check this out…what a typical idiot. him and the blame game. accusing natural disasters on things that are completely irrelevant to the situation just so he can get more attention.

Re: Stephen Says: (September 10th, 2005 at 2:54 pm)
“I bet you republican basterds would say that, too.” Apparently, you’re a Democrat?? That would explain why you want something from your government (and from taxpayers).

“What if something like this happened to racist Texas?” Racist Texas huh? Has YOUR state or ANY OTHER state taken in close to as many refugees as Texas? Why would a racist state do that? I guess that makes you wrong doesn’t it?

I say, those who live in areas predisposed to natural disasters can move or pay whatever premiums insurance companies would require to insure your assets if you choose to live in those predetermined hazardous areas.

Does that make to much sense?

I thank God we live in a country that we can express our selves and feelings on a website! But pointing the finger calling foul!! at anyone that does not share you point of view, is NOT what America is about. I don’t have to agree with what you say, But I (we all) can take someone elses point of view and consider it, maybe even be a little respectful for why they may fell this way.

Since when is profanity an effective way of communication? People you don’t have use filthy language to be an effective leader. Such vocab just makes you look ignorant…

Which leads to my conclusion, ignorance / lack of education is the REAL enemy. People–Further yourselves… education is so powerful. (Although very few things compete with an open mind).

Be respectful of people’s feelings in a time of crisis- That is ONE thing that separates us from animals.

Everyones talking about racism? White people better start thinking about how this country came to be, by slaughtering the people that were here before us. Black people, terrible how they got here, should now be glad they are in this country instead of africa. If the government was offering an all expense paid relocation program to africa in attempt to make ammends i wonder just how many would go. All other races should be thankful that this country allows them to come and enjoy the benefits of this free and prosperous nation. Think about an american relocating to jordan, saudi arabia or any other country to open a gas station or something with that government’s blessing. This country was destined to become a melting pot of all races and religions to live in harmony, not a white supremist nation. Hitler allready proved that aint a good idea. After thinking about things the past week in regards to N.O. I say rebuild it if thats what makes New Orleanians happy. But I just can’t see how it will ever be again what it once was. I don’t think its fair how the federal government seems to be getting all the blame. I may be wrong, I don’t know all the facts, but it seems the local and state government abandoned the people, and the federal government had to come in and save the day. disaster planing and preparedness should start at the local level, and I think think N.O.’s local and state authorities failed their people miserably in that respect. I’m not saying the feds should no blame, but did the mayor and gov. not know that N.O. contained alot of poor black people? why didn’t they have a better disaster plan? there didn’t even seem to be any sign of a central command to kick in to handle the situation until the federal folks stepped in. the local government just seemd to disapear. The news media doesn’t seem to be saying much about what the local and state gov. tried to do to prevent or control this mess, just bashing the feds about they should’ve but didn’t do and don’t care about the people their. Maybe some of you folks that know more about this could provide some insight on this matter.

While this generation inherited the problem, curing it will undoubtedly leave the legacy for future generations to pay for - a topic of concern already with the aging of America and how to manage that problem.

Even animals learn to build their nests elsewhere when nature destroys it repeatedly. For humans to defy nature by building where known geologic problems exist is much like building on a volcano or an earthquake faultline. Good logic suggests that pride or defiance should not be the false pride that substitutes for safety. While man may defy God, defying nature is far more likely to produce disaster.

Where America offers a land mass large enough to accomodate its people without having to sacrifice safety to nature, citizens would be well advised to resist the temptation to challenge nature by working harmoniously with her for their own safety, and less costly recoveries. It’s possible that a location further inland than New Orleans may be more ideal than rebuilding what nature has swiftly already washed away.

Just as unthinkable is reconstruction in a bowl below sea level and below the level of the river and lake in an area subject to increasingly frequent hurricanes on terrain slowly sinking into the Gulf of Mexico.

New Orleans should launch an urban design competition with a focus on long-term environmental and economic sustainability. New construction standards should be resistant to hurricanes, flooding, mold and Formosa termites, and should respect the architectural and cultural traditions of New Orleans.

The deeply flooded areas should be condemned and bulldozed, preserving the most historically significant structures in the flood zone. Even buildings that appear sound will be infested with toxic mold, pollution and Formosa termites, and commercially uninsurable. Compensate the owners and provide relocation assistance to the residents. Let the occupants back in to search for salvageable remnants of their lives, but not to live in the damaged structures.

Fortunately, the areas most vital to recovery of the New Orleans economy are mostly either undamaged or repairable. The facilities vital to the tourism, convention, port and petrochemical industries must be repaired quickly to provide jobs and restore the regional economy.

The areas bulldozed should be divided into two categories.

Areas flooded more than, say, 12 to 15 feet deep should be converted to a greenbelt that would be a legacy for all future generations of New Orleanians as well as an adjunct to an economy dependent on convention and tourism business.

The areas flooded less deeply should be built either on stilts or by raising the ground level to an elevation above sea level. Thousands of barges of rock could be brought down river from quarries across America. An earth conveyor of the sort recently used in construction of the Atlanta airport’s fifth runway could be built to transport rock and dirt from docks on the river to the area designated for infill.

New construction should reflect the flavor and architectural standards of New Orleans, while incorporating the constructions standards and amenities of today. The new New Orleans would combine a mix of residential, commercial and public construction, both stronger and denser than what it replaced.

Housing patterns that were a legacy of slavery and discrimination must not be repeated. A light rail transit system could combine the technology of today with the spirit of the old New Orleans streetcars.

Simultaneously, there must be a restoration of the wetlands and coastline that have been destroyed over the past 70 years. Breach the levees with floodgates to allow controlled flooding and help restore marshes. Selectively close canals through the marshes, that contribute to erosion and allow storm surge to approach the city. Use sediment traps, sand pumps and dredging to help restore marshes and barrier islands. Rapidly develop a strategy for management of the Mississippi and Missouri River basins to reverse the loss of sediment coming into the Delta over the last 70 years. Immediately increase the bounty on nutria (invasive rodents from South American that eat marsh vegetation) and reduce the bureaucratic red tape for the bounty program.

Someday I hope to take my grandchildren to visit New Orleans, stroll through the restored French Quarter, walk on through a vital, modern city that rose from disaster, and watch them play in a park with the grandchildren of today’s flood victims.