Yesterday, President Bush visited historic Jackson Barracks in New Orleans to tout the progress of the recovery and congratulate local leaders for their hard work. Sadly, the praise was misplaced for most local leaders do not deserve any commendation. The people who really deserve praise are the first responders who saved lives, the generous volunteers who came to the area to rebuild and the hard working residents who have persevered in spite of the red tape, corruption and incompetence that have prevented a strenuous recovery.
For example, the state’s Road Home program has been nothing short of a mismanaged disgrace. The program is still not complete and according to a new report, the grants are insufficient. The group Policy Link noted in a report released yesterday that the average Road Home grant only covers about 30% of the repair costs for hurricane victims. Is it any wonder that many of these people cannot afford to rebuild and return to the area?
All President Bush had to do yesterday was take a look at the neighborhoods surrounding Jackson Barracks. There are miles and miles of dilapidated homes and destroyed streets. The return of residents has been very slow to say the least. In fact, throughout New Orleans, the recovery has been spotty at best. Three years after Katrina, the population of New Orleans is still 200,000 less than before the storm.
It is clear that former residents are not returning for a variety of reasons. People do not have confidence in the leadership of New Orleans. They are worried about the horrific crime situation which has not improved. The educational environment is still uncertain as dozens of schools remain closed. The economy is weak as the main industry, tourism, has been faltering. For example, the business at the MorialConvention Center has been slow and even major hotels in the downtown New Orleans area have not been reopened.
Hurricane safety is always a major concern since the levee repair is still ongoing and real coastal restoration has not even started.
Corruption is always a black eye for our state. Almost everyday, politicians are indicted or convicted of serious crimes. There are ongoing investigations involving scores of local public servants, so corruption is a thriving business in our state. The city’s NOAH program which restored homes destroyed by the hurricane has now been shutdown and the program is under federal investigation.
Overall, the GulfCoast has received $126 billion in federal aid, but it is a mystery where all of that money has gone. Certainly much of it has been wasted and stolen.
So, Mr. President, it is an outrage that the recovery has been so slow. It is a shame that this area continues to suffer from such poor leadership. Of course, there are many great people in this area and this region offers many attractions that can be found nowhere else in the world. But, nothing excuses the debacle that has occurred post-Katrina. It is a disaster that never seems to end.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com.
Now there is the Lockheed L1011, and Lockheed merged with Martin Marrietta some time back, doesn't Martin Marrietta currently fabricate the fuel pods for the space shuttle outside of New Orleans somewhere? Don't know if they got flooded out or not... Perhaps if they had good flood protection we could manufacture the next generation of AirForce tankers...... Written by
on 8/27/2008
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I agree with you there on several of your statements KPF, and I would suppose that the condition of contentment, however that is interpreted on a personal level, depends upon people’s priorities and common sense levels...... Needs vs. Wants.... Prudence over fads and trends...... Progress vs. stagnation...... I for one am sort of grateful in some ways for this deficit problem we are currently experiencing, perhaps it will bring one of the great social experiments to a close that is nothing but a waste of time, money, and effort........ It has been and will continue to be a significant suck or drain on the economy as well as a presence of mind and the fortitude of the common American citizenship…. In comparison to the dark ages, or even as little as 100 years ago, it is unbelievable the advancements we currently enjoy… Just flip a switch and we have light at night, no need to rub two sticks together……. Incidentally, how can you make sure you can light a fire by rubbing two sticks together? Easy, make sure one of them is a match…… Anyways, push a button and you can see images from around the world, or even from outer space…. Catch the flu, go get a shot…… Hungry? Throw a frozen dinner in the microwave….. Got to be in Denver by 2:00 a.m. because Gustav is hitting at 5:00 a.m.? Jump on an airplane…… Don’t have the cash to do this? Put it on your credit card… Don’t have a credit card? Grab something from around the house, wander down to the pawn shop, get some cash and catch