Is New Oeleans really worth it?

Question

After Katrina, thousands of people were displaced. But all I heard were the horror stories of rude, insolent and unappreciative persons who expected everyone else to pick up their tab. Even now in that city, crime is skyrocketing. Government checks have been spent on strip clubs, sex changes, designer clothes, beauty salons and the like. What is wrong with you people? What are you thinking? I know you can't all be like this, but why can't you work together to rebuild your home instead of fostering a mob attitude. I don't feel like helping you if you won't help yourselves.

Answer 1

Human nature will always be what it is, imperfect. I have two answers for this question. One: if we wish to compete against nature and spend hundreds of millions of dollars to keep the city, which is below sea level from being reclaimed at some point in the future. Than we should go about it in the best way we can. Two: If we see this as a test of our nations ability to restore the homes and lively hoods of hundreds of thousands of our citizens. Then we should go about this full speed. Mans nature does not permit perfection, but we can get results.

Answer 2

I don't agree with all the people who ripped off the government. Note that it wasn't only people in New Orleans who were using that money for things other than aid. Most of South Louisiana is to blame for that, not just one city.
It's worth it to rebuild N.O. if they do it right this time! The thing that makes me mad is that it's so political. They don't want to let them tear down some Section 8 housing, even though the apartments are all dilapidated and were mostly condemned BEFORE Katrina! It's **** like that that makes me wonder about the way some people think. Also, the government doesn't seem to be helping out all those families who were making it, living a nice life, but lost everything and now don't know what to do! The amount of damage to some of these homes is extremely extensive and for someone who was living on a moderate income, that would be a challenge to fix-up without some kind of assistance. I don't know what the ultimate resolution is here, but hopefully if this ever happens again ANYWHERE, FEMA will have learned its lesson when it come to handing out free money to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Answer 3

It is great for commerce, but in a bad spot, if you a) elevated it (somehow, don't ask me), b) moved it (don't ask me how) or c) rebuild it and make larger levies (er however you spell that).

I mean, yes all of those things require money. America's national debt is humongous, of course, so we "don't have the money". Well, listen up:

The Government had money. The Government had power. The Government has power. The Government let wind blow down New Orleans as if it was a grain of sand on the beach. The Government is being blamed justly. If the Government is the one that screwed up, which it was, then New Orleans is worth it. Let it be a lesson to the Government, I don't care who's president, but I care which president it is that lets a whole city, which was once full of celebration and casun food that would fill your nose with great aromas, fall like a playing top.

It is so, totally, and completely. Worth It.

Answer 4

I blame the government for not keeping better tabs on the taxpayer dollars that were wasted on frivolous things. I think the politicians are every bit as corrupt as some of the lazy people spending the money on things they shouldn't have spent it on. But you always have the bad along with the good, so I say yes, New Orleans is worth it. The media is only going to tell us the bad news because that is what sells. I'll bet for every bad seed in New Orleans there are probably 25 decent, hardworking people who aren't asking for a handout.

Answer 5

I worked in NO for a while back in the 1990's. The whole area was(is) very depressed economically. And poverty breeds crime. Too bad though, as the French Quarter is cool for food, drinks, partying, etc. But the rest of the city was a cesspool. I wouldn't spend a dime on it if it were up to me. Levees or not, it's below sea level - it's going to flood again.

Answer 6

there are many things that can be said for and against HOWEVER, if it were you and u lost the only home you've ever known, u would say YES it's worth it. i live in chicago, and i think if something were to happen to this city i love, gov't /taxpayers/individuals/corporations shouldn't/wouldn't think twice about re-building this city. so y do we not owe the people of new orleans that same respect!? there is WASTE of government money everyday by common people, corporations, as well as those in power. sometimes we hear about it, sometimes we don't. but the act of a few stupid should not reflect on the majority.

Answer 7

I don't think anything should be rebuilt in the low-lying areas of New Orleans until that are absolutely positive that those levees can withstand the next storm.

The people who misspent funds are the minority. The government had to get funds out to people as quick as they could and many victims had no ID. There will ALWAYS be bad people who take advantage of the aid. It's just part of human nature.

Answer 8

I LIVE JUST OUTSIDE OF NEW ORLEANS AND THERE ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE THERE WHO ARE SUFFERING A VERY BAD IMAGE BECAUSE OF THE BAD ELEMENT THAT LIVES THERE. NOT ALL ARE BAD THAT LIVE HERE. DAILY COVERAGE OF THE CRIME PROBLEMS ON CNN 24/7 AFTER KATRINA DIDN'T HELP ......BUT IT DID EXPOSE JUST HOW BAD THINGS ARE IN THIS CITY.

MAYBE WE FINALLY GET SOME HELP TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?

I HAVE LIVED NEARBY AND VISITED NEW ORLEANS ALL MY LIFE AND NOW I AM ASHAMED TO CALL IT MY BIRTHPLACE AND I NO LONGER VENTURE INTO THE CITY FOR ANY REASON.

IF THIS BAD PRESS AND CRIME KEEPS UP...NEW ORLEANS WILL ONLY BE A MEMORY OF THE FINE CITY IT "USED" TO BE.

Answer 9

Most of your statements are accurate. However, you are reading or watching stories that the media has decided to focus on. There are many good, hardworking people that live in New Orleans. It would be silly to think otherwise. Yes, there are criminals and uneducated people who do bad things. There are also really goodhearted people who do very good things down there. Good deeds just don't compare when it comes to making sensational news stories.

Answer 10

when you get your information from t.v. you run the risk of not knowing what you are talking about. most of the news stories about new orleans at the time the hurricane struck were totall b.s.
they made a few problems here and there sound like city wide chaos so that all you assholes in whitebread america would feel ok about a bunch of poor blacks dying and loosing everything they had... think for yourself you sheep