New Orleans Didn’t Just Go Nuts -- It’s Been Nuts

Human Events Online ^ | September 6, 2005 | Mac Johnson

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Many people believe that Washington, D.C., is the “murder capital of America.” And indeed it often is, but that is only because such rankings are limited to “major cities” –those with a population of 500,000 or more, and New Orleans has (or had) a population of 485,000. Were it not for this actuarial accident, Washington, D.C.. wouldn’t even have a shot at the murder title. The per capita murder rate in New Orleans is 16% higher than in “Murder Capital” Washington, D.C.; and nearly 10 times the national average.

The answer to that "major cities" anomaly is simple: arbitrarily round up the population to 500,000 when calculating the per capita murder rate. That means increasing the population - thus decreasing the per capita murder rate - of NO by 3%. You then change

"The per capita murder rate in New Orleans
is 16% higher than in “Murder Capital” Washington, D.C"

to read,

"The per capita murder rate in New Orleans, as a major city,
is 13% higher than in “Murder Capital” Washington, D.C."

If New Orleans is the den of iniquity this article describes, what are the chances that the mayor - or the governor of LA - are the second coming of Elliot Ness? This really sounds like a job for Rudi Guiliani. Absent strong oversight we can't possibly afford to rebuild New Orleans.

Gee, what are the chances that the traditionally corruption-free political home of Bill Clinton would be right next door to a cesspool of corruption like Louisiana? </sarcasm>

[Desdemona]

Thank you. Somebody finally put it in black andd white.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

---Why are the cops leaving? They are utterly demoralized. They face low pay to fight a losing war against crime in a city that will not commit resources to the battle. “We have to use our own shotguns," one patrolman was quoted in the New York Times. "This isn't theirs; this is my personal gun."---

This has been the problem for forever there. Back in the 70ss and 80s it wasn't uncommon for policemen with more than three kids to qualify for foodstamps. The city didn't even pick up all of their salary - the state supplemented it and it was still not very good.

And there was an attitude about paying cops. A friend of mine once said, "It's a very good salary for someone with only a high school degree."

People complained about graft and corruption and brutality in the police force. Back when I paid attention to this, which was probably in the 80s, lot of times blacks were hoping white cops would respond because they felt the black cops were more likely to be brutal.

Yet no one was willing to do what it took to get quality people and retain them.

And they didn't have enough to do the job the city needed, anyway.

Slogan for years has been the city that care forgot, but in many ways, it was the city that forgot to care.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

I smell an apologist, and a hint of ozone.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Ping to you Friend

[DJ MacWoW]

For all of its bad, its good is equal.

Bunk. It's not worth your life.

[Landru]

Thanks, Angel.

I've read *several* excellent essays attempting to assess "the situation" since yesterday's reading of Whittle's magnificent work.
Seems to really have touched a nerve unlike anything I've witnessed in my life, that's for certain.

Be that as it may peeling away all the onion's layers reveals at the core they all essentially arrive at the same place, say the same thing:

"Next up were the racial ambulance chasers, always looking for another grievous injury to add to their political caseload. Looking at the Sea of Black faces abandoned without transportation, food, water or protection, they somehow managed to look past the City’s Black Mayor, Black Police Chief, Black City Council members and all the other Black office holders that run the 67% Black city, and found that the whole thing was: white folks’ fault. Yet another example of racism at its worst."

"Racists" all?

Take it or leave it.
Argue "pro" or "con" until the cows come home & you're blue in the face.
Apply all the denial you can stand, if that's your bag.
But nothing alters the glaring, ugly reality of what happened.
*Nothing*.

Truth speaks louder than anything, or anyone.

...& thank God at least that's still true.

[Gennaro]

Having been to a convention in NO two years ago and now reading how bad this city is and was, I feel lucky that there were no incidents at the time. However, I am convinced that I will NEVER visit NO again and I'll bet their tourist industry is finished.

[the Deejay]

Well, then send your sister articles
from Rush or any strong conserative
articles. [She'll get the message.]

[derdy]

I didn’t die once. :)

and I’m certainly not making excuses for anyone in response to the guy who smells...something. What some of the people do and did there is unforgivable, that the democrats have been making certain parts of the populous there prone to buy into their victim mentalities, getting them dependant on welfare and not making the area appealing to do business in, less your business is connected to the tourism industry, is old news to me, and not a new contempt that washed in with katrina.