a Greyhound Bus out of town a few days earlier…… This idea that everything is supposed to be fair and everyone should be even-steven or equal is the biggest hoax in town…… To even things up, because blind people are so suppressed, depressed, etc., etc., etc., wutever may I propose that everyone should have to walk around with their eyes shut so that blind people feel better about their selves???? Eyes shut while we walk around, drive around, fly around, legislate laws, cook dinner, read books to our children, and play baseball… That way everyone is the same, blind, and possessing bruised shins……. No one has a bowling trophy unless everyone has a bowling trophy, no one has a seeing eye dog unless everyone has a seeing eye dog, whether they need one or not or whether they would prefer a seeing eye cat or not, or even if someone would like to get all high tech and put a bat on a string so he or she can maneuver around with an acoustical sensory advantage… And not have to carry around a doggie poppie scoopie and plastic baggy all the time…… They can’t have that because they have to run around, same as everyone else, with eyes closed, led around by a seeing eye dog…… Because that is what makes some goofy happy…….. Take T.W. for instance……. Used to be a time he would be able to just hop up a couple of steps at the front porch of his house, enter his front door, sit down on the couch and click on the T.V., or a radio, or his computer…. Wutever….. Now, because someone says that is what he is going to do, or he isn’t going to get no money, he gets to climb stairs 10 feet up in the air to get to his front door… Up and down, up and down, up and down, day after day, night after night….. 10 bags of groceries in hand after he made a trip down the stairs to get to his car (or if he is one of those real green fellers, a stroll down to the corner to catch the bus) so that he can go grocery shopping, he now has anywhere from 3, 4, or more trips up and down up and down up and down……. Carrying arm loads of groceries… I do hope he opts for the Yamaha keyboard synthesizer….. Lot’s easier to get up those steps than a Grand Piano………. Man are his knees going to love him if and when he hits 70....... Ahhh,,,, but anyways, perhaps he has a moment of inspiration and starts getting visions of grandeur…. An elevator!!!!!! Yeah, have you seen the costs on those? Funny thing about it is I could design one and install it for around the cost of his 15 or 18 feet worth of stairs he walks up and down to get to or from his front door that rests at 10 feet of elevation, and, if he has one, the front porch…… But I can’t do that because the government is rigged in such a way that it wants to keep everything fair, and fair means I can’t just go out and cut into Otis, or ThyssenKrupp elevator’s market share……. And then there are the retarded and exuberant testing, and certification costs… Coupled with the hand tying effects of outrageous insurance costs, sort of like the no baby cribs being manufactured in America kind of thing,,,,, But that is a whole ball of wax unto itself…. Butt……… If I were a minority all sorts of grants and gimmies would be made available………. And all sorts of free consultations and legal advice arranged, and all sorts of tear jerking media episodes on the local news telling of my disadvantaged plight…….. And then there would be special rules made so I could ‘compete’……… Oh glahhhhh……… Checks and balances are important KPF, and I believe there should be broader applications of this methodology that encompasses more aspects of not only funds disbursement, but business advocating/implementation…… (as well as our stupid social programs) Cost and value ratios – utilization factors should be seriously contemplated… Take Boeing for instance…… We jerked (thank gawd) the Aerial Fuel Tanker contract from Northrop Grumman and its partner, European Aeronautic Defense and Space, the parent of Airbus. I think this group wanted to send us modified A380 Airbuses that is headquartered to a greater extent in France, with a bulk of the work done in Europe (It’s a crummy aircraft anyways, too long of a wingspan, those French sometimes seem to want to put more savoire fare on things than are really necessary, take the Maginot line, or the glass pyramid at the Louvre for instance.. gaaakkkk!!! Personally I am happy with the KC-135 Stratotanker’s performance and range capabilities, don’t know what is wrong with reworking the jigs and putting it into production. Even a modified DC10-30 would work well) ,,,,, And now that Boeing is back at the table, it is jacking the price claiming time lag……. In effect, telling the taxpayer that it has to spend way more on an Aerial Tanker than it should have to… Sort of like those $1,000.00 toilet seats and $350.00 crescent wrenches for the B-52’s several decades ago……. Same game, just a different subject……. Well, I am sure Lockheed has some ideas, but actually our Government has sort of