America's Failure in New Orleans

It's been two years, and New Orleans struggles onward - quite possibly towards oblivion at some point in the coming decades. And the country, it seems, yawns.

I still don't get it.

True national traumas are relatively rare events in America. 9/11 was one, and you have to say 8/29 was another. As the levees collapsed and water rushed into city neighborhoods, it also tore back the thin curtains that conceal various brewing, very serious national problems - the persistence of poverty and racial inequity, neglected infrastructure, government with its wheels off. In fact, the basic compact between people and government - for measure of protection against the loss of life and property - failed.

The collapsed levees have been repaired, but that compact remains broken. The harsh reality of 8/29 is still lived out every day by the residents of New Orleans - but America couldn't face it. We blamed Bush and Brownie and Blanco and Nagin and we quickly turned away. There were other things for the political/media culture to focus on, such as the continuing sideshow of Iraq, which has become an inexhaustible source of meaningless debate in Washington.

If you think Katrina is just about New Orleans and the Gulf coast, think again. Our national failures there have alarming implications for the future. There are many practical problems we could be grappling with now, but aren't. New Orleans could have been - and could yet be - a laboratory for devising technologies and policies for sustainable development in this era of rapid, dangerous environmental changes. But, though gradual progress is being made (driven almost entirely from the bottom up) the absence of national leadership has made the New Orleans recovery an improvised, intractable mess, our own domestic quagmire.

What I don't understand is how politicians and the public can so casually accept this shameful and dangerous state of affairs. We've turned a corner, here. Has America become too fragmented, too indifferent, too shell-shocked by the various threats of the past few years, real and imagined, to deal with real problems?

Comments

[kali4niadazed]

Yeah we failed, we gave, we gave, where did it go. The government failed us and those in power, whom recieved all the money's, clothes, food, ect. None got to where it was supposed to be. Well I will not give again, until someone is trustworthy enough to do what's right for those whom needed it. Shame on Our Governement for allowing this to continue 2 years later. We fellow American's do care, but with the corrupt gov. we have, Greed. Unworthy they are, IMPEACH NOW!!

[rakela]

Get this! Bush in your face! He does not care what the public thinks about anything. Katrina, Iraq, wmd's,lies,lies,and more lies. Apparently the public hasn't figured out yet that dictators do what ever they please, and don't care what the citizens need or would have. That is why there has been a third world approach to sending aid to a first class city.

[luziannagirl]

Points to consider :

1) N.O. has always been virtually an island, dependent on constant resupply of goods & services from 30 to 100 miles or more away. Only three highways crossing lakes, swamps, and marshes connect. MS Gulf Coast is not an island. Big difference.

2) New Orleans has unlike most sprawling American cities, remained a pedestrian-oriented city with a functional public transportation system. Tens of thousands of residents were car-less because they used public transportation and walked, and are now being blamed for not evacuating the city ahead of the storm. RE-instituting regional light rail service and regional public transportation is essential infrastructure to any pedestrian community, whether old or new.

3) New Orleans could have been developed in a way less vulnerable to inevitable storm surges . More buildings and homes should have been up on high pilings, for sure. However, before y'all all jump on the "abandon New Orleans cuz it's down in a hole" bandwagon, just remember that ALL cities built in a river floodplain are artificially kept dry year-round by levees. New Orleans is by no means the only city dependent on federal infrastructure, nor levees. And don't get me started on why we support cities in the desert, dependent on fresh water being transported great distances.

3) I won't go into the wonky stuff,but rebuilding our natural wetlands is absolutely imperative to any sort of repopulation and recovery of New Orleans and the region. Look at an OLD map---plenty of wetlands used to be east and northeast of the city south of the Rigolets. Now it's open water.

4) And, yes, we do need to learn to build in ways that recognize the realities of our geography and climate, if we expect to continue living here.

5) And, finally, Louisiana, like many states, has struggled for years with public corruption. Please help us do better in recovering by asking your senators, representatives, governors and business leaders to encourage all the Louisiana leaders and citizens they meet to continue to push for increased ethics laws.

