maggiemuggins
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posted on December 13, 2005 07:44:30 PM
Are they all nuts?! People living in tents in 30 degree cold, people who can't return to their homes, no homes to return to, and the city is concerned about holding Mardi Gras.
So, it's lets have some fun for a week and forget our problems. What a Crock.
I also heard that they are talking about running tours of the devastation, taking bus loads of tourists to view the horror left by Katrina. Am I missing something here folks?
What kind of ghoulish curiosity is that, let's get the kiddies and grandma and grandpa and take a tour of the gutted homes, shoot we even might get to see dead animals and a coffin or two on the roadsides..
I don't get it. 
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piinthesky
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posted on December 13, 2005 07:52:32 PM
'I don't get it.'
$35.00 for a round trip tour ticket.
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Bear1949
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posted on December 13, 2005 08:06:16 PM
Ain't Nagin a great mayor?
"Dear Lord, if you can't make me a better man, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am.".
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fenix03
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posted on December 13, 2005 08:32:10 PM
Just to play devils advocate for a minute...
New Orleans depends on it's tourism and there isn't any right now. The city is losing millions in room taxes on canceled conventions, sales taxes not collected because of lack of sales, etc and right now the only image in peoples minds are of 5 feet of standing water and streets full of muck.
By holding Mardi Gras they not only get a boost in income for the city and its businesses but they are going to get four years worth of the Tourism Departments advertising budget in free coverage as every network and countless local stations from around the country is going to have someone there covering the festivities and the recovery of the Quarter and it's a safe bet that it will get good international coverage as well
Personally I think it's a good idea. You may not be able to fix everything in the city but even a limited recovery in tourism is going start bringing in some badly needed tax dollars as well as providing more employment opportunities for those that have remained in or returned to the city.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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maggiemuggins
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posted on December 13, 2005 08:41:52 PM
I suppose that is true,you do have a point, Fenix, buta festival fly's in the face of those out in the cold. New Orleans isn't the only city fighting for survival. More attention is being paid to the Mardi Gras than the citizens in dire need. But as I said, you do have a point, the city is flat broke busted and needs the money. I draw the line at the tours of the devastation though, that's just not right.
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classicrock000
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posted on December 14, 2005 03:41:19 AM
you also have to think about,what kind of people would actually take these tours to look at devastation???
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beauty is only a light switch away
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bigpeepa
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posted on December 14, 2005 04:57:07 AM
Who is in charge of New Orleans recovery?
Thousands of trailers setting empty. Mortgage payments coming due on ruined houses. New bankruptcy laws in force so people will be paying for houses no longer livable. Billions needed to make levees safe. Now White House and CON-servative lawmakers suggesting the U.S. has no money to fix New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS The White House has declined to bail out New Orleans' bankrupt utility company, prompting dismay among local officials who see the decision as an indication that the Bush administration is not committed to rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina. White House says pass on to the public the $350-million utility bill for its recovery.
Residents could see their bills soar by 140% at a time when few can afford it,
MEANWHILE IN WASHINGTON (Dec. 14) - The Pentagon is in the early stages of drafting a wartime request for up to $100 billion more for Iraq and Afghanistan, lawmakers say, a figure that would push spending related to the wars toward a staggering half-trillion dollars.
The 100 billion would be in addition to 50 billion Congress is about to give the Pentagon before lawmakers adjourn for the year for operations in Iraq for the beginning of 2006. Military commanders expect that pot to last through May.
WHO'S IN CHARGE OF NEW ORLEANS RECOVERY THIS WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING IRAQ IS.
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 05:32:43 AM
The same kind of people that flocked to ground zero Classic. It's one thing to see something on TV but are you saying that if you were in New Orleans that you would not want to see in person some of the things you have seen on TV?
I don't think the tours are a bad idea. I think they should be run by the city and all of the proceeds go toward rebuilding efforts.
Peepa - do we know if it was a loan or a grant that was turned down. For some reason this administration has a bad habit of promising things when the spotlight is them and then backing out once attention has died down. They made lots of promises regarding loans and financial assistance to the airlines after 9/11 but kept turning down the loans when requested. Perhaps the New Orleans power department should start targeted rolling black-outs... rolling from one federal office to another. 
Oh, and BTW - how do the new bankruptcy laws effect mortages payments on destroyed homes? You can't get out from under a mortgage by filing bankruptcy. The people that are going to be hurt by this are the banks and mortgage lenders that are going to be repossessing glorified landfill lots. The ones that survive will be able to clean up down the line though as developers start coming in, and grabbing up low cost land but coupling the purchases with high dollar loans for redevelopment. If the area can get thru the next hurricane season without a big hit and developers can see an earnest effort towards the rebuilding of the levees, the area is going to explode with high end construction.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on December 14, 2005 06:39:09 AM
"We believe that transferring federal tax dollars to the bondholders and shareholders of a private firm is inappropriate," the letter said. "Prudent investors consider the risks inherent in any investment they make, including the risks of a natural disaster
. It would be wrong for the taxpayer to bail out those investors."
