Posted on 02/08/2010 6:49:01 AM PST by grace522
Off the bat, let’s get a few things straight:
1) New Orleans is a one-of -a-kind city. It should be on everyone’s list to visit at least once. 2) The Saints played a great game, setting off a massive party in the nation’s greatest party city. 3) Despite the fact that the Colts will always be Baltimore to me, I rooted for Indianapolis in the Super Bowl. And not because I was a Manning fan, but due to the nauseating media coverage that if and when the Saints won the Big Game, that will somehow heal all wounds from Hurricane Katrina.
Gimme a break.
When will people stop living in a fantasy land and speak the truth about what really happened before, during and after Katrina hit? The reality is that, regardless of the Saints’ impressive win, New Orleans will continue to be at risk until the people wake up. No Super Bowl victory nor feel-good puff pieces will change that.
People are entitled to their own opinion, but they aren’t entitled to their own set of facts. And here are the facts:
Louisiana in general, and New Orleans in particular, are among the most corrupt places in the country. This is nothing new, and residents have known this for generations. It has become such an ingrained part of the landscape that people have accepted it as a part of life. That’s their choice, but they shouldn’t turn around and expect the rest of the American taxpayers to foot the bill because their corrupt way of life finally caught up with them.
Everyone knows that New Orleans sits in a floodplain, with most of the city below sea level. So in order to protect the Crescent City, a series of levees were constructed. Rather than do the right thing, however, which would have been to follow recommendations designed to protect the city from Category Four or Five hurricanes, many state and city officials thought that diverting levee money to other projects would be a wiser course.
And since much of that funding came from taxpayers in the other 49 states, why not? It’s always a lot more fun to spend OPM--- “other people’s money.”
You know kind of worthwhile projects I’m referring to --- important ones that put the security of people and property ahead of all else.
Like millions for a Mardi Gras fountain. Fountains have water, and levees are related to water, so who can argue?
Or riverboat gambling schemes. Boats float, so they could just rise right along with hurricane storm surges while people continue to gamble.
Or a host of other projects, like green space, commercial buildings, and….the list goes on. And on, and on.
Because for decades New Orleans dodged the direct-hit hurricane bullet time and again, with storms diverting at the last minute and the city being spared, proper preparations still weren’t made. Many felt they didn’t need them because “God loves New Orleans.” Obvious lessons that should have been learned were simply ignored. Corruption trumped security.
In the aftermath of Katrina, attention shifted from why this wholly avoidable tragedy happened to the horrific response of leaders such as President Bush and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Coverage of both men’s bumbling was merited, to be sure. But both also have an excuse.
They’re incompetent.
Here’s the bottom line. Taxpayers are sick and tired of paying for other people’s mistakes, be they bank bailouts, auto company failures, or cultures of corruption that pad the pockets of the powerful while forsaking everyone else.
And in the larger picture, why should the federal government, which is funded by we the people, have any obligation to rebuild a city constructed in a known flood plain that is regularly visited by hurricanes?
If you want to live there, great. Flood insurance should be mandated. And if it isn’t offered, maybe that’s a clue that the risk outweighs the reward. If that risk is acceptable, fine. But the rest of us shouldn’t have to shoulder the responsibility to be the risk-free safety net for people who choose to live in high-probability disaster areas.
But the icing on the cake is listening to self-serving Louisiana political hacks who get outraged that Washington doesn’t pick up the ENTIRE cost of rebuilding and maintaining New Orleans. To them, I offer Dean Wormer’s legendary advice from “Animal House”--- “fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.”
So now the Saints won the Super Bowl, becoming “America’s” team in the process, and everybody feels good. But it will only exacerbate the overarching problem that is endemic in this nation: looking the other way and pretending all is well.
Sticking your head in the sand doesn’t change that fact that we will be called upon --- again--- to pay the bill--- again--- should New Orleans get slammed by another Katrina.
But given that we’re approaching insolvency as a nation, the safety net of taxpayer dollars may not be there next time.
It’s time the people of New Orleans stop pretending that a Super Bowl solves anything. Fix the problem now, or face the risk of going it alone.
If their city gets leveled--- a very real possibility--- they will have no one to blame but themselves.
Chris Freind is an independent columnist and investigative reporter whose news site, The Artorius News Bureau, is slated to launch in mid-February. Readers of “Freindly Fire” hail from six continents, thirty countries and all fifty states. Freind also serves as a weekly guest commentator on a Philadelphia-area talk radio show, WCHE, and makes numerous other television and radio appearances. He can be reached at CF@FreindlyFireZone.com
Sooo true, but then I’m a bitter Vikings Fan. :P
I went to New Orleans two years ago to help rebuild a house. I’m going back in two weeks to help with the continued rebuilding of a church. Much of the area remains devastated.
The author is correct that there is much blame to go around, Nagin, Blanco, FEMA, Bush, etc. And far too much money has been poured into the City that was not used wisely.