killed competition in this area…….. Not being really fair and all……. And McDonnell Douglas on a stand alone basis would have been nice to fall back on, butttt…….. more corporate shenanigans…. it merged with Boeing sometime ago. Talk about free market killers…… Wait a minute, isn’t that what this NAFTA thing is supposed to be all about? Free markets? Free Trade?...... If you ask me it is another example of “What’s good for the goose, isn’t good for the gander.” So there you come up with attempting to find ways to put the power back in the hands of the people…… Oh, I forgot to thank Senator McCain on the time he spent exposing the corruption and getting those contracts for a national defense system apparatus for our national security reversed back into the hands of the American public…… Too bad Boeing doesn’t seem to have any respect for him, or the American Taxpayer………. But there are others that think defense isn't important, we should have gimmicks, fads and talkers in the white house instead... So that people will be happy, and white people can feel loved..... I believe that on top of ‘ethics’ laws that actually mean or do something, malfeasance of office abuse penalty’s should be harsher……… Not only for our elected officials, but for the lazy wart government employees as well……….. You take the bite out of a lazy, wasteful, biased governmental employee and you will have a minimum of 35 – 45% of the problem under control almost immediately……… And I know of more than just a few that should be out in the gutter right now....... Written by
on 8/27/2008
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All the love TW and Mr. Smith show each other aside... about the wasted money... you know the $150 gazillion or whatever. Corruption did not begin with GWB, nor is it exclusive to either party. "Accountability" in public spending should be - - "If you misappropriate public money, you will get the death penalty." Drastic perhaps but it would "go far" in reducing wasteful spending. Drastic problems require drastic solutions. Unfortunately, our government officials do not do the "checks and balances thing" (oh crap - I'm speaking like GWB!) and police themselves. THEY NEVER WILL. NEVER. If "we the people" do not take over the task of appropriating our tax dollars - they will continue to be stolen, mis-spent on political paybacks FOREVER AND EVER. There is NO ONE out there who can be trusted to uphold the duties of public office honestly and honorably. Haven't you people noticed that yet? Written by kpf
on 8/27/2008
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Ahhhh,, a typical if not predictable comeback from you there T-duhhhhhbbbbbb…….. Borderline irrational if not kindergarten in nature as well…… An old saying comes to mind as I contemplate the motivational psyche you are laboring under; “Sticks and stones…………………….” Your archaic mask is slipping there T-duhhhhhhhbbbb, but I am happy to confirm that yes, “You do have rebarb in your foundation”….. (can’t spell doctoral,,, indeed……...) T-duuhhhhhbbb,, would you care to share the true reasoning of your neurosis concerning the incorporation of an improved technology as well as heightened engineering based paradigms that would afford a higher degree of protection and avail a marked increase in savings for the taxpayers of the State of Louisiana??? ehhh Nespah???? I am fairly confident in my estimation and evaluation of your ‘screen personality’ that you are merely a ‘Shill’ of sorts…… No, not a shill in the customary application or interpretation of the term, but rather an abstract that is stuck in a perpetual routine that also encompasses some of the duties associated with a watchman at the gates well…… Or better yet, the lantern holder that aids its body snatcher accomplices as they ply their trade in the night…….. Although not actually digging, you are keeping the lamp light going as they perpetuate their foul and ghoulish deed…. You sort of tipped your hand there T-Duhhhbbb…… You are steeped in dis-information/false propaganda dissemination processes….. I am going to assume that your little circle of accomplices, or the ‘krewe’ you rat pack around with possess a firm bias regarding me on a personal level, perhaps to the point of extreme and illogical prejudism……. And I would wonder what it is they are trying to protect, or keep from common public knowledge? You, and your ‘cohorts’ are very fearful of the advent of Strongconcrete now aren’t you??? I would wonder why that is….. Well, actually I do not wonder, I already know…. And, ‘sniff’, you have a familiar odor to you……. It has that common rodent stench to it…….. One of the hallmarks or characteristic traits of a rat is that whatever it cannot itself consume during the course of a sitting, it will urinate on to the farthest extent of its abilities so that nothing else can receive sustenance from it as well during its absence…. And additionally peculiar to this species, if not out and out vulgar or disgusting….. It will return and gorge itself on that same fare time and time again, and on each occasion urinating and defecating all over the food stuffs with extreme prejudice for others before it exits the scene…. Written by
