"Is cheap gasoline all that New Orleans means to you?"
Did you even bother to read the entire thread? If you had taken the time to read the thread you would understand that I am an advocate for rebuilding New Orleans. My expensive gasoline argument is for the people who have no vested interest in the viability of this City, the same ones who want this city destroyed, or filled in, or bulldozed. I tell them to get ready for expensive gasoline then.
I live here! I once worked at the Port of New Orleans but Kartina changed all that. I want everything to come back as it once was and I've grown tired of all the know-it-alls who say bulldoze it, fill it in, burn it, etc. There are people struggling down here, people who have lost homes, jobs, loved ones, and entire livelihoods. Good people are struggling mightily down here to keep it together, hold their families together in some trying times.
This is not so much addressed to you as it is to the one's who look down their nose at New Orleans, the community and it's people........some who say right here on this thread "FILL IT IN and MOVE ON." There are others who think that's funny. And that attitude has prevailed here on FreeRepublic for weeks now. From their high and dry homes they cast stones.
I have never had the pleasure of visiting New Orleans, so I cannot comment on whether comments calling it a cesspool are viable. I had a friend who lived there once as a student in a rather bad neighborhood where people basically walled around their homes with broken glass on the top of the walls so bad guys couldn't get in. NOW.... all cities have their good and bad areas. Some are worse than others.
I WOULD like to see New Orleans brought back as a better city in many ways. I think that this city has a historical significance that cannot be denied and out of respect for this we should be wishing them well in their rebuilding efforts.
My one admonition would involve strict oversight on Federal dollars used in the rebuild.
That said, I wish you well and hope to see your livelihood restored.
God bless you.