Wokamuka
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There's been a lot of talk about New Orleans. Typical . . . just a lot of talk.
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When I lived in Pennsylvania, my family and I separated ourselves from the "river rats." They were people who lived along the river, which would flood every ten years or so. We felt safe - and superior - because we'd chosen the higher ground.
Then I realized that everybody's human. No mistake nor experience is a license to not care.
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New Orleans - It's importance to the United States
All of the Mississippi drains into New Orleans. This includes Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and Kansas City.
Resources from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
A short (man-made) river connects to the Mississippi from Lake Michigan.
New Orleans is an important strategic spot for trade and, if needed, military.
New Orleans is the last bastion of true Colonial Southern urban heritage. There are still people around here refusing to talk about the "days of Northern aggression."
New Orleans - It's importance to the World
It's the only American city with real culture. You can cross the parish/county line to experience franchised-suburbanite cardboard culture. In Orleans Parish & New Orleans, you'll get real people, real places, real character, and, against all odds, the prevailing optimism for all peoples' phenomenal capacity.
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New Orleans - Why did it fall?
CORRUPTION
Corruption at all levels of government. The federal government has, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its legal systems, rooted out a great deal of corruption. Unfortunately, it is a slow, slow, slow process, even with a district courthouse in the city.
NOT MANY EDUCATED PEOPLE
Fortune 500 companies were scared out of New Orleans by overwhelming corruption and crime. As a result, a lot of educated people (also a lot of those who were educated here) have left the city. With three major black universities, even black educated folks have left the city . . . leaving behind . . . black trash willing to work for low wages.
NOT ENOUGH BLACK PEOPLE and a whole LOTTA BLACK TRASH
Black Mayor, Black City Hall, Black City Council, and Black City Service Providers. Wanna experience reverse racism? Wanna be yelled at because you're not black? Wanna take one step forward and two steps back? Move to New Orleans.
CHEAP GAS
Louisiana is the only state forbidden by the Federal Government to levy taxes on oil drilling, leaving its levees and coastal restoration projects abandoned. Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida enjoy offshore oil drilling revenues. Louisiana, host to many oil companies, is held hostage by the industry. Oh, and it's because Americans want cheap gas.
LEVEES
The Federal Government, building the levees to withstand a Category 3 hurricane (Katrina was 3 by the time she passed by), lied, failed, and sold out to the lowest bidder. Someone said: Levees are a national religion in Netherlands; sadly, not in Louisiana.
I can go on and on about the many good and bad things about this city.
The fact of the matter is: if New Orleans is not turned into a shining example of American ingenuity, compassion, and inspiration; then the rest of the United States has already fallen.
=======================================
ALL CANDIDATES, including O'Bama, Clinton, and even that Republican actor (not Reagan) has stopped by. They've made speeches and have made promises (vague and more vague ones).
It doesn't matter. Americans want CHEAP GAS, CHEAP TOURISM, and a SCAPEGOAT (in order to feel superior and self-righteous).
=========================================
When I lived in Pennsylvania, my family and I separated ourselves from the "river rats." They were people who lived along the river, which would flood every ten years or so. We felt safe - and superior - because we'd chosen the higher ground.
Then I realized that everybody's human. No mistake nor experience is a license to not care.
=========================================
New Orleans - It's importance to the United States
All of the Mississippi drains into New Orleans. This includes Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and Kansas City.
Resources from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
A short (man-made) river connects to the Mississippi from Lake Michigan.
New Orleans is an important strategic spot for trade and, if needed, military.
New Orleans is the last bastion of true Colonial Southern urban heritage. There are still people around here refusing to talk about the "days of Northern aggression."
New Orleans - It's importance to the World
It's the only American city with real culture. You can cross the parish/county line to experience franchised-suburbanite cardboard culture. In Orleans Parish & New Orleans, you'll get real people, real places, real character, and, against all odds, the prevailing optimism for all peoples' phenomenal capacity.
===============================================
New Orleans - Why did it fall?
CORRUPTION
Corruption at all levels of government. The federal government has, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its legal systems, rooted out a great deal of corruption. Unfortunately, it is a slow, slow, slow process, even with a district courthouse in the city.
NOT MANY EDUCATED PEOPLE
Fortune 500 companies were scared out of New Orleans by overwhelming corruption and crime. As a result, a lot of educated people (also a lot of those who were educated here) have left the city. With three major black universities, even black educated folks have left the city . . . leaving behind . . . black trash willing to work for low wages.
NOT ENOUGH BLACK PEOPLE and a whole LOTTA BLACK TRASH
Black Mayor, Black City Hall, Black City Council, and Black City Service Providers. Wanna experience reverse racism? Wanna be yelled at because you're not black? Wanna take one step forward and two steps back? Move to New Orleans.
CHEAP GAS
Louisiana is the only state forbidden by the Federal Government to levy taxes on oil drilling, leaving its levees and coastal restoration projects abandoned. Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida enjoy offshore oil drilling revenues. Louisiana, host to many oil companies, is held hostage by the industry. Oh, and it's because Americans want cheap gas.
LEVEES
The Federal Government, building the levees to withstand a Category 3 hurricane (Katrina was 3 by the time she passed by), lied, failed, and sold out to the lowest bidder. Someone said: Levees are a national religion in Netherlands; sadly, not in Louisiana.
I can go on and on about the many good and bad things about this city.
The fact of the matter is: if New Orleans is not turned into a shining example of American ingenuity, compassion, and inspiration; then the rest of the United States has already fallen.
=======================================
ALL CANDIDATES, including O'Bama, Clinton, and even that Republican actor (not Reagan) has stopped by. They've made speeches and have made promises (vague and more vague ones).
It doesn't matter. Americans want CHEAP GAS, CHEAP TOURISM, and a SCAPEGOAT (in order to feel superior and self-righteous).