New Orleans is lovely though; there are a lot of good people there whom celebrate life and each other in daily generosity, courtesy and good will. Aside from some of the greatest people I have met, as I’ve traveled a little, the city its self is inspiring in its history, culture nature and architecture. And any republican, constitutionalist and libertarian should be able to appreciate the social structure the cajuns who still enjoy their independence in the communities deep in the swamp, far away and untouched from the crap currupt government running the state into the ground. If you’ve had the rare pleasure, you understand its charm.

[Tolik]

Incredible !!

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for the perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author all 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of the good stuff that is worthy of attention. You can see the list of articles I pinged to lately  on  my page.
You are welcome in or out, just freepmail me (and note which PING list you are talking about). Besides this one, I keep 2 separate PING lists for my favorite authors Victor Davis Hanson and Orson Scott Card.  

[Johnny Crab]

Exactly on the money!

In the late 1980's I was enrolled at the Tulane School of Engineering during the day and cleaned office buildings in Jefferson Parish at night for survival $$$(NOTE:Middle class family, on partial scholarships, NOT rich).

One year I moved closer to campus to save time and $$$. That year there were 8 murders within a 12 block radius of my rented basement apartment and a female classmate was mugged(severely beaten in the face almost to the point of not being able to see). At that time, a 45 S&W was purchased and carried concealed full-time when I went to and from my night job. It probably saved my life one time at night while I waited for a red light on an intersection of Earhart(on the Orleans Parish side) in a not-so-good part of the area. As my car was approached(in an area known to NOPD as a car-jacking light) by three folks who seemed very interested in my 1985 Nissan...the 45 was simply displayed(vertical toward the roof of my car) and a round was loudly racked while I looked in their direction with a "bring it on" face. They quickly scattered to seek the more defenseless.

Glad we moved to Texas. The "bad" memories fade and the good ones stay. I don't want to go back but will remember times like this:

[metesky]

Mac Johnson must be one lonely man up there in Cambridge.

[MizSterious]

There are a lot of truly decent people in New Orleans. (Or there used to be.) I haven't lived there since the mid-80s, but yes, it was always a place where you had to keep your wits about you. Think about its history: it started out being a pirate's haven, and pirates continued to walk freely in the city under the noses of the several governments which ruled it.

That said, if, Heaven forbid, a disaster as large as this one struck almost any city in the country, you'd have a similar situation. Without authority, any city is vulnerable to the same elements.

When we drive into Oklahoma city in the early morning hours before dawn to drop cattle off at the stockyards, we have to pass through an area that is riddled with gangs. After dark, that part of town is just about "theirs." It's not a safe place to be outside of your vehicle, or if you should run out of gas while driving through it.

Many times, they fan out to other areas, including rural places like the small town just a few miles from us. They recruit more gang members, and they bring their gang wars to the farmland.

New Orleans was bad, I'm not saying it wasn't. I am, however, saying that what happened right up front in New Orleans is going on where it can't be seen as well in most, if not all, cities.

[dennisw]

good one!!!!

[MizSterious]

Yes, another truly major reason. Many of these thugs are cowards. One night I was late getting off work, and caught a bus home after dark. Someone thought I'd make a good mugging candidate, and snuck up behind me and tried to grab my purse. I swung around and started beating him with my (closed) umbrella, and literally chased him down the street calling him some very unladlylike names. He ran like a little scared chicken.

[MizSterious]

Yes, good points. One of the policemen who used to come to our neighborhood watch meetings told us that there wasn't even a health benefits program for the police. This was in the mid-80s. We couldn't fathom the concept of no health care for someone in a dangerous line of work.

[MizSterious]

An "apologist"? No, Derdy spoke of the city I knew and loved when I lived there. Care to suggest ozone to me, too?

[MizSterious]

Absolutely. Too many people here on Free Republic think New Orleans is only the French Quarter, and that its only residents are the ones we saw looting and pillaging.

No one saw the many good people who risked everything to help their neighbors, like the two nurses who stayed behind to help at the hospital, rather than bug out with all their friends and families.

They got a brief mention on Fox, then they returned to the regular menu of looting and pillaging. There are many stories like this one, but they're not being reported. Looting and pillaging is the only thing they want to publicize.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

After carefully re-reading derdy's post, my reply was wrong and out of order. I apologise.
I incorrectly construed the reporting of sniping, rape, and assault as giving such behavior a pass. That is not the case. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. No need to send me a dunce cap, since the one that I have on is uncomfortable.