Slow Response Or Deliberate Extermination?

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
I envision the 'new' NOLA will look differently, which isn't a bad thing. I believe those "projects" will be demolished. If someone doesn't have real estate in Orleans parish now, you may not be able to afford it in the coming weeks. I believe external forces, like Donald Trump (who had just purchased a building on Canal St prior to the storm) and other gurus will come down and purchase most of the property available. I believe that the infrastructure as we knew it prior to Katrina will no longer exist.

I do believe the 'new' NOLA will capitalize on invigorating the tourist industry by making it more tourist friendly. I would not be surprised if more high scale condos etc will be built along the river front. I also believe the historical and cultural dynamic of the city will remain. Remember, we have to get you all back for Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, etc etc.

Politically, in NOLA, the base may turn more towards Republican, as far as Texas, I still think it will hold its Republican base. I don't really see a shift in parties. Remember, even though we may not want to believe it, most low income individuals have not registered to vote, nor do they tend to vote. The Democrats will have to make sure they get those displaced individuals who decide to remain in Texas, Georgia, etc to become registered AND vote. Don't be surprised if Gov. Rick Perry doesn't run for President.

Everyone in the GNO area (if they want to admit it or not) knew something needed to be done with the school system, the political currption, etc. As an educator, I look for bigger and better things from this district. They have an opportunity to start from almost nothing and build up. Once this happens, more businesses and industries will run to NO. (I bet the industries will set up before the school system is up and running.) Which will serve as a catalyst for great economic impact for Louisiana, the region, and the country. Hopefully, our neighbors to the east will be able to rebuild and do the same. Louisiana and Mississippi have almost always been on the bottom or top of lists as it relates to education and poverty. Katrina was something else, but there will be many positives to come from this devastation. As someone said, this (hurricane devastation) is a MINOR setback for a MAJOR setup!

We have to be thankful to Katrina for many, many, many things.

...cause I thought that was one heckuva post.

Being that you are much more saavy to the political goings-on in NO than many of us, I really liked that post. It almost sounded like a true campaign speech, except yours sounded sincere

One thing I think we all can surmise: One NO recovers, it will definately NOT be business as usual, there will be a political shakeup in the works.

[TonyB06]

Originally posted by Rain Man
...cause I thought that was one heckuva post.

Being that you are much more saavy to the political goings-on in NO than many of us, I really liked that post. It almost sounded like a true campaign speech, except yours sounded sincere

...AKA2D'91 you might wanna ask RM for a sizable campaign donation while it appears his wallet is wide open.

[Tickled Pink 2]

Originally posted by madmax
1. Where was Jesse Jackson when you needed him?

Red Herring. Where was Bush - he is the leader of the country? Oh. Sorry. He was off on vacation - you know - "strummin' on 'de ole banjo".

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by TonyB06
...AKA2D'91 you might wanna ask RM for a sizable campaign donation while it appears his wallet is wide open.

Dere it is! Is that sizeable enuf fo' 'ya?

C'mon yall! Close 'ya mouth! I thought 'ya heard!

Anybody here wanna match my contribution?

[AKA2D '91]

1. I DO know how to spell. Corrupt is misspelled in my "campaign speech".
2. RM, you stoopid! My degree says Political Science and that's about as close as this sista will get involved with politics.
3. Tony, stop instigating! (I'll holla soon)


Ladylike,

Louisiana is unlike any other state in the union. I've only lived in the GNO area for 9 years (although a LA native) and I've observed alot in that time. Locally, New Orleans had it's own culture, if you will. It's hard to describe, but there were many things going on that needed to be "cleaned". Within the AF Am community, black folks (poor AND middle-upper middle class) needed a "wake up" call on all fronts! Church leaders (some) needed a MAJOR "wake up" call. The "wake up" call was Katrina. I won't go into specifics, but after 8/29/05, EVERYONE was on the same playing field. It didn't matter if you lived under the interstate or in the Negro-version of 90210, YOU. WERE. IN. THE.SAME.BOAT!

One of my chapter members (who lost everything) is so afraid that the lower class will be left out of this great effort to rebuild NO. She wants to come back to the city to be the "voice" for those without a voice. Knowing this soror, I see her trying to get herself on one of those task forces being established.

I hope the essence of the city remains. It depends on the property owners in New Orleans. For some, it will be about the money. If a company offers them x-amount of money for their home (money they have never seen before), and they accept the offer, I can see some of NOs essence could get lost. However, if the same property owners INSIST they are coming back and NO dollar amount will convince them to leave or sell, then I see NOLAs essence will remain. Also, the representatives and council members will likely ensure that the essence of NO is preserved. (I also see Council member Oliver Thomas will run for Mayor, run for William Jefferson's Congressional seat,or some other position)

For those living on governmental property, it's a no brainer, they won't have anything to come back to. I believe it's going to be too expensive for them to return. Some of them have NEVER gone 10 miles east to Kenner or 10 miles west to Gretna. HOW IN THE HECK are they going to get back to NO from ARIZONA, UTAH, CALIFORNIA, DC "in time"? Hopefully, those displaced will find opportunities where they are. I KNOW in Texas, a person with a HS diploma can do well, but in Louisiana, it's not good enough, unless you work at a chemical plant. Historically, men didn't complete an education because they could get a "good job" at a plant or drive trucks or get into the family's shrimping, sugar cane, farming businesses. All of this has led to the dismantling of our education system.


You can ask as many questions as you'd like, but I don't know how much I can answer.

[Glitterkitty]

The governor of LA and the Mayor of NO are to blame for this. It is shoddy politicing on the part of the people who have been running the state for a long time.

FEMA can only do so much when dumbasses ignore mandatory evauation warnings.

