A friend sent me a recent article from the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/opinion/11sun1.htm . The article did an excellent job articulating some ideas that have been floating around in my head. No one will deny that both the federal government and local and state governments are at fault for the lack of preparation and response to the disaster. My biases still remain with Mayor Nagin. Even though Nagin made a variety of huge errors in his lack of preparation and does not deserve re-election, I have more of a problem with Governor Blanco and President Bush. In discussing the situation with my mother and the lack of action by all the governmental bodies, she pointed out the political corruption that has tainted the city of New Orleans forever and still remains in the forefront of the American psyche. The New Orleans levee board that voted to build a ceremonial fountain as opposed to putting that money towards the levee is inexcusable, is a prime example of such political inadequacy. In light of the reality of the situation, that has limited forward progress in unifying the coasts levee boards and thus creating a more safe and reliable allocation committee, I believe the federal gov. should take a more proactive stance and take the first step in initial action. Now, I was not a political science major and I do not know the laws regarding legislature that provides financial support in the case of a natural disaster. Can the feds overstep the boarders of the Sportsmen State and implement the restructuring and strengthening of the levee system? Whether they have the power to act, the federal government is allowing New Orleans to rot with the food still festering in the moldy refrdgerators that litter the city street curbs. I personally am burdened by the blatant hypocrisy on the part of our current President. His main selling point in his bid for re-election was his staggering ability to protect our country. My questions stands: Is this protection limited to military action in the defense of terrorism? Don't we need protection from the devestation caused by entities other than Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, like a hurricane? The article in the Times reveals that our greatest fear would be the loss of one of America's major cities. This may seem insensitive, but just because a plane didn't fly into a building or a nuclear weapon didn't go off doesn't mean that we should take immediate and definitive action in the face of such destruction. We can justify spending 300 million dollars on a war that does not make us more safe, but potentially more vulnerable? I'm not saying that the government hasn't been generous in its distribution of money, but where is the visible progress that needs to be made? It's been three and a half months and the rebuilding has seemed slow and gorged by beuracratic red tape. Meanwhile, as stated in the article, people are establishing roots in other states out of necessecity and abandoning the dream to return to their original homes. Who can blame them? There's no guarantee that it will be less than ten years before the city will be bigger, stronger faster, or at least comperable to what it was prior to the events of Aug. 30th. And I want to stay! I've decided recently. I have the will to continue my commitment at Garyville Magnet. It has been harder than ever, but I feel strongly that I can do it. That being said, I still have to reconcile the reality of New Orleans. The decision still looms unresolved by practical reality. Please sirs and madams, help me stay.
