Katrina fall-out

If all the money for the Corps of Engineers wasn't sent to Iraq, the
infrastructure around New Orleans could have been improved to the point
where most people could go home now. Smaller hurricanes wouldn't require
any evacuation. Supposedly the cost was under $1B.

True (except for the cost, which is low by a factor of ten) -- but
irrelevant.

a) No one wanted to do what was viewed as a "pork barrel" project
b) The projects that had been proposed would have had no impact on the areas
that failed.

(This all from an NPR news report this morning, talking to the Corps of
Engineers)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I had not noticed fences around reservations keeping the residents from
leaving and getting a job. Don't the American Indians get more free
government hand outs than any other ethnic group?

It's not a free handout, it's the money the Department of Interior
siphoned out of their trust accounts over the last hundred years.

True.

And the King of Prussia still owes my ancestors, dammit.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I woke up this morning to the picture of Veteran's Blvd which made me
think of my students who just took the bar. My thoughts wandered from
there to the effect on the Disciplinary Offices. Then my thoughts
continued on. I'm sure I'm still missing a big part of the future
picture. It's just devastating. Can you imagine something of this
dimension in your state?

Everything you say is horrible except for the devastation to the government
buildings and records.

I should think you might be ecstatic at this rare opportunity to start the
Louisiana legal system over from scratch. It can't get much worse, and
perhaps you can create a model that works better for the rest of the country
to follow?

(And who were the brain-children that kept your Supreme Court records in a
building that was below sea level -- in a flood plain -- in a hurricane
zone?)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

If tourists couldn't get out, even with plenty of warning, what options do
you think poor people had?

No, you need to ask that slightly differently. "If tourists couldn't get
out, what options do you think native New Orleaneans (or whatever they are
called) had?"

I'd wager that someone who lived there would have a heckuva lot more "street
knowledge" on how to get out, than a lost tourist would.

As the story develops over time, it's all coming down to this: Those who
knew, and could, got out. Those who didn't -- or didn't care -- stayed.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

How many people have to tell these dumb asses to GET THE HELL OUT OF
DODGE
when there is a Level 5 hurricane bearing down on them, before they
actually
listen?

You might better direct your anger towards a federal government that had
all
the same warnings, all the same information (and probably more), and yet
has
STILL not taken control of the situation, FOUR DAYS after disaster struck.

Shoot, Jay, when even the collective might of the United States military
and
its assorted agencies are running around with their thumbs up their asses
several days after the fact, is it really appropriate to express outrage
at
the victims who are suffering most?

The Feds must be invited by the governor of any state before they can
react -- period. This is NOT a Federal Government thing until it becomes
apparent that the State cannot handle things.

I am not angry about the situation -- I am incredulous. It's an awful,
horrible mess, and the entire country is going to pay a bitter price for the
stupidity and arrogance of a relative few, starting with:

1. People who thought it was okay to live 20 feet below sea level, next to
an ocean.
2. Government officials who allowed stupid people to build 20 feet below sea
level, next to an ocean.
3. Environmental activists who, through their actions, have left our country
economically ravaged by the loss of a few lousy oil refineries.
4. Able bodied "victims" who, on national TV, shout their anger and contempt
because the "Gubmint" hasn't done enough.
5. Armed gangs of "victims" who are shooting at rescue helicopters.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Next: The end of the west coast, since it is in an earthquake area.
Imagine Silicon Valley vanishing in a major quake...

Silicon Valley is another perfect example of human arrogance.

Hey -- wait -- I've got it! Let's build a 100 billion dollar
infrastructure on top of a major fault line!

And when (not if) it is destroyed, there will be people begging the Federal
Government to come rebuild it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

And now, for some aviation content: The looters in New Orleans are
SHOOTING
at rescue helicopters!


Ah, isn't it a great country where everbody has the legal right to own
guns?

Yes.

But what's that got to do with it? Barbarians will always find weapons.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Yep,
Outlaws don't own guns they steal them. If they could not steal them from
the nearest Wal Mart or what have you they would have stolen them from the
police or where ever else they could. If they could not get guns by stealing
then they would simply use knives or baseball bats ... Thank God my gun is
locked and loaded and I own them all!


Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech
"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:PaXRe.323195$xm3.31590@attbi_s21...
And now, for some aviation content: The looters in New Orleans are
SHOOTING
at rescue helicopters!


Ah, isn't it a great country where everbody has the legal right to own
guns?

Yes.

But what's that got to do with it? Barbarians will always find weapons.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Mike Rapoport wrote:

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"Pixel Dent" wrote


I don't think anyone outside a
Usenet heel digging contest would seriously propose evacuating 20
million people every time a cat 1 storm wanders into the gulf.

True, but this was Cat 5, and in favorable conditions to build, or stay
the
same. I hope we all have learned something from this. There is no safe
place, on the coast with a Cat 4 or 5.
--
Jim in NC



If all the money for the Corps of Engineers wasn't sent to Iraq, the
infrastructure around New Orleans could have been improved to the point
where most people could go home now. Smaller hurricanes wouldn't require
any evacuation. Supposedly the cost was under $1B.

Mike
MU-2


Iraq has been a issue for 3 years or so. New Orleans has been behind
those levies for how many years? That infrastructure has been around
how long? What has the state and local goverment done to improve the
capabilites of the area to survice a storm? If you want to complain
about the goverments actions then fine but lets get real and not try to
blame the currant administration for problems that have been know about
for decades.

john

Philip S. wrote:
Well, John, are they doing the job? Are they keeping the homeland safe? What
if New Orleans had been hit by a terrorist attack? What would your opinion
be of the federal response thus far?

Read my previous postings for the answers to those questions.