Posted by Dinah on November 3, 2005, at 16:37:17
In reply to Re: ?? » AuntieMel, posted by alexandra_k on November 3, 2005, at 16:02:25
Didn't you read the link I sent? Or heard what I said about two sides of the canal being built differently?
There's something that stinks to high heaven, but it's local not national.
On the other hand, regardless of where the money's going (because not all our money is going to Iraq, you know), I think the US is going to write off New Orleans. President Bush's administration has pretty much said they're going to rebuild to Category 3 levels only. They're also not going to spend the dollars that need to be spent to build up the marshes. Without the marshes, we're a coastal city. We can't survive as a coastal city. We're too low. So at this point, I'd say that anyone who comes back to New Orleans or who stays here does so without national help and without much care from the government. But I don't think it has anything to do with race or income. I think it just has to do with the fact that they just don't care.
Perhaps we could get some of the money we get by increasing taxes enormously on any oil or natural gas that depends on Louisiana for production. I'd hate to see us do that to the rest of the country, but if we're not important to them, we're not important and we'll have to do whatever we have to do to look after ourselves. Or else lose all our investment in our homes and businesses and just leave the city, like it looks like the feds just as soon we do. Either that or have several more Katrinas that will cost more than the flood protection.
poster:Dinah
thread:574039
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050924/msgs/575061.html