My prediction for New Orleans

[StClone]

New York Times

Editorial

Death of an American City


Published: December 11, 2005

We are about to lose New Orleans. Whether it is a conscious plan to let the city rot until no one is willing to move back or honest paralysis over difficult questions, the moment is upon us when a major American city will die, leaving nothing but a few shells for tourists to visit like a museum.

We said this wouldn't happen. President Bush said it wouldn't happen. He stood in Jackson Square and said, "There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans." But it has been over three months since Hurricane Katrina struck and the city is in complete shambles...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/opinion/11sun1.html?hp



I see minimal efforts to aid the displaced survivors and rebuilding New Orleans will largely be reported as a "failure". However moneyed investors will come quietly and take over. They will rebuild and gain great returns for pennies on the dollar investment. BushCo will then see fit to offer building a new dike with taxpayer money to protect the new white lily blossoming in the Delta.

My prediction is that in a few years the Right with speak in glowing terms of the private sector's (the white and wealthy's) accomplishments in NO (tacitly illustrating "the failure" of the former populace). With averted eye and diverted funds to fuel the rich's tax reductions, NO will hang out to dry. NO after the investors will be a shining example of belief in the dream to overcome adversity.

[madokie]

1. Sad but so true

[henslee]

2. All NOLA needs is a Starbucks, the Gap and Coldstone creameries on every c

on every corner. We'll stick in an Anthropologie, some nice hotels and restaurants. Who needs poor people.

[azureblue]

3. What is really sad

We all know, and it has been proven, That Bush destroyed New Orleans, and Bush lies over & over about "doing what it takes". Bush will not help New Orleans, and he will try his best to prevent help. Bush wants New Orleans to wither & die, and that is what will happen if action is not taken now.

But what is really sad is that we, & the rest of America, we know this, we see that nothing is done, and all we do is post hand wringing. We could be demanding our reps actually do something, we could be organizing phone blitzes, we could be demonstrating in Washington. So why haven't we raised more of a clamor, to put this on page one? Our reps pass rich people tax cuts & spend billions on Iraq but exactly how much has been spent on New Orleans?

The destruction of New Orleans is just as important as the war on Iraq, if not more so. Realize this. This will have greater affect on this country than the War. It will take years for New Orleans, Louisiana & the MS Gulf Coast to recover, & the impact on the Nations" economy will ripple out like a shock wave. Unless money reaches the Katrina area now.

[merh]

4. This is exactly what is happening

"I see minimal efforts to aid the displaced survivors and rebuilding New Orleans will largely be reported as a "failure". However moneyed investors will come quietly and take over. They will rebuild and gain great returns for pennies on the dollar investment. BushCo will then see fit to offer building a new dike with taxpayer money to protect the new white lily blossoming in the Delta.'

Not just in NOLA, but all along the MS Gulf Coast. Go listen or read the repug's governor Barbour's speech at the hearings last week. He spoke of building new infrastructure north of the Coast, he spoke of rebuilding existing infrastructures, but he said little if anything about helping the people, about establishing affordable housing, about helping folks keep their homes and properties along the coast.

They see it as a bonanza for the corporations (casinos) and private investors who will sweep in and buy up the land along the coast to establish their condos and restuaruants and hotels and shops to make the area the Las Vegas on the Gulf Coast.

It is happening now as land speculators come in and buy up land all over, knowing that the land owners are frustrated because the insurance companies won't pay, SBA won't give the loans and FEMA is still considering the claim.

I lost everything and FEMA had it listed that all I lost was access to my home. I was denied and have had to reapply and will have to appeal SBA's denial. I will have to litigate to get what is due me by my insurance company.

It is all part of the plan, they want to come in and rebuild in their image and the life time residents of the area be damned. Some of the prime property for condo/casino development has been owned by families for generations. Many are lower/middle class that cannot afford to rebuild without help and help is not forthcoming.

They are doing it now, trying to break our spirit and force us to take whatever offer comes our way. The promises of the government were as empty as the weed's head. :-)

:cry:

[Toots]

5. That bridge to nowhere in Alaska will be built though

You can take that one to the bank...