New Orleans Marks 2 Years Since Katrina »
Posted by: Digidave 1 year ago178 Comments Report this Story
A march today in the Lower Ninth Ward. President Bush, visiting the city, said he saw "a more blessed day" ahead. "Hurricane Katrina broke through the levees," the president said. "It broke a lot of hearts. It destroyed buildings. But it didn't affect the spirit of a lot of citizens in this community."
Read Full Story at nytimes.com
Join the Discussion 
+ Add Comment
Comments So Far: 178
-
0%
vor1 year ago
The Ninth Ward should never be rebuilt. It is at the bottom of the bowl. No one should live in such a dangerous area. That also should apply to barrier islands! Those with insurance and those with enough money to make the risk acceptable have rebuilt on the Gulf Coast. The poor are essentially screwed. Wonder what Trent Lott's house looks like?
Reply-
-
jgbvftComment removed: User banned.
-
-
0%
ONEMEMPHISDUDE1 year ago
p.s. Trent's house in not in the 9th ward of Louisiana, but in Mississippi. Katrina hit The Ms. Gulf Coast head on and this is what spared New Orleans.
The poor in LA were poor before the storm. Those who stayed, re-elected Mayor Ray Nagin. G_d help them from themselves.
Reply
-
-
0%
not2needy1 year ago
Sad that so much looks the way it did the day after the waters receded. Where did the billions to restore go?
Reply-
0%
saintetienne1 year ago
Up the noses of the people it was supposed to help, who took the money and bought drugs, lottery tickets, prostitutes and liquor with it.
Further proof that throwing money at the poor doesn't help them or anyone else. It just empties OUR pockets.
2 YEARS LATER, and there hasn't been any change in New Orleans, despite billions of dollars in aid? Whose fault is that? THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
Get the picture?
Reply-
0%
cushi1 year ago
You must be referring to the crooked politicians who are sucking up all our resources and thumbing their noses at the less fortunate. The poor people of NO are "victims" not only of the hurricane but of rich, avaricious, hypocritical, holier than thou CRIMINALS in authority over them. Only a minute fraction of the "people" have seen any of the money, much less benefitted from it. Instead of going up their noses, as you so inaccurately implied, it has gone in the pockets of the mostly repugnicon regime of crooked politicians. Your arrogance is astounding and puts you in the same category with the ruling criminals, in attitude if not in affiliation and assets.
Reply
-
-
0%
rockman0691 year ago
I drove through NO last weekend, and I was amazed to see many shops and homes boarded up, even two years later. It was truly depressing to see the damage caused, but would hope that they would be able and willing to restore the Big Easy to it's original glory...
Reply-
0%
not2needy1 year ago
They can't account for where all the billions went that was allocated to restore NO, hence i don't think they will be doing a lot in that area, unless the owners/residents do it on their own.
Reply-
0%
mdual1 year ago
Of course the billions can't be accounted for and some is still sitting in banks growing moldy. NO was corrupt before Katrina and then the residents voted in the SAME GOVERNMENT PEOPLE. Does this answer the question? They all want to be in charge but nobody wants to be held accountable so you get what you get.
I'm from Florida and we've rebuilt several times after hurricanes. Hurrican Andrew ripped every tree out of Miami and you wouldn't have known it a year after that hurricane.
Reply -
0%
saintetienne1 year ago
Which ain't gonna happen. Those people are so used to sitting around waiting for the government to support them and tell them what to do, they'll sit around for 20 more years before the government goes in and moves them out to somewhere else.
Do-nothing welfare recipients have created their own society. They'll move and do something when they good and well feel like it, which is pretty close to never.
Reply
-
-
-
0%
saintetienne1 year ago
How about people taking care of themselves for once, huh? How about people using the great wealth of services and resources and cash incentives that have been set up to help them?
Nah. Too much work. They'd rather wait for the government to just bail them out and tell them what to do.
Reply-
-
0%
rockman0691 year ago
I feel that the mindset that should be employed is, help those that help themselves. There were several cases of people who, when approached by emergency personnel, would simply refuse to leave their houses. Even with the waters lapping at their front door, or when warned of the dangers of disease.
Personally, I don't understand that mentality. I would prefer to live another day, get my family to safety, and rebuild.
Why was the government responsible to bail out thousands who chose to stay? Obviously there are as many who had a legitimate reason for not being able to escape, but I suspect with a little initiative, they could have flagged down a fleeing car or RV and hitch a ride out. In the face of danger, we can become amazingly human.
I guess my concern is that as described, it was not the first hurricane to hit, and seriously doubt it will be the last. When the warning signs come, feel the threat and GET OUT!
Reply
-
-
0%
DeadXXXManXXXTalkin1 year ago
ever hear about shouting at the devil or tempting fate? How bout 's*** happens'?
It does. It may even happen to you. Fate is a fickle mistress, and she remembers all your words. be careful you don't call calumny upon yer own head.