[Leciasgrooming]

The problem in NO is not a failure of the federal government, nor of the people of the US. The failure falls right at the local and state governments' door. For decades those who were responsible for the safty of the citizens were warned of what would happen when the big blow arrived. They did nothing. Corruption is the norm in Louisiana. Moneys to be spent on levee saftey were intercepted and put to other uses. Then when crisis was impending the local polititians left town. The National Geographic made a pbs special laying out the scenario if the levees failed and this was years before Katrina. The officials experienced Wilma in the sixties for heavens sakes. As to the poverty level in Louisiana...Louisiana is a democrat run state. The Democrats ALWAYS promise to erradicate poverty-in truth they have been doing so since there has been a democrat party. Elect us and we will make poverty a thing of the past! Yet they never seem to do anything but talk and promise. In conclusion, New Orleans was not built in two years, it took hundreds of years. Rebuilding will likely take less but whining and crying and blaming will not make it happen one day sooner. Get to work Louisiana and stop waiting for someone else to fix your problems.

[showme54]

First off Leciasgrooming, Gov Blanco(D) took office in Jan '04, prior to that the governor was Mike Foster(R) from 96-04. Prior to that you had Edwards(D) 92-94; Roemer(R)88-92; Edwards(D) 84-88; Treen(R) 80-84. As far as Nagin, word has it he leans more toward Republican and was/is a Bush campaign supporter.

Corruption is NOT any more an issue in Louisiana than it is in any city, state, or region. Just read the papers.

The levee and floodwall system around NOLA, just as levee systems around the US were built, are funded, are maintained and are the responsibility of the federal gov't.

As far as knowing about 'the big one'--there is a 'big one' of some kind predicted for every region of the US, whether it is hurricane, earthquake, flood, tidal wave, disasters of natural and man-made 'worst case scenerios' are studied extensively in order that we, as a nation can be prepared.

I believe you meant 'Camille' not 'Wilma'- which was a hurricane that followed Katrina and Rita in 2005.

[Not Blind]

The big difference between 9/11 and 8/29 is quite obvious. 9/11 took place in commercial buildings in Manhattan (housing banks, brokerage firms and other corporate headquarters). 8/29 took place in a city with a large populace that is non-white, poor and either non-voters or perhaps more Democratic. I've always said if such a hurricane had hit the Floriday Keys or Orange County, where folks are rich, white and Republican, attention and ample aid would have been there on-the-spot.

[showme54]

Another difference between 9/11 and 8/29 was that in NYC it happened within several blocks in Katrina it was damages to 90,000 square miles and three weeks later, Rita produced damages to nearly 60,000 square miles. For reference Hurricane Andrew that everyone compares Katrina to, devastated a little over 500 square miles.

[Robster]

New Orleans is famous for corruption- that's part of the problem. Another part of the problem is that the place is not Republican.

[showme54]

Robster, many people keep repeating this infamous allegation of 'history of corruption' about Louisiana. You are merely repeating a 'talking point' mostly promoted by politicians (many have been known to have questionable ethics themselves), as the 'ol smoke n mirrors' technique in an effort to shift the public's attention from whatever is going on at the time. Sad to say, it works most of the time as most people have the 'perception' that politicians are corrupt. So if a politician says another is corrupt, of course we all believe it right? We have all seen the movies and read the novels of the legends and lore of 'southern politics', so everyone thinks they know 'how they are in the south', right? Kind've like we all 'know' how things were in the Old West, everything is true in the movies right?

Louisiana, in particularly New Orleans has a 300 year colorful history, under the flag of France, under Spain, under France again, under American, under Confederate, under Martial Law, and under American again. There have been many battles fought on its lands.

From NOLA's beginnings it has been an international city accepting of many races, many religions, many cultures, and many causes as well as its lands nearby were home to many Native American tribes. As a major entrance to America with its vital river port that provided not only protection, but to supply most of the country with goods from all over the world.

Louisiana politics are taken serious, from the school board positions to the top State positions are hard fought and often aren't pretty. Louisiana also has had some nationally well-known colorful politicians, most loud and eccentric compared to the norm. As such, many legends have been born, some deserved, some embellished, some completely false but make for funny jokes, that is until it is used as pure propaganda to influence the outcome of a disaster hitting the State. Louisiana is no more corrupt than any other state, that's a fact.

