A number of important books and films have documented the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, but few have explored-- from the perspective of an independent journalist working at the face-to-face level-- the battle between government negligence and violence and the cynical calculus of money and power with the courageous efforts of communities struggling to rebuild in the wake of catastrophe. Like Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine, Flaherty shows that there is a human component to even 'natural' disasters which bring out both the worst and best in a society. Flaherty unflinchingly exposes the human cost of the Bush administration's criminal negligence in dealing with Hurricane Katrina, as well as the cynicism and greed of speculators, real estate moguls, and politicians. At a moment when conservative free-market doctrine is increasingly rejected by the American public, Flaherty's book allows us to see how the tragedy of Katrina represents the embodiment of this doctrine's failure-- a 'perfect storm' of free market and government recklessness. Flaherty gives us the on-the-ground story of ordinary people fighting for survival and community in a way that has been too often overlooked by the mainstream media. He shows the work of grassroots organizers rebuilding homes, fighting for basic services, and struggling for social justice.
- ISBN10 1608461122
- ISBN13 9781608461127
- Publish Date 17 August 2010
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Haymarket Books
- Format eBook
- Pages 329
- Language English