h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

... Not until you get the lights on in the Superdome.

That it took the powers that be, purportedly the world's only superpower, a week took get it's act together and start rescuing the poor of New Orleans is worse than a bad joke; it's an affront to human decency.

What's worse I suspect those same poor people who are belatedly being shipped off to temporary shelters all over the place have probably seen the last of their old New Orleans neighbourhoods. After the dikes are repaired, the flood water drained and the mess scooped up and dumped (presumably into the lake as punishment), the rebuilding program is hardly likely to include new little houses for them. I'll bet dollars to donuts that we see shiny new hotels, convention centres and upmarket condominiums springing up where all those poor folk used to live before the great flood (and fleets of leased coaches) swept them away.

I hope I'm wrong. It would be nice to think that Mr Bush cares enough about 'your tired, your poor, your huddled masses' to rebuild for them.

I suspect that you're going to be proven right on this one.

After the great Agnes flood in 72, a lot of the poor parts of my former hometown simply ceased to exist....

I suspect that's why a lot of the people in the flooded neighbourhoods are still refusing to leave. There's been a lot of talk about looters, but not much, so far, about real estate speculators.

If anything at all is ever built there again, as you say, it is likely to be of a corporate nature, after all who else could afford the insurance, or pay for the building of much better flood defences.

I feel desperately sorry for those hanging on in there from choice. I can understand why, but they seem doomed to die if they stay. The number of displaced persons will rival the refugee problems of third world countries.

It is strange that, however poor and uninhabitable "home" is, it is still home. Roots go deep in the human psyche, and are often ignored till something like this happens.

I saw the man in charge called "chicken george" and I must say I would have a little more respect if he actually went right in to New Orleans instead of flying over.

<< It would be nice to think that Mr Bush cares enough about 'your tired, your poor, your huddled masses' to rebuild for them>>

JTG, I think that is real wishful thinking. It seems that the *great* leaders of today are singularly lacking in compassion, and that includes my own. I get sick of the hovering smirks on their faces when faced with unpleasant truths they cannot dispute.

I will join with you with the if we are both wrong.

Websailor

PS. I have always loved the New Orleans Funeral March. The music is wonderful and the march through the streets has such an air of defiance and hope about it.

It will take on a whole new meaning now - I wonder if it will be perfomed again, or perhaps it will be for New Orleans itself Whatever, it will have added poignancy in the future.

Websailor

Bay St. Louis, MS, where my wife and I stopped overnight on our trek along the Gulf coast, seems to have been flattened. My wife and I were looking at the shattered remains of a bridge which might have been the one near our motel. It's hard to comprehend that nearly everything there is in ruins. There was an antique car rally there during our stay, and a lovely little harbour where we watched the boats - shrimp boats, I imagine - coming home in the early morning.