on 8/26/2008
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If it's not your fault that you have multiple Ph.D. degrees, then whose fault is it? Were there goblins who forced you to go to school? And do you really expect any of us to believe that you hold multiple doctoral degrees when you can't even spell the word "doctoral"? Or in this case, is "Ph.D." serving as another one of your arcane schizoid metaphors? Personally, I'm happy to have rebarb in my foundation and not chain-link under tension, but that's just me and my happy ignorance, which is bliss, after all. I figure if your big idea were really worth a sh*t, then you would be a household name around the world, and not just an anonymous nobody who gets kicked out of the Houma Wal-Mart for foul language. Your self-congratulatory post only serves as further proof that you're not quite right in the head, guy. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 8/26/2008
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And please T-duhhhhb, in lieu of appreciation, please don't make some goofy comeback based on grammatical or spelling nazi profiles your platform of defiant resolve...... Racist Pig??? Now really......................... Written by
on 8/26/2008
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But where I consider your half stated nuances regarding the insurance industry T.W., I am in agreement with you….. And I believe my thoughts on the subject are much in line with what the person you refer to as ‘Chimpy’ proclaimed, that lawsuit reform is severely needed…… That is among the prerequisites taken into consideration for the quintessential basis when insurance regulation is drafted and enforced…… So in conjunction to that, insurance industry reforms are crucial….. I am not sure if you understand the full scope and nature that is at the root of your rant, but the implications as well as associated benefits of doing so involved can be considerable when examined and allowed to be pursued to the fullest extent possible…… Written by
on 8/26/2008
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TW…… You wonderfully simplistic fool…… I have a vast appreciation of unabashed ignorance when it is broadly proclaimed by ‘intellectuals’ such as yourself…. I get a good chuckle out a’ yer “poots full o’ luv” spews… After all…. Laughter is considered by some in the medical profession as being ‘the best medicine’…. I imagine that bentonite based composition or lime based component that was either injected, or ‘tilled’ into your alluvial based substrata has “everything to do” with the stability of your cinder block based ‘pylons’ – Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!!!!! Or did your contractor do you right and establish subsurface pilings beneath your concrete Lego Block ‘pylons’ as a result of drilling activity? And mind you, I wrote; “I have a vast appreciation of unabashed ignorance it is broadly proclaimed by ‘intellectuals’ such as yourself”. I didn’t write STUPIDITY, because you are anything but stupid…. However, it is not my fault that your ‘structural engineer’ was confined to utilizing obsolete technologies, mediums and methodologies to elevate your overpriced white elephant into the heavens where it can rest ‘securely’ for all time in memoriam to come…. And as for as your prejudiced observance and unabashed proclomation that I have ‘an opinion on “EVERYTHING”?... T-duhhhb, it isn’t my fault that I have multiple Ph.D.’s……. And it isn’t my fault that in reality you only have a very limited scale of experience on an even more restricted scope in relationship to multiple aspects commonly encountered in life….. I am sort of wondering, what on earth are your estimations based on when you classify a 2400 square foot structure as a ‘cabin’ you grand ‘rootie-pootie-poot-poot’ you? Care to elaborate a little farther on “what a cabin makes”? Those poor Dulacians,,,,, I am quite sure they are more than satisfied that they do not have a smug snob such as yourself domiciling in their neighborhood…… Ahhh,,, for the delusions of a Parisian wannabe……… Written by
on 8/26/2008
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I am aware of the abuses following Katrina by the insurance companies. However I do believe one can hold private companies "feet to the fire" more so than a government entity (see: The Corps of Engineers following Katrina as but one example). For those who "don't have the time, energy (or often the money) to deal with rebuilding their homes" - there may be lessons to learn as concerns future flooding. Written by
on 8/26/2008
