Finding the Devil in New Orleans - Page 7

Happy Monkey · 09-08-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

They rejected Democratic appeals to model the panel after the Sept. 11 commission, which was made up of non-lawmakers and was equally balanced between Republicans and Democrats. That commission won wide praise for assessing how the 2001 terrorist attacks occurred, and for recommending changes in the government's anti-terrorism structure.

House and Senate GOP leaders announced the "Hurricane Katrina Joint Review Committee," which will include only members of Congress, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats by a yet-to-be-determined ratio. The commission, which will have subpoena powers, will investigate the actions of local, state and federal governments before and after the storm that devastated New Orleans and other portions of the Gulf Coast.

glatt · 09-13-2005, 03:43 PM

Sunday's Washington Post had a decent opinion piece where they basically came out predicting that New Orleans will not be rebuilt.

They say essentialy that all the goodwill and promises by politicians mean nothing in the face of economic reality. New Orleans had a shrinking population for decades before Katrina. The city was already dying a slow economic death. The only industry it has left is tourism and the port. Since the advent of standardized shipping containers and automation, the port employs a small number of skilled machine operators, not the thousands of dockworkers of previous decades, and the tourism industry isn't large enough to support the whole city. The historic old district, which was mostly unharmed, will remain, and so will the port, but the rest will never be rebuilt.

I pretty much agree that rebuilding a city below sea level is a fool's errand. If anyone wants to do it, they should have to pay insurance rates that are high enough to cover the increased risk without turning to the rest of the country for help after the next one.

lookout123 · 09-13-2005, 03:45 PM

i'm with you Glatt.

Hobbs · 09-13-2005, 04:59 PM

I agree as well. However, since when has common sense ever played in the decision making process of us grown adults? Here's my prediction:

They will rebuild NO with the help of billions of tax payer's dollars. Attempting to make it the centerpiece of an urban rebuild program the likes we have never seen before. All the while, ignoring all the other highly damaged areas such as Mississippi and Alabama that would make better sense to rebuild. NO will become the banner of "hey look how well we respond to those in need" for the current administration.

09-13-2005, 06:18 PM

Well, you know, it would be okay if they'd rebuild it taking into consideration the advise of ecologists, geographers, urban planners, etc. Have 'em all read tw's Scientific American article first. I know, in my wildest dreams! I imagine they'll salvage the French Quarter and places like Loyola and Tulane. You gotta keep in mind that Halliburten jumped right on the gravey train, as usual, so we'll probably see a lot of highly expensive, ultimately worthless construction. We'll have a New Orleans with a smaller population than the old one, and I bet not much done when it comes to wise planning. But, hell, I'm just a cynic.

Griff · 09-13-2005, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

i'm with you Glatt.

Ditto. They could make a nice little town out of NO, but who is served by rebuilding a depressed area below sea level... besides the Democratic Party. Seriously, they should really think about the environment down there. The GOP can use the greenie spin to eliminate how many Dem districts? It is win win for the evil or is that the stupid party I keep forgetting. I really don't like pissing away tax dollars on losing situations and that area is a loser. Bring on the swamps er wetlands.

Clodfobble · 09-13-2005, 09:14 PM

Quote:

The GOP can use the greenie spin to eliminate how many Dem districts?

Not so many, really.

lheene · 09-13-2005, 09:24 PM

Blame blame blame.... It's a massive natural disaster. It could have been much much worse. We're lucky it didn't turn out worse. Let's finish the recovery effort and then POSITIVELY start restructuring our disaster response system. Its being POLITICIZED to death. It definitely showed the fractious partisanship of the blame game.

Not much of a surprise .... since it definitely showed the RACIAL HANGUPS of the media, if not society in general.

bluecuracao · 09-13-2005, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lheene

It could have been much much worse.

That's true...the media could have left the "race card" alone, and no one would have EVER showed up.

09-14-2005, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lheene

Blame blame blame.... It's a massive natural disaster. It could have been much much worse. We're lucky it didn't turn out worse. Let's finish the recovery effort and then POSITIVELY start restructuring our disaster response system. Its being POLITICIZED to death. It definitely showed the fractious partisanship of the blame game.

Not much of a surprise .... since it definitely showed the RACIAL HANGUPS of the media, if not society in general.