Damn right.
"The company has a responsibility, and that is to supply juice to the people," the official said. "They need to get about that business. Dragging their feet and trying to get the American taxpayers to pay for that business is wasting time."
Yep, handout before even getting to work. Democratic way of life.
Ron
"Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 08:34:14 AM
Ron - what the hell are you talking about? Is there something you know that we dont about the political affiliation of the shareholders of the local utilities?
Were you just bored and needed to find something to gripe about or had you just not had your morning cup of coffee when you came up with that ridiculous retort?
When an infastructure that was created and built up slowly over decades is decimated in one fell swoop it's not exactly surprising that one might need some financial help getting it back up and running. Playing some dipshit tough love game does not accomplish anything. The end ggoa is to get the city back up and running to reattract commerce and opportunity in the area, so do what needs to be done to get it done.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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Linda_K
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posted on December 14, 2005 08:41:29 AM
But I question why liberals think it's always the Federal government's responsiblity to do just that fenix. When private industry could choose to do it themselves.....IF NO is going to be rebuilt at all.
I personally don't think it should be.....just going to pour all that money into the 'sink hole' again....for what purpose to wait until another Katrina fills it up again? Not a good investment by either private industry nor our government if you ask me.
Plus in the OP what did all these people do with the money the government already gave them? Did they choose to live in the tents rather than find more permenant housing like most everybody else did?
Some people just make stupid decisions.
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on December 14, 2005 09:16:58 AM
They did not plan for this? They have no cash reserves? Too bad, don't be asking for my money to bail your azz out.
Fenix, you need to realize that is a "business" they are not doing that for free.
Let them get back to work, actually see what is needed, try for some major investments and then maybe.
Ron
"Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on December 14, 2005 09:19:35 AM
I'm with you Linda, waste of money to rebuild that city.
Ron
"Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:14:13 AM
So just toi clarify - we should stay in Iraq and make sure that we instill safety and democracy and freedom and business opportunities for all at a cost of nearly a billion dollars a day of money that we will never see again but we shouldn't spend a fraction of that amount to rebuild a city in our own country because of a single incident?
And who is it again that you accuse of hating America?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:23:59 AM
::But I question why liberals think it's always the Federal government's responsiblity to do just that fenix.::
I don't know Linda - maybe because our conservative leaders said they would? Wasn't that Bush on TV that night talking about helping to rebuild New Orleans and bringing it back to it's glory and yada yada yada. Isn't he a conservative?
I don't believe that the government should just give the money away but I do think that if the have all of this money to burn to spend in Iraq, the least they could do is loan money to help rebuild one of the most singularly important aspects of the infastructure - Electricity. It's not as if they are asking for funds to replace street signs... your cannot rebuild a city and draw industry back without a reliable power system.
I rtealize that you want the government to hoard it's funds for war, but can you tell me why you thinnk it's reasonable to spend billions to rebuild Iraq but not ourselves?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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piinthesky
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:31:05 AM
I wonder if anyone would have any strong objections to someone showing up in the devestated areas with a metal detector, a small garden shovel for digging up buried trinkets and coins and a collecting bucket.
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Linda_K
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:35:54 AM
fenix - What in the world are you talking about....hating America????
That's crazy. America is all about private industry doing things/growing business/improving place for financial gain.
And this has nothing to do with Iraq. The US government deals with and funds thousands and thousands of different programs....NONE taking money from the other.
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Linda_K
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:37:29 AM
piinthesky - You considering a trip are you?
I'd bet they'd consider anyone doing that to be lottering/tresspassing. Most would be private property I'd assume.
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:38:34 AM
I am all for America and true American needs, rebuilding N.O. is not a need.
You can't justify the government giving them money.
Ron
"Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
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Linda_K
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:41:05 AM
fenix - I don't know Linda - maybe because our conservative leaders said they would? Wasn't that Bush on TV that night talking about helping to rebuild New Orleans and bringing it back to it's glory and yada yada yada. Isn't he a conservative?
LOL....I watched that speech you're probably referring to...and he NEVER said they'd pay for everything...pay every single dime needed.
Plus they have helped....are still helping....did you miss those reports?
Has nothing to do with being a conservative.....has to do with what Congress decides the gov. will and won't pay for. All he said was that they'd receive help....to get back on their feet....and they have been...and will continue to receive. NO ONE as said the funding is being stopped...period.
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piinthesky
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:44:45 AM
Of course if you did it on any private property it would probably be considered looting but if you did it in common public areas like city parks, streets etc. then what would it be? Just a thought that i had, that's all.
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:52:52 AM
Depends on any city ordinance that may be in place.
That is a good idea though Pii, am betting some nice little trinkets are hidden about.
Ron
"Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
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bigpeepa
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posted on December 14, 2005 11:58:16 AM
This White House can spend endless billions of dollars on rebuilding Iraq including its utilities. But when an American Utility company asks for help after a disaster this White House says sorry.
I am so glad this White House and supporters of a CONservative form of Government made the statements they did.