[mrkerb]

I think that alot of folks (me included) thought that things would 'get done' when
money was thrown at the problem. Now the story is getting more press and I am hearing about sectors without electricity and tens of thousands who haven't returned. The big picture, I suspect, is our national response to problems.Back in the Kennedy administration, there were stockpiles of food and portable hospitals stored in strategic locations as part of our cold war preparedness.
Now we don't appear to be prepared for bad weather. I think that using our National Guard troops and equipment in Iraq isn't helping either. Raising this issue with the current adminstration might get more appropriations
but is there much oversight of the current spending? Are there competent appointees at the helm? Do we spend enough $$ but cronyism is handing out cash and not really solving problems?

[lobear00]

Cheny/Bush war in Iraq for Oil is more important than a City in the United States.
That alone should tell all Americans where the priorities of this Regime stand. These are the real Traitors of the United States.

[interventor]

Congress appropriated $94 billion for Katrina. Please stop whinig about caring until you can tell me where the money went. It would have bought most of the flooded areas several times over.

[showme54]

interventor, first off, 'approprations' don't always mean 'cash in hand'. Now on to answer your statement of what happened to the money. The Hurricane funding is split between the states of LA, MS, AL, FL and I believe, TN for Katrina; LA & TX for Rita and the states affected by Wilma. As to the breakdown to which state got how much and what method was used to come to those decisions, I have no idea. In La alone, many cities and towns in probably more than half the state received damages from Katrina and/or Rita...not counting the destruction from the federal levee failures that affected New Orleans, St. Bernard, Ninth Ward, Slidell, Chalmette, Lakeview and Metairie.

Out of the total amount, most was used to payback the initial rescue & recovery & housing & debris removal issues of the 6 states; $2000 credit cards that were handed out, the cruise ships to house evacuees, hotels, airplanes, buses, boats, fuel,ice, food, fema trailers, money to the states that took in evacuees, the Red Cross, to fema itself and other federal contracts & personnel. I believe it also includes the payouts of the fed flood insurance monies to those that had flood ins. There is a 'pipeline' with which fema disburses the money...an amount is allocated to address specific instances, ie housing, education, recreation, infrastructure...a request has to be made, it moves up the pipeline through several people and then if approved the money trickles down the same pipeline. In many instances, you pay as you go and receive reimbursement from them after you prove your expenditures. In other words, a lot of bureaucratic 'red tape' and hoops to go through.

Does this suffice to warrant a bit of compassion from you for them?

[rwilliams1961]

I design websites for a living. I read Huffington daily. I met my wife online. And I surf the web for fun. But I think part of our problem with remaining attentive to New Orleans, the Iraqi vets coming home in body bags, and other tragedies is two-fold: One, it"s the internet. It gives us information, entertainment and something to do when 500 channels isn"t enough. Most of all, it cuts us off from face to face, three-dimensional, pheromone-scented interaction. That bright screen robs us of other people and numbs us to a degree television can not approximate. Why visit neighbors, deal with the kids, or go outside and actually do something when you can surf the web?

The second issue, in addition to the web, is Bush. At this stage, Americans know that we have no influence over our Nimrod of a president. We can say we want stem cells. He says it goes against his religion. We say we want the war to end. He says that he believes all people deserve to be free. (Which is ironic, considering that we are free to speak - and even be recorded by the NSA while we speak! - and yet have no sway over our own government.)

We"re tuned out. And our single-minded, self-obsessed leader actually makes that condition a pragmatic one, since we no longer have a voice.

[rwe]

error , see this is the misinfo machine of the dims, stem cells he never ever said no, EMBRYONIC which you conveniently did not say was the issue

[avergejoe]

The govt is responsive to others -

isrealinsider 04/05/05:

Peres to ask U.S. for pullout funding, Sharon to meet with settlers on deal

Israel will ask the United States for money to help with the Gaza withdrawal, Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Tuesday, ahead of a trip to Washington.

Peres spoke as Gaza settlers sought higher compensation for their homes and demanded to be moved to Israel as a group -- a sign that many have resigned themselves to the pullout, after initially threatening a fight to the finish. Settler leaders were to meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later Tuesday to discuss compensation and resettlement, ending months of angry silence.

Sharon agrees in principle to a proposal to move most Gaza settlers as a group to the Nitzanim coastal area, between the towns of Ashkelon and Ashdod, just a few miles from their current homes, a senior Israeli official said. Sharon was expected to tour the Nitzanim area in coming days.