I can’t fix that. Hopefully with a new mayor and with Governor Jindal, a future response will be better handled.
But I can go and help the people who aren’t recipients of the federal money, and who don’t have another option. It’s a complex issue. One that can’t be explained or solved just by recognizing the incompetence and/or corruption of their leaders.
Will winning the Super Bowl magically fix all of that? No, of course not.
But for a people who have literally had the crap beat out of them by the storm, by the flood, by opportunists who ripped them off, holding onto the victory of the Saints is a positive feeling of hope that I won’t snark at.
Nagin certainly is incompetent and should share some of the blame. IIRC, GW called Nagin and Landrieu for several days before Katrina hit to urge them to start evacuating. How does that make GW incompetent? Furthermore, why should the feds be the ones to rush in and save the day when local authorities could've done it themselves??
Louisiana... half of it is underwater, the other half is under indictment.
Honestly, when your city is below sea level and is bordered by a lake, a river, and the sea, you're going to have problems.
Louisiana... half of it is underwater, the other half is under indictment.
Honestly, when your city is below sea level and is bordered by a lake, a river, and the sea, you're going to have problems.
Ping for those interested.
Ping for those interested.
Ping for those interested.
Will the taxpayers have to pay to rebuild N.O. after the Super Bowl “celebration”?
I hate say it but New Orleans is built to sink. No matter wat you do. Its is like a saucer holding a cup of coffee.
All the drunks, pissing and vomiting in the streets, the sex clubs and all that are such a family friendly atmosphere for the whole family!
Especially for a christian who doesn’t drink.
ugh.
Someday it may aspire to be Detroit.
Very kind of you to help out and much appreciated by many.
It’s worse down there than you think. In the recent mayor’s election on Saturday, the citizens of that “fine city” voted in Mitch Landscrew, scion of the family responsible for the sorry state of modern New Orleans, and they did it by a 67% majority. What’s even worse is that 80% of the vote went to candidates tied to known corruption.
Percentage of the vote that went to candidates with a clear and energetic vision for the city: 12%
The place is hopeless.
That is why I just couldn't bring myself to root for the Saints. I was indifferent to the outcome of the game for the first time in many years.
The teary, dribbling MSM coverage of yesterdays “post-KATRINA” sporting event was truly sickening.
While you’re down there stop in at the Saltwater Grill on South Carrollton and my son will serve you a Po Boy.
Have a safe trip!
VirginiaMom
Please don’t comment on subjects of which you’re totally ignorant.
BTTT
Beg to differ. The place speaks for itself and all you have to do is hang around for a day to see it. Sorry if it offends you but truth isn’t easy.
As I said — you have no clue what drove this weekend’s election. No, you can’t go to NOLA for 48 hours and pretend to have it all figured out.
They’re incompetent.”
The news media never did mention that one of the first Executive Orders President Bush signed in 2000 was to increase the budget by million of dollars for the Army Corp of Engineers to repair the levies in New Orleans.
The news media also ignored the fact that President Bush and the Director of the Hurricane Center spent all day Saturday trying to convince the mayor and the Governor to issue a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. It seems the mayor and governor were debating whose job it was to issue the declaration.
Sounds like you live there. Sorry.
I am so tired of hearing about New Orleans and Katrina. It is time to move on.
the us government spent over a half million tax dollars for every man, woman, and child in NOLA. if this isn’t enough, then what is?
it’s obscene how our money flows into this bottomless pit, and the only thing that emerges is demands for more.
I love threads like this. Not only did we win the Super Bowl but we make people like you, who think they know everything and in reality know very little, miserable. It’s a win, win!
If you think your little sniping at us is going to bother us in the least today, you are sadly mistaken.
Who Dat!!
So why don’t you enlighten us since you seem to be an authority on New Orleans?
All the money thrown at the levies did not help as they forgot to account for the corruption. The pilings were not sunk deep enough as Uncle Bubba took the money and only did enough of the work to make it appear he followed the specs. You know Uncle Bubba - the brother in law of some local Democrat.
Congrats on the big win from a big Vilma fan.
Well said! But you won’t stop the haters on this board who just want something to cry “foul” over. They’re in full throttle “pity me” mode!
Who DAT, Watchout!
Thanks. Vilma has been a HUGE part of this since he came here. A real difference maker.
Who Dat! I still can’t calm down.
It wouldn’t have mattered how much money was spent on repairing the existing levees. The entire design was the reason they failed.
The ACOE failed to factor in the peat soils when they designed the floodwalls. The sheet pylons didn’t go nearly deep enough. In fact they were already failing before the storm.
The ACOE also insisted that the rarely used Mississippi River Gulf Outlet remain open over the wishes of the people who wanted it closed. The people were right, it did funnel all that storm surge into New Orleans causing the catastrophic failures of the poorly designed floodwalls.
