The title of this one is because that's was keeps happening. I keep coming up with more thoughts and more writing. So here we go. This one came from listening to the news both here in Australia and in the USA.

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I was just listening to the news about the problems in New Orleans not so long ago. Lots of people died, but not as many as expected. My suspicion is that this is because many people heard the early warnings and vacated the city. What about those who didn’t have transport, who didn’t have anywhere to go, who didn’t have the physical means to vacate in the short term. There was talk about people in hospitals and homes who died because they couldn’t leave, and no one helped them.

What is the government’s roles in our society nowadays? Is it to protect people who use drugs in countries like Indonesia? Or is it, to help people evacuate from natural disasters?

I know I am confusing happenings in two different countries. The tornados in the USA and the current Australian happenings with the like of Chapelle Corby, the model, and the teacher who have all been arrested in Indonesia for possessing drugs. Now every Australian must know the consequences of possessing drugs of any sort in Indonesia. There has been so much media attention I can’t imagine anyone not knowing these consequences.

I would much rather to see my government and my tax dollars going to help evacuate people from a potential natural disaster than protecting people who choose to do something illegal and get caught.

Madeleine Hicks
Saturday, 17 September 2005