Could you fill me in on what issues there were that we failed to take "better care of"? Do you mean the federally built, federally maintained levee
system? The same levees guarding canals constructed solely to protect shipping and mineral interests? Or perhaps the federally designed, federally authorized levee system that we have waited more than 20 years for? Are you aware of the many independently commissioned reviews of south LA's levee system that place failure SQUARELY upon lack of oversight from the Army Corps of Engineers? Or of the Army Corps of Engineers report stating the same? Did you know they promised that the levees would hold water out of the city in the case of a moderately-paced Cat 3 hurricane, only to fail on what has been determined (by many experts) to be a Cat 2 hurricane (upon hitting New Orleans)?
You have no problem tossing out "federally built" and "federally maintained" and so on but I don't see anyone in Louisiana taking responsibility for the many many millions given to the state to redesign the levee system. The taxpayers of this country have given plenty to N.O. and it's time the state of Louisiana and the city of N.O. prove to the country their willing to shed the corruption. Without serious change all the money in the world will simply be lining the pockets of the corrupt and not helping the residents of N.O.
I don't mind people voicing their opinions regarding Hurricane Katrina, but I do take offence when blanket, unsupported statements pop up placing responsibility upon thousands of innocent people. You are right, though, none of this would have happened if we had each stocked 60,000 sandbags around our homes. My family's house flooded due to my own laziness, no doubt. Perhaps it was more our own foolish trust in what the "best" engineers in the world told us. Mainly that they would protect us, our homes, and our interests. Gee, I have only myself to blame.
The storm flooded your home and not the president. Shame on you for trusting the federal government when you live in a sea of crooked local politicians that don't want to help. A good start.....get new local officials.
It wasn't the "Presidents (sic) Fault" a hurricane struck south Louisiana. It WAS his fault that the federal government couldn't find a way to alleviate the suffering of those aforementioned innocent people. I'll leave it to a San Diegan well-versed in New Orleans' culture and politics to refute me with a withering - and no doubt grammatically precise - riposte.
The Bush parodies are humorous in mostly scatological ways.
Ummm excuse me but we have a system here. The State of Louisiana
REFUSED help from the Feds by blocking assistance. A little known fact about this country.....Federal troops are not allowed to enter a state without the express consent of the Governor. In this case the Governor simply didn't think the state needed help quickly. Oh well her mistake not the Feds. Besides, everyone knows the state is always the first response mechanism in disasters...always has and always will. It only makes sense since they
LIVE IN THE STATE! Crying Mary Landrieu somehow seemed to come out of this smelling like a rose even though she failed he state miserably.
I won't even get started on asinine comments about being below sea level. Actually, I lie. Would the poster of that comment care to tell me precisely how much of the New Orleans metro area is classed as "below sea level"? Perhaps the exact percentage? Or perhaps a chart showing where residential property is concentrated? Commercial? I'm sure you'll post the Wikipedia entry about the "average" below sea level amount.
Below sea level, a foot or three above....not much difference in hurricane country. Aren't you just splitting hairs on this?
I'd be interested to see how much of the above base flood elevation property in New Orleans should be allowed to die off. Too much to hope for. I lament that intelligent discussion is not really to be expected from the best thinkers on this site. Perhaps I should just say something equally idiotic about Bloomington and a future ice age. I guess the difference between us is that I'm not petty enough to advance a hostile, uncaring opinion regarding other people's misfortunes and bleak future. And then cover my ass by claiming sympathy for those I speak of. Please keep in mind if something bad happens to your neighborhood, there will always be those unwilling, and those incapable, of leaving. Death is a pretty harsh judgement upon those souls. Why do we throw stones? If you haven't figured it out yet ... keep voting Republican. Or Democrat. You'll get #%^@ed one day too.
. He quite possibly is the largest con-man and hypocrite on this planet.