In a meeting with Cabinet ministers and senior government officials involved in the withdrawal, an angry Sharon demanded quicker action. He urged officials to cut through red tape, participants said.

The government, meanwhile, approved the first compensation deal with a settler family, saying the first check would be signed by weeks-end, after a committee on Monday reviewed the first eight compensation claims. So far, about 60 out of 1,600 settler families have reached tentative agreement with the government to leave voluntarily this summer, in exchange for compensation.
.

Hours before leaving for Washington, Peres refused to say how much money Israel is seeking from the United States. Peres is to meet Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials to discuss the planned withdrawal from Gaza and four West Bank settlements. Sharon is to meet with Bush next week.

One official close to the Bush administration said there are expectations in Washington that Israel would request $500 million in aid.

Peres told The Associated Press on Tuesday that "I think, the United States has already allocated money, and we want to coordinate our efforts."

[Indiana]

Maybe Louisiana or at least New Orleans should secede from the union---perhaps she'll get the same good deal Israel or Iraq will be getting.

[lfw1031]

I don't thing "all" of America failed the US. Many of us did what we could - we sent aid to the Red Cross knowing full well that FEMA as not doing enough to help. We collected supplies at churches. We sent books to water-logged libraries. And just like 9/11, our President, our Congress suggested that we all book hotel rooms in NOLA and go get a nice dinner out to "help the people." In fact, that's still the message - as though tourism were the band-aid to heal all wounds. As if any of the money the trinket-buyers spent would ever reach the Lower 9th.

We are a big country and we look to our elected officials for leadership, for a checklist of things that we can do to help 1 month later, 1 year later, 2 years later...and nothing. We even elected a new Congress since the storm - and they have failed us, too.

NOLA is in sorry shape but she won't cry. She's done with crying - her tears weren't acknowledged 2 years ago. She's through with us, the government, the insurance carpetbaggers. She's trying to go it on her own, even knowing that she might not make it. I'll continue to do what I can, sending bits and pieces down to a city that I love. And if she ever does regain her neighborhoods and her citizenry, I'll march with them when they seek, once again, to be part of France.

[Indiana]

Regarding the $50 billion President Bush wants to spend on Iraq--the fact that this news had to break on the 2-year anniversary of Katrina is a cruel joke. If Congress' Democrats had any moral courage, they would either make honoring Bush's request contingent on sending $50 billion to Louisiana to help rebuild New Orleans, or find a way to shortstop Iraq's $50 billion and divert it to Louisiana.

[kevin2323]

How in the WORLD is Karl Rove, a dirty political operative, named as Hurricane Recovery Czar without a peep from the media, OR the Democrats?

Has anybody ever asked him what steps he's taken to help the recovery of our region?

[rwe]

because maybe, just maybe he was not the end of all evil the dem hate machine portrayed him

[julianne]

By now, Case, MIT and other scientific and high-end trade schools should be partnering with the Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies. They should be making it part of their focus and curriculum. We should be bringing back the technical high schools to restore the craft foundation for our security and employment that big business and their suits in Washington have destroyed in their globalist fire sale. We should now be employing thousands of our citizens in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and paying stipends to younger, mentoring citizens attending new vocational high schools to rebuild the NOLA area (either in its present location or to the north) and wetlands/barrier reefs. The Egyptians didn't engineer and build all their structures for the "Gods". Their highly skilled citizens came out of guilds and were mentored while working in a vast array of crafts and support organizations when the Nile receded. This maintained long term employment and continuity in their 3000 year long economy. The high numbers of techical and skilled crafts people that we need to renovate our infrasture and bring our country energy security could have been greatly enhanced by a program of integrating the reconstruction of New Orleans with an eye to developing similar planning for the great enterprises we need for our infrasture and energy needs.

[showme54]

Excellent ideas...please pass them on to officials and anyone that will listen, not only for Louisiana, Mississippi...everywhere.

[CaseyBabes]

Pretty dynamic thinking here......have you by any chance communicated with a responsible agency your ideas? Seems like you should as your's are fresh, imaginative and goal oriented. Heck, try MIT (and I'll now butt out).