[darling1]

i've watched various news programs some of which had mayor nagin being interviewed. i get the sense that he had been requesting money/assistance on a consistant basis, not only to deal with katrina but to address some environmental issues that could have prevented this multi-billion dollar catastrophe.

tim russert asked nagin about the buses that were sitting in all that water and why those were not used to transport those unable to evacuate. if i remember correctly it boiled down to money and manpower. there werent enough drivers not anyone willing to risk driving in that hurricane.


i believe that blame must be placed all around but i feel the bulk falls on the govenor and our president. bush is the leader of the free world. the president is the eyes and ears of the country and is privy to the latest, most accurate information. i find it difficult to believe that his advisors are that incompetant where they were providing inaccurate information as bush as stated.

the governor should have been a thorn in bush's side during all of this. as biased as the media can be, they hit this one on the head. if we have the man power to go to iraq we have the manpower to address a domestic issue. katrina was more accurate than the so-called weapons of mass destruction. SHE WAS COMING. there was no question. all branches of government should have ben on alert to assist the mayor.


this hurricane has brought to light all sorts of issues that government has been trying to keep mum. those levees should have been repaired properly, the governor should have provided resources so that everyone would have gotten out or would have been provided for at the convention cent and superdome, maybe nagin should cussed day 1, the president should have had fema and the military on standby---oops, my bad, most of our soldiers are helping to democratize iraq and make nice with our saudi investors.

the bottom line is that to consider nagin and the governor solely responsible maybe casting a blind eye to the bigger picture.

==============================================

Originally posted by Glitterkitty
The governor of LA and the Mayor of NO are to blame for this. It is shoddy politicing on the part of the people who have been running the state for a long time.

FEMA can only do so much when dumbasses ignore mandatory evauation warnings.

[southernelle25]

I agree with AKA2D '91 in many respects, but I have my concerns as to whether the "historical and cultural dynamic of the city" will in fact remain or be replaced entirely by a yuppie paradise of superficial American-inspired developments. I don't wish to see the beautiful heart of our great state turned into a place most Louisianians can't afford to visit. Whatever happens, I hope the city remains predominantly populated by residents with deep Louisiana roots.

[madmax]

Originally posted by darling1
i've watched various news programs some of which had mayor nagin being interviewed. i get the sense that he had been requesting money/assistance on a consistant basis, not only to deal with katrina but to address some environmental issues that could have prevented this multi-billion dollar catastrophe.

tim russert asked nagin about the buses that were sitting in all that water and why those were not used to transport those unable to evacuate. if i remember correctly it boiled down to money and manpower. there werent enough drivers not anyone willing to risk driving in that hurricane.


i believe that blame must be placed all around but i feel the bulk falls on the govenor and our president. bush is the leader of the free world. the president is the eyes and ears of the country and is privy to the latest, most accurate information. i find it difficult to believe that his advisors are that incompetant where they were providing inaccurate information as bush as stated.

the governor should have been a thorn in bush's side during all of this. as biased as the media can be, they hit this one on the head. if we have the man power to go to iraq we have the manpower to address a domestic issue. katrina was more accurate than the so-called weapons of mass destruction. SHE WAS COMING. there was no question. all branches of government should have ben on alert to assist the mayor.


this hurricane has brought to light all sorts of issues that government has been trying to keep mum. those levees should have been repaired properly, the governor should have provided resources so that everyone would have gotten out or would have been provided for at the convention cent and superdome, maybe nagin should cussed day 1, the president should have had fema and the military on standby---oops, my bad, most of our soldiers are helping to democratize iraq and make nice with our saudi investors.

the bottom line is that to consider nagin and the governor solely responsible maybe casting a blind eye to the bigger picture.

==============================================

I agree. We should't blame the mayor because he is black. All the blame should go to the white guys that were a thousand miles away. The people that live there should'nt get any of the blame either. It's not there fault that they were too lazy to leave town when the mayor issued the mandatory evacuation.

[Little32]

MadMax,

You obviously have no capacity to understand how this situation manifests the convergences of classism and racism.

Given your unwillingness to even engage those ideas seriously, perhaps it is best that you excuse yourself from the conversation all together. I, for one, am tired of seeing intelligent discussion interrupted by useless goading. Your insights will not be missed.

[madmax]

Originally posted by Little32
MadMax,

You obviously have no capacity to understand how this situation manifests the convergences of classism and racism.

Given your unwillingness to even engage those ideas seriously, perhaps it is best that you excuse yourself from the conversation all together. I, for one, am tired of seeing intelligent discussion interrupted by useless goading. Your insights will not be missed.

Great idea. From now on only people that agree with Little32 can post in this forum.


I understand the situation. I just happen to have a different opinion.

[Little32]

Then discuss it intelligently rather than pretending that everyone else's perspective has no merit.

[ladylike]

^^Hi, Little!
Please don't take his bait. It's not worth your keystrokes.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by madmax
I agree. We should't blame the mayor because he is black. All the blame should go to the white guys that were a thousand miles away. The people that live there should'nt get any of the blame either. It's not there fault that they were too lazy to leave town when the mayor issued the mandatory evacuation.

Are you worried that you might actually BE one of those white guys that got blamed?

If not, then why are you here?

If so, then how do you explain the discrepancy that has been observed.

Unfortunately, Bush is gonna have absolutions from his sins with redemption from Hurricane Rita...

The folks who evacuated NOLA still will be poor, without education, without money and hey, they might be lazy. But then, if it were me and I had someone always telling be I could not accomplish anything from day 1 of life, then why would I?

[Little32]

Originally posted by ladylike
^^Hi, Little!
Please don't take his bait. It's not worth your keystrokes.

I know, but sometimes it is just so annoying. Some folks just need to go away.