Yup, we coulda been hit by a giant asteroid and the entire planet vaporized, Thanks for reminding me. I feel EVER so much better now!

By the way, how is some white chick's blog evidence of the "racist" media? What, is she an editor for the Washington Post or something?

wolf · 09-14-2005, 12:36 AM

Did you say Race Card?

bluecuracao · 09-14-2005, 12:52 AM

Heh heh heh...do we get to see a pic of the Righteous Whitey Card too? Maybe Syc will scan his and post it for us.

wolf · 09-14-2005, 01:09 AM

I don't have a Righteous Whitey card, but I do have one of these.

I carry it in my planner in case of emergency.

Hobbs · 09-14-2005, 01:27 AM

Bawhaahahahahah! Now that's comedy Wolf.

Elspode · 09-14-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

I don't have a Righteous Whitey card, but I do have one of these.

I carry it in my planner in case of emergency.

That is hysterical, but I'm betting Walter Williams and Louis Farrakhan don't spend a lot of time having lunch together, if you get my drift.

09-13-2005, 04:59 PM	#94
Hobbs Professor for the school of ass-clownery Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Surprise! Posts: 404	I agree as well. However, since when has common sense ever played in the decision making process of us grown adults? Here's my prediction: They will rebuild NO with the help of billions of tax payer's dollars. Attempting to make it the centerpiece of an urban rebuild program the likes we have never seen before. All the while, ignoring all the other highly damaged areas such as Mississippi and Alabama that would make better sense to rebuild. NO will become the banner of "hey look how well we respond to those in need" for the current administration. __________________ That's it! Send in the chimps!

09-14-2005, 12:36 AM	#101
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Did you say Race Card? Attached Images __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-14-2005, 01:09 AM	#103
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I don't have a Righteous Whitey card, but I do have one of these. I carry it in my planner in case of emergency. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

09-14-2005, 01:27 AM	#104
Hobbs Professor for the school of ass-clownery Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Surprise! Posts: 404	Bawhaahahahahah! Now that's comedy Wolf. __________________ That's it! Send in the chimps!

09-13-2005, 03:43 PM	#92
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Sunday's Washington Post had a decent opinion piece where they basically came out predicting that New Orleans will not be rebuilt. They say essentialy that all the goodwill and promises by politicians mean nothing in the face of economic reality. New Orleans had a shrinking population for decades before Katrina. The city was already dying a slow economic death. The only industry it has left is tourism and the port. Since the advent of standardized shipping containers and automation, the port employs a small number of skilled machine operators, not the thousands of dockworkers of previous decades, and the tourism industry isn't large enough to support the whole city. The historic old district, which was mostly unharmed, will remain, and so will the port, but the rest will never be rebuilt. I pretty much agree that rebuilding a city below sea level is a fool's errand. If anyone wants to do it, they should have to pay insurance rates that are high enough to cover the increased risk without turning to the rest of the country for help after the next one.

09-13-2005, 03:45 PM	#93
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	i'm with you Glatt.

09-13-2005, 06:18 PM	#95
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Well, you know, it would be okay if they'd rebuild it taking into consideration the advise of ecologists, geographers, urban planners, etc. Have 'em all read tw's Scientific American article first. I know, in my wildest dreams! I imagine they'll salvage the French Quarter and places like Loyola and Tulane. You gotta keep in mind that Halliburten jumped right on the gravey train, as usual, so we'll probably see a lot of highly expensive, ultimately worthless construction. We'll have a New Orleans with a smaller population than the old one, and I bet not much done when it comes to wise planning. But, hell, I'm just a cynic.

09-13-2005, 09:24 PM	#98
lheene Resident Denizen Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 60	Blame blame blame.... It's a massive natural disaster. It could have been much much worse. We're lucky it didn't turn out worse. Let's finish the recovery effort and then POSITIVELY start restructuring our disaster response system. Its being POLITICIZED to death. It definitely showed the fractious partisanship of the blame game. Not much of a surprise .... since it definitely showed the RACIAL HANGUPS of the media, if not society in general.

09-14-2005, 12:52 AM	#102
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	Heh heh heh...do we get to see a pic of the Righteous Whitey Card too? Maybe Syc will scan his and post it for us.

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