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Kerry, you've been tooncin' a bit too much if you think the lesson of Katrina is the success of private insurance. Haven't you heard about the litany complaints from folks - particularly (albeit not exclusively) with regard to Allstate? There was a time when insurance companies actually did a decent job taking care of people, but now they are multinational corporate enterprises that are more concerned with the bottom-line and short-term profitability than with helping folks. In fact, their whole game plan these days is deny, deny, deny. They made RECORD PROFITS in 2005, for chrissakes. So you have got to stop buying into this flawed notion that private is always better. Two more observations - 1.) the West Esplanade area did not take on nearly as much water as did (most of) Gentilly, and 2.) I'd bet that the folks in the West Esplanade area were generally younger and wealthier. Many elderly folks just don't have the time, energy (or often the money) to deal with rebuilding their homes. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 8/26/2008
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I moved to Carencro just 4 months before the flood (from the Bucktown area in Metairie) and now live in Gentilly. I first came back in Jan '06 when my Mom was moved back to her nursing home in Kenner. Yesterday brought me through a formerly devastated area between Vets and West Esplanade, every single home has been repaired and has people living in them - every single one. Yet there are areas near where I now live that have few - or no - homes that are rebuilt. The reason for the contrast? Not skin color but rather the success of private insurance over the (broken, empty) promise that "government will be there to help." Last night I watched the DNC, Michelle Obama's speech was very impressive, I do not doubt her sincerity. Nevertheless I do fear the waste (not the "good" things done - the WASTE - political payback, theft, etc.) of my taxes if the Democrats win big enough to pass any and all laws at will (presidency, majority in the House and enough Senators to prevent “cloture” - I would be just as concerned if the Republicans had such a majority, BTW). However I seriously doubt your assertion that the days of Republican majority in either house or holding the presidency are over; rather what one sees (if one looks closely enough over a long enough period of time) is that both parties change over time as their political fortunes wax and wane. If Obama gets in it will do much to alleviate racism in this country, but if the Democratic Party rides roughshod over the taxpayers their glory days will be short lived. Written by kpf
on 8/26/2008
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Concrete, do you have to have a g.d. opinion on EVERYTHING? And my house is not elevated on piles - it's on 16x16 cinder blocks with concrete poured inside and rebarb reinforcements - and that price also included the strengthening of the existing subterranean foundation necessary to accommodate the extra weight of said columns, etc. It's probably a bit over-designed (that tends to happen when you hire a structural engineer) but better safe than sorry, I suppose. So in sum, the job was not quite the same thing as jacking up a cabin in Dulac. Et pour du monde à Dulac - vous-autres connait bien que je vous aime beaucoup! And as for racism - of course you don't think it exists - you don't even realize what a racist pig you are yourself. You're a delusional weirdo, plain and simple. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 8/25/2008
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Major is not the word when it comes to describing economic reverberations should earthquakes accomplish what is thought to be likely…… This scenario could in effect bankrupt this Nation….. And no, we are not the richest nation in the world, we are negative 5 plus trillion, and China is positive 1 + trillion…. And no this is not a very racist country, it simply has unusually high media coverage of a minority faction of racebaiters…… And the only reason blacks were a major part of the problem with the piss-poor response to Katrina, is because ‘Babs’ didn’t break out with some toilet paper, and the Red Beans and rice brigade fast enough…….. And it is not white Americas fault that there weren’t enough Boeing 747’s on standby at the New Orleans Intl Airport, along with enough empty Motel 6 rooms to accommodate them, and McDonald’s around the nation didn’t accept the ‘Louisiana Purchase’ electronic food stamp cards that many of them had, and it isn’t white Americas, or the rest of the ‘brown’ element of America’s problem that even if those were ‘International’ food stamp cards, the carriers of them sure weren’t in likelihood going to share the resource with their other unfortunate neighbor standing alongside it that may not have one of these little taxpayer funded jewels..