What struck me most about the mass of evacuees was the mass of families. I saw family groups from two to forty-five, or even fifty-four members of extended families who wanted to stay together. This is a huge contrast to the conservative commentators who insist that the poor are victims of 1960s liberal welfare schemes who just want to have babies out of wedlock.

Focus: White do-gooders did for black America - Sunday Times - Times Online: "Black poverty is the result of 30 years of misguided welfare rather than racism, says John McWhorter"

It is very difficult to reconcile the duality of response to Katrina. On the one hand, the thousands of volunteers, including those lined up to welcome refugees to emergency shelters in many states: welcome to Houston, how can I help you? Welcome to Tucson, phoenix, Chicago, and more. The Tucson authorities had to request people to stop volunteering, they were overwhelmed.
On the other hand, the Gretna police force lined up at the infamous bridge out of New Orleans with guns, shooting over the heads of desperate people, and the horrific lack of response to the mass of people caught in the city.
Americans want to help people, unless their politicians and their media tell them the people are looters, or welfare cheats, or lazy or don’t deserve their help.