As long as American politics is dominated by a political philosophy that defines "freedom" as a policy which allows the business community to have their own way under any and all circumstances, this sort of outrage will continue. Next time it may not be a natural disaster, but any calamity will do.

Your homework assignment is to read the Wikipedia article on the Irish Potato Famine. History doesn't always repeat itself, but often...etc etc. Did you know Ireland was actually exporting grain while a million starved to death, and a million more were forced to emigrate? All in an effort to "let the free market solve the problem".

"The Almighty sent the Potato Blight, but the English created the famine."