Reply
-
-
0%
stoutkraut1 year ago
I wish some of you out there would comprehend the destruction of 100,000 square miles. When Andrew hit Flordia it destroyed 100 square miles...you don't rebuild overnight...it will take years. As Blackbeard said...if they are smart they will stay out. Europe was still rebuilding 20 years after WWII.
When you build below sea level you are gambling...the house (Katrina) won....want to bet again?? It's not government money...it's tax dollars. Save central NO/French Quarter the "high ground" and let the rest exist as a buffer.
People who build on the coast, river valley's, and marsh land are just courting disaster...then cry when it finally happens.
Reply-
0%
crespi1 year ago
You mean the Fundamentalist Christians praying on TV through the '90's for San Francisco, and then New Orleans to be destroyed by God, and Bush being a Fundamentalist Christian and saying "I didn't watch any coverage of it for the first three days," because maybe he had attended anti-New Orleans CHURCH services and DIDN'T WANT to save that city didn't have anything to do with it?
Good thing...
Reply
-
-
0%
KISA452a1 year ago
Let's see, they built UNDER water level, everyone knew the dikes could burst, they did and people are going to REBUILD!?!? WTF is wrong with people! How stupid do you ahve to be to rebuild in the same place?
Then the people... I heard an interview on NPR yesterday (I think it was), people saying "I lost everying, insurance won't pay, I can't get gvt money". Well,you skimped and didn't buy the right kind of insurance so OF COURSE they wont pay. Why should the gvt give you MY money if you are too cheap to take care of yourself and stupid to live in a place like that?
Then "it shoulnd't just be volunteers rebuilding. the national guard should be rebuilding". The national guard rebuild your houses?!?! Again, how stupid. They are around to pull your butts off roofs when it floods and fight wars when needed. Not rebuild your houses!!
Reply -
-
0%
puffin1 year ago
"buy the people houses elsewhere"?
Can't have that. That sounds too much like helping stupid, cheap, lazy, helpless, and worthless do-nothings.
Reply -
-
0%
farmerman1 year ago
By the time the various levels of government get through blowing billions of dollars, it would have been cheaper to bulldoze the low lying areas and buy those people new McMansions. Louisiana is one of the most corrupt states to do business in and they will siphon off billions.
Reply
-
-
0%
aniokly1 year ago
Restore the Big Easy to its old Glory? That is a joke, right? N O was a sh*t hole before Katrina came near it.Did you not see the people waiting in line to get into the Super Bowl Dome? Did you not see the dregs of society dragging 3 or 4 fatherless children behind whining about baby diapers, and food, To a one with a cigarette hanging out of their mouths? I am sorry, but help these people for 6 months, or a year, but two years later their city is still a P O S, no. Funs over they have to take care of their own now.
Reply-
-
0%
farmerman1 year ago
When you have to depend on others then you are not all equal. Don't kid yourself. If welfare mothers arn't on the bottom then they are real close. Not that some don't start taking responsibility and work themselves out that category, but many just pass these traits on to their children. It is a never ending cycle, where proverty just goes from one generation to the next.
Reply
-
-
0%
farmerman1 year ago
Extremely well put. I was just watching some re-runs of the Katrina footage and you nailed it. The number of obese people is staggering. One thing, we had been feeding them well before Katrina and I expect we are still feeding those losers well. But you take people like that with no sense of ambition and they are very willing to live off of others, for their entire life.
Reply
-
0%
farmerman1 year ago
If you are knocking Bush for rebuilding, you are after the wrong dog. The local and state people were insisting on rebuilding and if Bush had opposed it, the Libs would have a field day on what a racist, bigoted, insensitive President he was to those poor black people. He was just playing the racial politics game. That game gets played every day.
Reply -
0%
joeblowe1 year ago
I looks like a lot of people are getting on the bus with me (finally) and noticing that putting a city below sea level when other alternatives are available is just plain idiotic. And you know, the comment above about it being a sh*thole BEFORE Katrina? I work with a fellow who used to spend time there during his "off" season. And this was YEARS ago. He claimed it was the most disgusting place you could ever imagine. Drug addicts on every corner, poor everywhere, dirt, decay, stench -- you get the picture. Apparently Bourbon Street was about the only place it was fit to be. And he just went there because it was cheap, he was young, and it was a continuous party. I've never been there personally - after listening to this guy's stories, I don't want to go.
Reply-
0%
DivaGirl1 year ago
I agree. I used to live in Baton Rouge and would go to NO frequently. It was disgusting back in the mid 80's. It smelled and was full of strange people. It was like a freak show. I don't understand why the govt. should have to pay for idiots that live in places like that. If you live in a flood zone or on a fault line or in a mudslide area, etc., you should live there at your own risk. It ticks me off when people constantly want a hand out.
Reply
-
