts a damper on going far. Not an extreme damper but it does make me think. Heck this is why my commute to work has changed I bit. I bus and bike a lot more now. I have often biked to do errands or to work before so this isn't exactly a new thing for me but I'm trying to use my car less (although driving to bridge last night chewed up some gas and boy, did I not play well).

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A couple quick notes:

Still haven't heard back from Pat on accesss ot his blog. What gives Mr. Martino? Still haven't gotten my invite to the Bumstead's party! Looks like a little poker this weekend - oh and writing to a friend or two.

- Russell Weisfield