…….. In as far as the 80K you spent, oh well, I guess you simply got suckered on the price…. I elevated a house for a client that was around 2400 sq. ft. in floor surface area to a finished surveyed height of 7’ above sea level for approx. $6,500.00 down in Dulac Louisiana in 1996 I believe the year was…….. And today could do a similar job for around the same…. New construction would only cost around $55.00 per square foot at 10’ above sea level using my concrete technology, coupled with 4 or 5 lifting/placement technologies I have partially developed… So, there you have it, you got the high price, when lower costs are available, and you chose to stay where you did instead of simply relocating to higher ground outside of Westwego, or other points north of New Orleans….. And the reason why the media focuses on the “Have nots” is the same reason why they focus on and help perpetuate race baiters….. It is controversial, and it keeps morons with nothing better to do glued to their screens thinking this is the source of everyone’s problems….. And then they have Zima inspired longings to vote for anything that offers Change but has no clue what all it entails….. As doesn’t any one else really…. It is all pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that’s all…. But we have it better today than we did 250 years ago… We have electricity, cars, hospitals, medicine, zippers, Levi’s, rock and roll, zydeco too, Coor’s light, refrigeration, airplanes, and on and on and on……… The Dutch are able to keep Amsterdam dry? Yeah, it’s not to difficult really, in fact, in the house of Van Syckle they are considered as masters on the subject……. And from one master to a casual onlooker reading this I will tell you why it isn’t being done in New Orleans in an economic fashion, it’s because there’s no money in it…… That’s why…… Now when the Feds start cutting the amounts available for the pursuit of this objective, you just might, might mind you, see some kind of realistic progress on this subject…… Peace out dude…… Oh, and the greatest country in the world? I think the Chinese might have a different opinion on that ranking……… Written by
on 8/25/2008
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Kerry, I think you have a point with that last post - a massive California quake is going to have MAJOR economic reverberations that are going to make Katrina look like the loss of a kids' corner lemonade stand, but then again, this is still the richest country in the world, is it not? Surely we can take care of our citizens in times of crisis? And Richard P. is right about the color of the (majority) of flood victims' skin coloring (no pun intended) peoples' analysis of the facts after all these recent disasters - are we going to hear Congressmen asking this week if Tallahassee should be rebuilt? Certainly not. This is still a very racist country. Yes, we've made a lot of progress, but we still have a long way to go - and the perception that the victims of Katrina were black is a major part of the problem with the piss-poor response to Katrina, whether we like that navel-gazing reality or not. I'm of two minds with regard to this, btw - Katrina did disproportionately affect our black citizens, but at the same time it irks me somewhat because I lost my house in Katrina, too - last year I unloaded a bit on a colleague in Paris who was bringing up "les pauvres noirs" - but I'm sure that's who their media focused on as well. I agree with "Not So Fast Eddie" that it's foolish to build slab homes in a flood plain - but there's only so much people can do - my house was 3 feet above the ground pre-K, and is now over 10 feet above the ground, but that came at great personal expense to my wife and me - even with the Federal Government's help we were out of pocket about $80k for that. Our house is an Acadian-inspired, wood frame house, and it's not that big. Now how many working class stiffs could afford to do what we did???? And what, pray tell, do you suggest? That we move New Orleans 50 miles upriver? Abandon it? Seriously? The Dutch are somehow able to keep Amsterdam dry, and it's deeper below sea level than New Orleans. Is it asking too much that we do the same here in what is argued by many of you to be the "Greatest Country in the World?" TW Written by Tee Dub
on 8/25/2008
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What people should understand about financial "safety nets" - be it private insurance or government (tax payer paid) aid - is this: it only works if few collect and that cost is spread among many. So if there's MASSIVE damage to THOUSANDS of households - then it "safety net" won't work without it being a financial drain on those who pay into the system. That's not "taking shots at people of a different color" - it is simply the way it is regardless if we were all one color. It's a "numbers thing" not a "color thing." It has nothing to do with creationism, GWB being stupid, racism or any other "left/right" issue; it is simply "there can be so much damage that the safety net cannot completely cover the cost." And yes, this would (will?) apply to future earthquakes - with California having 1/9th of the US economy, surely you cannot expect the remainder of the country to bail out California when the "big one" hits, do ya? No, this will be the opportune time to give this land back to Mexico. "Viva la Raza, Baby!" Written by kpf
