Are New Orleanians in Houston, Texas, not willing to work (as alleged) to regain their independence?

Question

There are some (and even some in Houston,Texas) that are under the impression that the Katrina evacuees; more specifically, New Orleanians, are just too lazy to pull their own weight. What saith thou?

To all the elopezcomics: The most terrible thing in any language is to take words out of context.

Answer 1

I think most Houstonians, like most people, are just tired - you know, how someone just gets tired and frustrated after a certain period of assisting, though they were very welcoming in the beginning.

Most importantly, however, there's no person with healthy work ethics who doesn't want to work and be independent of others or government. For starters, Texas is a very diverse (one would think this is good news) and competitive society (the originals out to take back and everyone else trying to survive in a historically hostile environment). Because of these unresolved historical issues, the workplace in Houston, Texas (where everything happens) can be very hostile; unless one is very fortunate to find a job in the less than 1% civil and professional environments. Texas is a very factionist society - one almost has to belong to some group or know someone in high place to keep a decent job for long. Most foreigners, especially Asians, are usually smart enough to simply go self-employed and even open their native grocery stores and restaurants (where they shop for almost everything and eat) in order to survive in Houston, Texas -

Therefore, whether our fellow New Orleanians were economically productive or jobless before coming to Houston, Texas, the above mentioned facts in Houston, Texas, are simply more challenges for them. And the fact that, sometimes, the municipality places road blocks (as if disappointed by very industrious individuals), only adds to the jobless situations. Please see: "Forget Not" - http://www.geocities.com/ulafrique/forgetnot.html

I do not believe New Orleanians in Houston, Texas, do not want to earn their own living. Come visit Houston, Texas, and you'll be surprised at the number of homeless people (very educated included). Why are they (forget about the foreigners - they just discovered, yet, another basic fact of life: There's no place like home!) homeless in their country/nation? I strongly believe the "welfare" system has a lot to do with these "lazy" people: Some are rendered homeless to get them into welfare, and others are too used to the handouts that they no longer want to thrive for themselves. I believe the welfare system in the USA is a form of slavery. The government actually encourages the catch-22 situation and uses "welfare" to keep people in check.

Answer 2

Considering that...

These people were EVACUEES, and were not supposed to be moving to Houston and staying for a long period of time

The aid that was due this city and these people from the federal government was both woefully late and inadequate, and not even half of the infratructure has been restored a whole year later.

President Bush said last week that the rebuilding of New Orleans is just beginning.

Maybe we should refrain from making really, really petty judegements like the ones I'm seeing above. If I had to go through all that, and I was still an evacuee a year later, I might be saying "poor me" myself.

Answer 3

Most New Orleanians have moved on with their lives and many of them out of the cities that took them in. The ones people are complaining about were probably trouble before the storm and they'll continue to be trouble.

Answer 4

No matter how much they get, there are some wo will say that the government should do more. Some will never be happy. I do think there are people who are totally taking advantage of the situation. People were living in hotels for monthes afterward and complaining that this was not enough and they couldn;t find work etc.

I wouldn;t mind, but last I checked they were offereing free training courses to be a roofer.

Answer 5

To say most evacuees fit this description is way off base but I am sure there are a few though who do. New Orleans residents who were burdens on society there will continue to live that same lifestyle wherever they are relocated and those who strived to succeed ther will also continue that lifestyle. Whenever assistance programs are offered, some will abuse that assistance.

Answer 6

I saith that they will not work and will try to live off the gov. till hell freezes. They have come here with their thievin asses sitting on them, livin it up for free. Of course there are exceptions to every rule. But there are more free loadin than trying to make a better life for themselves. They should go home and help rebuild their home instead of freeload and waiting for someone else to do it for them. And for some reason they are all black, huh who would've thought.

Answer 7

THey have riden the gravy train because it's all they know.
And for those that cry "If you lost all your stuff & family".......
Get real.
We provided relief for them.
THey took advantage of that.
When they FINALLY left...because Rita was bearing down on our town, they left the shelters in terrible condition.So bad, in fact, that our residents couldn't even use them after OUR STORM.
THe "grand experiment" has failed & New Orleans' wards residents are living proof of that.

Answer 8

i'm right here in new orleans, having people slowly come back and telling me that there are still people out there taking advantage of the government and not trying to help themselves, not looking for jobs, not trying to move on. that first answer does not realize your asking a question, not making a statement. must be sitting in his hotel room with his fema paid laptop waiting for the world to hand him his due. yeah thats it

Answer 9

You have no idea what they are going through. Why are you asking this? Everything they had was DESTROYED. They have nothing, what can they do but try to salvage what they have? They people who escaped are worried about their families... What if this happened to you? What would you be worried about? This question disgusts me, sorry... People need to come together and help them, but not enough people are helping them, and I know the reason to, and people are doing them dirty. People's babies are dying, how are they supposed to focus? Only a hardened heart could act as if they are lazy. I can't even imagine being lazy if I just went through that.

Answer 10

They didn't work in New Orleans either. So why would anyone think they'd be willing to work in Houston?