Post-Katrina Update
An interesting thing happened on the way to rebuilding...
FEMA released their rebuilding requirements for New Orleans, yesterday. I do not know the full details but I do know many of the homes there must be raised by at least 3 feet. They have looked at the possibility of flooding (maybe probability would be more accurate) and determined that these particular homes would need this type of retrofitting to be eligible for future federal assistance. The cost to raise a typical home 1 foot is approximately $40,000, $8k to $12k for each subsequent foot.
I am happy that some semblence of common sense has crept into the rebuilding plans. This is a little like the sign that lets people know when a lifeguard is not on duty, they swim at their own risk. As you can tell from my past posts, I am a supporter of personal accountability. But...
I am watching to see how this all shakes out. Will the government require the insurance companies to foot the bills? Will it raise taxes to subsidize the lifting of the homes? Will people sue because the requirement "aggrieves" them?
I just finished watching the film, "Gandhi" and I will give it 5 stars. Ben Kingsley did a fabulous job. The story is so compelling; it makes me want to know more. At the same time, I had a wonderful conversation with my daughter who is studying about the role of religion in international violence. She enlightened me to many things and, again, has stoked the fire in me to learn more.
I tie these two things ( New Orleans & India) together because one aspect of the struggle for independence was clear - not everyone was willing to continue down the right path because it was too hard and required too much of them. The right path was the way of peace and tolerance. Muslin, Hindu, Sihk, Christian, and Jew living side by side - that was the dream and hope of Gandhi - Dr. King was on the same page years later - both fell to an assasin's bullet.
Katrina pulled the translucent curtain away to expose the poverty and desperation of those living in some sections of New Orleans. She also exposed the greed and corruption that fed the monster of poverty. And, is now highlighting on of the reasons the situation flourished- so many people have embraced victimhood and bought into the "forever poor" garbage. The right path is one of personal responsibility. If one cannot rebuild one's home according to code then it is time to move to a place less hazardous. If the landlords cannot afford to rebuild their rental units to code and still have a reasonable lease amount, they need to invest elsewhere. I realize New Orleans may have been the home for families for many years but everyone's ancestors moved to the city from somewhere, sometime. Maybe it is time to find a better path for their progeny. I do realize there may be some whose ancestors were brought to Louisana against their will - if so, why stay in the vicinity of your ancestors' slavery? Only stay if your future is better; only you can decide. But, Gulf Coast residents, please do not ask the rest of the country to subsidize your choice to remain the the water without a lifeguard nor to require us to fund your desire to live in a flood zone - hurricanes or no hurricanes.
FEMA released their rebuilding requirements for New Orleans, yesterday. I do not know the full details but I do know many of the homes there must be raised by at least 3 feet. They have looked at the possibility of flooding (maybe probability would be more accurate) and determined that these particular homes would need this type of retrofitting to be eligible for future federal assistance. The cost to raise a typical home 1 foot is approximately $40,000, $8k to $12k for each subsequent foot.
I am happy that some semblence of common sense has crept into the rebuilding plans. This is a little like the sign that lets people know when a lifeguard is not on duty, they swim at their own risk. As you can tell from my past posts, I am a supporter of personal accountability. But...
I am watching to see how this all shakes out. Will the government require the insurance companies to foot the bills? Will it raise taxes to subsidize the lifting of the homes? Will people sue because the requirement "aggrieves" them?
I just finished watching the film, "Gandhi" and I will give it 5 stars. Ben Kingsley did a fabulous job. The story is so compelling; it makes me want to know more. At the same time, I had a wonderful conversation with my daughter who is studying about the role of religion in international violence. She enlightened me to many things and, again, has stoked the fire in me to learn more.
I tie these two things ( New Orleans & India) together because one aspect of the struggle for independence was clear - not everyone was willing to continue down the right path because it was too hard and required too much of them. The right path was the way of peace and tolerance. Muslin, Hindu, Sihk, Christian, and Jew living side by side - that was the dream and hope of Gandhi - Dr. King was on the same page years later - both fell to an assasin's bullet.
Katrina pulled the translucent curtain away to expose the poverty and desperation of those living in some sections of New Orleans. She also exposed the greed and corruption that fed the monster of poverty. And, is now highlighting on of the reasons the situation flourished- so many people have embraced victimhood and bought into the "forever poor" garbage. The right path is one of personal responsibility. If one cannot rebuild one's home according to code then it is time to move to a place less hazardous. If the landlords cannot afford to rebuild their rental units to code and still have a reasonable lease amount, they need to invest elsewhere. I realize New Orleans may have been the home for families for many years but everyone's ancestors moved to the city from somewhere, sometime. Maybe it is time to find a better path for their progeny. I do realize there may be some whose ancestors were brought to Louisana against their will - if so, why stay in the vicinity of your ancestors' slavery? Only stay if your future is better; only you can decide. But, Gulf Coast residents, please do not ask the rest of the country to subsidize your choice to remain the the water without a lifeguard nor to require us to fund your desire to live in a flood zone - hurricanes or no hurricanes.
posted by OurayDreamer at 6:25 AM
1 Comments:
This is a Republican stance I can agree with. There is absolutely no reason why the U.S. government should force citizens to pay to rebuild New Orleans in such a way that we will have to rebuild it again in 20 or 30 years. Even if it's 100 years, why would we encourage it?
Kudos to the leaders who put those standards in place.
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