on 8/25/2008
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Richard P. You are more than likely one of three things.... Ignorant of the facts, in a state of denial, or you are perhaps delusional..... Or perhaps a combination of the 3, or perhaps you are merely an obtuse malcontent somewhere along the lines of T-duhhhbbbb..... Here is a cut and paste from a different post to examine... It will address all your complaints, and answer all your questions...... "That is prudent thinking there Kelly, but in actuality, there are not really any ‘lost’ causes, merely the fact of what it is, aggravated by the illusions of a ‘select few’ as to what they want it to be……. A person can build a house on an iceberg, that doesn’t make it a camp boat……….. Now if a person wants to live in midst, or amongst the great and bountiful marshlands of South Louisiana with all of its abundant natural resources then I advise not to build like they lived in a Los Angeles suburb, but instead build in the same fashion and manner as the prudent ‘cajuns’ and ‘coonasses’ before them did and build on stilts and pilings……….. If they want to live Lafayette style, then my advice is to move to Lafayette……""""""" So there you have it Richard P. To live in a fish bowl below sea level is simply insanity......... But if you like risk living, why don't you buy some development at Mt. St. Helens and live there???? Written by
on 8/23/2008
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How about hard-working, honest people who live in places like Arkansas or Tennessee? Are they exercising "poor judgment" because there's been an earthquake there and will be again sometime? How about farmers in Iowa and Illinois and Missouri? Are they exercising "poor judgment" for living there where there have been multiple floods? No! A thousand times, no. This right-wing BS is not about making a reasonable, fair analysis; instead it's all about taking shots at people of a different color. That's all it is. Written by Richard P.
on 8/22/2008
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Again, BS is BS. The fault is the Corps of Engineers. Pure and simple. Written by Richard P.
on 8/22/2008
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Richard, the "poor judgment" I referred to took full account of the complicity of the Corp of Engineers in the probem. It is the failure to deal in reality, as by building slab houses in a flood plain, not having flood insurance, and a Polyana attitude about where to rebuild, etc. that bear the earmarks of "poor judgment". That is why my take on what is fair in the way of US Gov't reparations to individuals (in addition to making the levees right) would include only flood caused damages exceeding $150,000 to an individual property. The first $150,000 was insurable, and only a fool would not have the highly subsidized, low rate National Flood Insurance Program covearge so readily available--now that's "poor judgment"!!! Written by Not So Fast Eddie
on 8/22/2008
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The difference Richard is this: New Orleans has flooded before - and no matter how much money we throw at it - this city will flood again. Once we understand that our actions (having flood insurance, moving to higher ground, whatever our decision may be) will be based on reality not an unrealistic expectation that our city will never flood. All we can do is increase our protection, we can not prevent every flood scenario any more than we can prevent any other inevitability, be it earthquake or death; sooner or later these things will occur. Written by kpf
on 8/22/2008
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Richard, Richard; Why so angry. Mr Nagin is having regular meetings with his wife and they are doing wonderful things at these city business meetings to bring our fair city back. Imagine where we would have been without him and his brother in law? Thank goodness his personal photographer and a misguided investor have worked so hard to have his efforts recognized and rewarded tonight Written by noladude
on 8/22/2008
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"Peoples' poor judgment" is total BS. The Corps of Engineers was supposed to be providing flood protection and the flooding came, most of it, through breaches in those levees and not from over the top. That's like saying that people who died in the earthquake when the road buckled or when the bridge collapsed in Minnesota were exercising poor judgment and that it's their own fault that they happened to be there at that time and suffer the consequence. Written by Richard P.