So it would be nice for once if people who claim to base their arguments on facts used a few when discussing this subject. The fact is some are just as guilty as the dems in using emotion to drive the argument.
People can blame the feds and understand that it wasn’t just Bush’s fault. The entire history of the levee system on the Mississippi failed to use the best engineering over the cheapest or more politically beneficial as was brought out in John M. Barry’s book.
Really glad the Saints won the Superbowl. Been a fan all my life. Grew up in NOLA, know all about it. Sorry if it kills your buzz but the Landscrew election was a resounding endorsement of a return to the pre-Katrina morosis. That is painful for everybody to see.
I am not a prude by any stretch of the imagination. Many years ago I made the trip to New Orleans. After about 10 minutes on Bourbon St. I had had enough. The word that kept entering my mind was cesspool. Never again will I go back. Don’t want to visit anyplace where you have to walk over the drunks passed out in doorways, others are urinating in the street and every other human nastiness is on public display. Nope! You can have it.
You’re right, dg. Never hear in msm about Mississippi gulf coast. Beat up every bit as bad as n.o. Different people. Guess I’m a hater, huh?
I am sick and tired of all of these Monday morning post Super Bowl New Orleans bashers. Louisiana is the most corrupt state in the union? We put our corrupt politicians in prison, (See Jefferson and Edwards). Places like Chicago and Philly reelect theirs. (Mayor Street, anyone). New Orleans is an important strategic port, located at the mouth of the Missisisppi river system, which serves as a natural transportation system for the whole middle of the United States. Louisiana is a right to work state. It has a unique LOOP, (Louisiana Offshore Oil Port), that tankers can port oil to without having to go inland and cause spills. LA has huge oil refineries and the lowest property tax rate in the nation. LA is turning red again, and I would take a blue dog Southern democrat over a yankee republican (specter) any day of the week. Pro Life, Right to Work, low tax state. Can Pennsylvania say the same?
It’s not just on Bourbon Street. Get up at 6am and take a run down St. Charles one morning. You will have to do at least one hurdle over some poor soul who passed out on this way home in the middle of the night. I could go on but won’t.
Disappointed that this mostly correct article chose to blame Bush.
Of course, Obama could have stopped the hurricane altogether like he did the Haiti earthquake. And of course he could have handled aid better ... oh, wait, never mind.
Bush did what he could but corrupt local leadership stood in the way. Other coastal areas recovered much quicker. Bush has taken Katrina abuse far too long.
Agreed. I found it hard to continue past that point. Of course, the media have conditioned everyone for years that the feds were responsible for the Katrina mess. Many people believe that to be true, just “because”. The typist of this article might fall into that category.
Me neither!! All the Championship shirts have sold out in some of the stores here in B.R., but we are determined to get one! (Have no doubt they’ll make more! We just may have to wait a bit.) WHO DAT and Happy Mardi Gras!!
The Cowboys beat N.O. 24 to zilch, but unfortunately, my team is schizoid.
Frankly, most of us are sick of the pity party. It’s been 4 years. It was mostly a slum before and it still is. What’s new?
Glad to. The “conservative businessman” candidate is a video poker king deeply involved with a host of dodgy characters. His campaign style was flat and uninspired and devoid of positive ideas. I truly don’t think he is very bright. He purchased all of his political endorsements. His vision for New Orleans is Potterville, except he’s too stupid to make it happen. We’d be looking at 4 years of stalemate.
The electorate here is still 2/3 black — so the amazing thing is that a black man wasn’t elected mayor. You need to understand what big news that is. The reason is because the black candidates were so weak and unimpressive, and at least one of them too is scandal-ridden. As is Nagin. The astonishing and hopeful thing is that thousands of black voters have at last admitted to themselves (even though it cannot be uttered in public) that competence trumps race, that they are sick of a black city hall (and police chief) that robs the people and gets nothing done. Black property and business owners want the infrastructure maintained and crime controlled. Their decision to vote for Landrieu over one of their own kind is their tacit admission that their community can’t get it done. They are finally asking the whites in this city to lead us out of this mess.
What you need to understand is that this election was all about race. Here everything always is. The city council also is going to be more white, and a standout white council member who has been smeared and vilified for years by organized race-baiters was elected in her mixed-racial district by a 2 to 1 margin.
I was not wild about voting for Landrieu. Never voted for one before. But he was the best hope to get out from under the race-dominated culture of grievance and corruption.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for the Ping
BTTT
The disaster was as much a fault of the “governed” as it was the “government”.
“Bush’s fault” is a bit lame.
Stick to the better areas and New Orleans is quite charming and has the friendliest people. We’re a close group. People who visit always seem to really love it. I travel a lot but am always glad to get home. The team gets back today and there will be a big parade Tuesday. This all comes right at Mardi Gras! Nothing like this has ever happened anywhere.
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