I will show hundreds of people what this White House says and does. I will show hundreds of people what supporters of this CONservative form of Government say and think.
I believe in New Orleans Americans need help. I won't let people like LIAR_K and Ron change my mind and understanding that ITS AMERICANS THAT NEED HELP IN NEW ORLEANS.
IF WE CAN REBUILT UTILITIES IN IRAQ WE CAN SURE AS HELL DO IT IN NEW ORLEANS.
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 12:28:23 PM
::LOL....I watched that speech you're probably referring to...and he NEVER said they'd pay for everything...pay every single dime needed.::
I guess you missed the next paragraph where I said that I did not believe that the money shouldbe just given to them but that it would be a loan.
::Has nothing to do with being a conservative.....::
And it has nothing to do with being a liberal either but you dealt the hand.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 12:44:14 PM
::fenix - What in the world are you talking about....hating America???? ::
I'm talking about the fact that you are head chearleader when it comes spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq but whenever someone says anything about spending our tax dollars hear at home to actually help people in this country you #*!@ and moan and complain and say that the people are just a bunch of lazy beasts and it's not the governments responsibility to give them aid. Maybe its not america you hate Linda but you sure don't seem to have a whole hell of a lot of compassion for Americans.
As for this being about private corporation and so it's should not be the governemnts responsibility... you are right, it is a private company. However it is a private company that provides power for the region and millions of people. I don't think we need to be bailing out George's Hardware Store but when a basic service provider like the power company comes in and says "We need some help here, this is too big and we can't do this alone" you give them the help. You get them the help to rebuild their infastrcuture and get everything back online so that the community can rebuild (and start contributing tax dollars again - would think you would like that).
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
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WashingtoneBayer
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posted on December 14, 2005 12:54:39 PM
TELL HUNDREDS? ROFLMAO, YEAH I AM SURE YOU ARE AND YOU CALL LINDAK A LIAR?
Ron
"Better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not."
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Linda_K
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posted on December 14, 2005 01:09:22 PM
No, fenix that statement wouldn't be accurate....as I've already said THEY ARE providing monies for them....and THEY STILL ARE/WILL. No where did I say they shouldn't have....as I believe your post implies while not directly saying it that way.
Imo, it's totally crazy to rebuild that city....no matter who pays for it. And I still stand on my position that private industry can rebuild most of the city....since they will be the one's who profit from those measures being taken....not the taxpayers of America.
Somehow you're reading much more into my statements than what I've actually said. But it seems that what all liberals here do now-a-days.
Heck CA had a huge energy problem....and the Fed gov. didn't bail them out either. They survivied....guess how?
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desquirrel
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posted on December 14, 2005 01:12:37 PM
You know the peepas, helens, etc of this world all line up and say when are YOU going to pay up for N.O.
Yet if my house burns down and I don't have insurance everybody tells me, "gee that's tough luck buddy.".
Why do I have to pay because it is expensive to have electricity in NO?
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Linda_K
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posted on December 14, 2005 01:23:43 PM
GREAT point, desquirrel. And all too true.
-------
That's exactly what I meant when I asked why the liberals always think the Fed Gov. has to pick up the tab.
And it has nothing to do with being a liberal either but you dealt the hand.
Sure it does....it's the liberals who are always wanting the Fed Gov to give cradle to grave care to all. Support all sorts of socialist programs.....pay everything for everyone even when there are alternative solutions BESIDES the fed. gov. making everything better.
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fenix03
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posted on December 14, 2005 02:18:05 PM
::Heck CA had a huge energy problem....and the Fed gov. didn't bail them out either. They survivied....guess how?::
No they didn't Linda. They had a fictious problem that was falsly created by the energy suppliers in order to increase their profit margins. Besides - the imaginatry energy crisis in California was as supposed lack of supply. The problem in New Orleans right now is with the decimation of their delivery infastructure. They could have all the power in the world but if the delivery method is not there it's of no use.
I agree that private industry will be most of the rebuilding of New Orleans. The problem is that without a suffiecient energy system, private industry is not going to invest in the area. Power and water are the foundation on which everything else is built. Delays in the rebuilding in those only serve to delay the overall rebuilding of the area and further hinder those businesses that have remained and are trying to struggle thru the rebuilding process.
If you have come out and said that you are going to rebuild the area, why deny help to the people who are the foundation of that new growth?
Like I said, I'm not saying that the money should be a gift or that it should be given out to every Tom, Dick and Harry but a loan to help get the ball rolling on the basics does not seem unreasonable. Afterall, once the ball does get rolling and rebuilding does begin, there's a hell of a lot of money that will be running thru the economy in terms of housing starts, building goods, construction jobs and eventual employment returning to the area all of which create income for the federal government, result in greater consumer spending which strengthens the economy, the stock market and the value of the dollar on the international market.
I'm not looking at it as some soft hearted karmic thing. The way I see it, it's smart business. It's a short term investment with a long term payout. Saying no just makes bad business sense.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
[ edited by fenix03 on Dec 14, 2005 02:20 PM ]
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