on 8/21/2008
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Although I agree that the praise for most local leaders is misplaced, your points about the New Orleans economy are also misplaced. The tourism engine has, in fact, had its best summer on record since the hurricane, be it the restaurants or the hotels, despite what is very obviously a rough time for the entire country (and increasing, the entire world). Making generalizations about "some hotels downtown not reopening" hardly paints an accurate picture of the current environment, unless you feel like balancing it with "but 90% of them have." I wholeheartedly agree that the entire situation is an exercise in government mismanagement and wasted resources, that the crime situation is terrible and seemingly hopeless, and that the local leadership is embarrassing; I just think it is also worthwhile to point out that the city is rebounding, albeit slowly, despite the constant uphill battle. Written by Kyle
on 8/21/2008
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Jeff-
There were miles and miles of "dilapiated homes and destroyed streets" around Jackson Barracks immediately before Katrina. But the Federal government--and more particularly Pres Bush--should not be charged with the responsibility of remedying that blight as part of Katrina "reparations". Theirs should be only an obligation to see to iy that the property and infrastructure are restored to pre-Katrina levels, after taking into consideration the fact that homeowners should be made to bear the cost of repairs up to the level of Federally isurABLE flood coverage--whether or not they actually chose to have it. Only costs to repair above that level should have been made a Federal responsibility, and then only in view of the unique circumstances and complicity of the US Corps of Engineers. The amount of Federal funds sent to the state and then administered in the Road Home Program was plenty adequate to that task, it was simply another case of the state/local government and state chosen Road Home administrators wasting tons of the US taxayers' hard earned money. In my mind, the Pres. has failed the New Orleans area only in not becoming much more personally involved in the Corps of Engineers restoration of the levees, and in insuring that they are rebuilt with sufficient structural integrity so as to withstand future wind and wave action of a Category IV hurricane magnitude. Because of the Federal Government's past edicts regarding the flow of the Miss River, and then altering the course of its flood plains, this has become their problem and their responsibility. But beyond that, the Federal government should not underwrite the costs of people's poor judgment. Written by Not So Fast Eddie
on 8/21/2008
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In fairness, Jeff, you should point out that the reason people are getting 30 cents on the dollar toward rebuilding their homes is because Bush blocked the bi-partisan Baker Plan, not because of the former governor. Even if she had hired a competent management company and we had not squandered so much in fees they would have gotten, what, 33 cents? 35 cents?
Much of the "wasted and stolen" $126 Billion is well accounted for, and it wasn't stolen down here. It went to reimburse FEMA and their contractors for ridiculously overpriced work. It includes the Federal Government's obligations under the flood insurance program. It was well looted before it go anywhere near the Gulf Coast.
And then people like Haley Barbour handed out debris removal contracts to people with whom he had an active consulting (read: kickback) relationship, at prices that shocked emergency preparedness people in Florida.
I"m not defending Nagin or Mee Maw. Why are you defending Bush's own horrific record on this while he's here?
Mark Folse
http://www.toulousestreet.net Written by Mark Folse
on 8/21/2008
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Yesterday, President Bush visited historic Jackson Barracks in 
