Once again you have hit another problem squarely on the head and propose decent, honest and thought provoking recommendations. First and foremost it makes absolutely no sense to waste the millions and millions it will cost to rebuild and maintain any part of this country that is below sea level and surrounded by unlimited amounts of water We are already hearing how New Orleans must be rebuilt, it’s mandatory – “major port city, great restaurants, great entertainment, great music etc., etc.” No one is using common sense by suggesting the port facilities could be moved further up the Mississippi to some place that is at least a few feet above the river and ocean, or share port activities with other gulf coast ports.  It won’t take long for the other “mandatory” goodies to move to the new location.

No one is mentioning that it has been known for many years that New Orleans was sinking and will continue to sink if rebuilt. As it sinks do we throw more money down the hole to raise the levees?  We have done it before only to have politicians divert some this money to help the gambling enterprises on the river in New Orleans and God only knows what other crooked schemes to line their own pockets.  And now some of the folks in New Orleans have the nerve to point at us, the common tax payers, and accuse us of not doing enough for them.  BS!!!!! My advice is to get off the dole and your dead butts and provide for yourselves.

It’s a terrible feeling to be cynical of everything the government does. This wildly throwing money around without any sensible planning as to its most efficient and effective application is a good example of why we all should be cynical of the government.  As my fellow military retirees know, the precedence was set years ago in the lies the government used to use us, amounted to out and out fraud. It’s not necessary to repeat the military retiree broken health care promise here, it’s on the internet for all to see and read to the shame of this country and every member of Congress. See: mrgrg-ms.org.

We all know that many politicians see this catastrophe, this suffering of so many, as a golden opportunity to spend the tax payers money, money meant to help those in need, on boondoggles solely aimed to support their own reelection. We are the suckers, we know, yet we continue to reelect them year in and year out. It doesn’t make any difference which party, there are more than enough crooked, inept politicians to go around - New Orleans proves this statement most effectively. As time goes by, it gets worse each year – just take a look at what our “Honorables” did with the Energy and Road bills this year with millions upon millions for self serving pork projects.  Note too that there was no money for the levees around New Orleans either. Now the “Honorables” are going to take the taxpayers money and make no interest, yes you read it correctly, no interest loans, to the big businesses who suffered damage.  Big businesses like the Superdome and well known hotel chains will get these loans under the guise of creating more jobs when recovery in the entire area will create more jobs than there are workers to fill them. Unfortunately, this is precisely the excuse they will use to continue to do nothing about the illegal alien crisis.  

 The funds being thrown at fixing the damages are enormous and the distribution needs honest monitoring. Those abusing these expenditures, from the lowest claimant to the highest government official must be prosecuted. We do not need to see any more of the corruption that was displayed by the police participating in the looting that went on in New Orleans and I hope they too will be harshly dealt with. It is an absolute disgrace to see fellow Americans acting like third world, banana republic heathens. There are plenty of pictures of easily recognized looters, - TV, security cameras, media sources, and other eye witnesses. These people need to be tracked down like the dogs they are, and an example set to let any others with the same bent know that they will receive the harshest of punishment if they ever do the same. The same applies to those politicians and others who grossly exaggerated or out right lied about the conditions in New Orleans .

While we are fixing the flood and wind damaged let us also eliminate the government subsidized insurance program that allows people to build their homes in areas that everyone knows will frequently be flooded. As desirable as it is to live along this nation’s sea coasts and waterways that everyone knows are subject to frequent storm flooding, - it should not be the responsibility of the tax paying public to subsidize the insurance policies of those that choose to live in these areas. Rebuilding New Orleans is just an extension of these subsidized insurance policies.

Perhaps what has happened is a wake up lesson. Perhaps common sense and honesty will come to the forefront but I am very doubtful and in the long run glad that I am not one of the youngsters facing the problems the country faces today. In my time with our unprepared state at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor , at least we knew who our enemies were, we knew we all had to pull together, and we were all patriotic. It’s different today because our country is rotting from within and torn apart by partisan politics.

Norm Campbell, MSgt. USAF (Retired)

Albuquerque , NM

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The Liberal news media is good at pointing their finger of blame in every direction during a crisis except at themselves.  Did any of the liberal news media such as ABC, NBC, CBS etc provide any donations for food, water, or shelter to help the victims of Katrina except in some form of criticism of those who did.  Did any of the liberal news media covering the Katrina disaster go without food, water or shelter as did many of the victims???   So the question is - should the Federal Government and tax-payers be accountable for re-building New Orleans?? Let the liberal news media do it.

John Clayton

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 I am baffled by the view that our President or our government is responsible for the chaos and the rebuilding, etc. following this disaster.  Maybe because of being born and raised in the west, I think that it is very sad that lives and property were lost, however; I do not feel it is the fault of our President.  The people who stayed after being warned made a very poor choice. However, they did choose to remain in harm's way. When a forest fire got near us, we loaded up and headed away from the fire. No government entity of any sort told us to leave, just basic common sense and the belief that we are responsible for ourselves.

    I am puzzled by the thoughts of those who blame people for this mess. Somehow, we had the knowledge on Thursday evening, way up here in North Idaho.  Is it possible that anyone thinks that some thing or someone told President Bush that this would be as horrific as it was ? I just have a problem thinking that God told Mr. Bush and not another soul this  ---- that would make Mr. Bush responsible.  However, I think half of the problem is a basic matter of people being people and making mistakes coupled with way, way, way "too many Chiefs and not enough  Indians", as the old saw goes.  Too many people seem to feel that they are owed what they need by the government, in my opinion.  Yes, it is wonderful to be helped when you need help, but it is not our due and it may take time when it has to passed through any type of government setting.

    I agree that building below sea level is not wise. However, the citizens of that area are likely to want to live there as soon as possible. It is their home. That is where there roots are. I would not be happy living away from here ... this is home!  

Therefore, it makes sense to try to alleviate the dangers in a practical fashion, to prevent future recurrences.

 

Terry Walmer