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  • SUNDAY DECEMBER 3 2006 12:00 PM

Government Puts Final Nail In New Orleans’ Coffin

Submitted by FearTheReaper

Edited by FearTheReaper

Tags: New Orleans, levees, insurance

Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans’ levees were built to withstand a category 3 hurricane. They obviously did not do well during Katrina and the city was left in ruins and thousands were killed. The slow process of rebuilding began. The most important piece of the rebuilding would obviously be the levees. The government decided to build levees that could withstand a CATEGORTY 3 HURRICANE. By doing so they killed the city of New Orleans.

Texan Donald Powell, a former banker and Texas A&M University administrator was given the job of being the federal coordinator for the reconstruction. He quickly jumped in with a phrase the White House loves about science.


However, "I'm not sure what the science dictates," Powell said when asked if the levees would be rebuilt to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, as Gulf Coast officials have requested. "Clearly, I think they're going to rebuilt up to a Level 3 but ... they were not a Level 3 when the storm came. And then study and understand what the science is to get to a Level 5."


The nice thing about the current administration is that the science is never in. Feel free to name a time where Bush said, “Okay, the science is in and we are moving forward.” You can’t, because it does not happen. Anytime the word “science” is used you can be sure no action will be taken. So, the levees have been rebuilt to withstand a category 3 hurricane because the science does not dictate otherwise.

And New Orleans will die a slow death because of that decision. Why? Because to rebuild you need insurance and today the insurance companies began pulling out. Louisiana's largest commercial insurance provider, Travelers Cos. Inc., has decided to cancel all it's commercial property policies in the New Orleans area next year.


Travelers will not renew any property insurance for businesses in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and eastern St. Tammany parishes. Cuts will also affect individual businesses in other parts of South Louisiana, including St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes.


The Louisiana State Insurance Commissioner met with the Insurance carrier on Thursday and was told the policies are being cancelled because of the levee rebuilding. The Commissioner and business leaders expect other insurance companies to follow Travelers’ lead. Without insurance there can be no business community. Businesses create these things called jobs. Jobs are great for eating and buying clothes and stuff.


"This is going to be a blood bath," said Eagan, who added that Hanover Insurance Group, Lafayette Insurance Co. and possibly Zurich North America have indicated that they are likely to not renew some commercial policies.


Goodbye, New Orleans.

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Comments
YUSUF

YUSUF

Detroit, MI
November 2006

DEC 03, 2006 12:20 PM

invest in infrastructure, create jobs... the idea is old, but true.
The rest of the world does it (ie: China) while ours is crumbling.
This is a shame... God why can't we have a govt that gives
a sh*t about us...

witchhunter

witchhunter

Jackson, TN
February 2003

DEC 03, 2006 12:24 PM

We voted them in. If the people demand change and are ignored, it is up to the people to enact change. By any means they deem neccisary.

JoLeigh

JoLeigh

SUICIDEGIRL

Florida, USA

DEC 03, 2006 12:28 PM

this is crazy

Gringo

Gringo

Spokane, WA
May 2006

DEC 03, 2006 12:51 PM

After reading the story from NOLA.com, it appears that all is not lost. Zurich claims that it is not bailing out. Lloyd's will pick up some of the Traveler's policies and the state-sponsored program will pick up the rest.

Traveler's also doesn't appear to be bailing out entirely.

"To keep future losses to a more acceptable level for continued financial stability, we are reducing our exposure in some of these areas by non-renewing a number of small to mid-sized commercial properties," Wislocki said. (Traveler's spokeswoman)


I remember my parents having their earthquake insurance policy non-renewed after the Northridge quake in CA. I would expect that any insurance company would re-evaluate their risks in a place recently hit by a hurricane.

codyp

codyp

Camarillo, CA
January 2006

DEC 03, 2006 12:53 PM

I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?

FireBrand

FireBrand

South River, NJ
December 2004

DEC 03, 2006 01:04 PM

yeah so after this years hurricane season and every thing still standing is blown to hell, private companys can come in scoop up the real estate, rebuild, adiquitely fortify, displace the people that lived there and make a bundle or have new vacation homes... so their kids can get drunk on burbon street, stumble back drunk and have a place to commit date rape... I wonder if David Powell or his friends are into real estate.

and while i agree with your rebelious sentiment witchhunter, many of these positions are appointed, not voted, basicly the guy was like " hey W., hook me up with a job, hopefully one i can fuck over thousands of people while in.

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

DEC 03, 2006 01:11 PM

So, is there room for revolution in the postmodern world of American Politics?

geo35

geo35

Minneapolis, MN
January 2003

DEC 03, 2006 01:11 PM

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?



"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious...

(Orwell, 1984)

soft_shoulder

soft_shoulder

Madison, WI
May 2006

DEC 03, 2006 01:16 PM

geo35 said:

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?



"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious...

(Orwell, 1984)



Best book ever.

DieWhiteGirls

DieWhiteGirls

Madison, WI
July 2005

DEC 03, 2006 01:19 PM

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?



No, because not enough people give a fuck and we've divided ourselves so thoroughly that it would require the fall of corporate America to smack some sense back into us.

Fight Club minus the beatings is a documentary, not a movie.

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

DEC 03, 2006 01:24 PM

DieWhiteGirls said:

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?



No, because not enough people give a fuck and we've divided ourselves so thoroughly that it would require the fall of corporate America to smack some sense back into us.

Fight Club minus the beatings is a documentary, not a movie.



Seriously, have you ever been to NOLA? I think not to compare NOLA's plight to fucking Fight Club.

DieWhiteGirls

DieWhiteGirls

Madison, WI
July 2005

DEC 03, 2006 01:27 PM

MinisterLinguist said:

DieWhiteGirls said:

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?



No, because not enough people give a fuck and we've divided ourselves so thoroughly that it would require the fall of corporate America to smack some sense back into us.

Fight Club minus the beatings is a documentary, not a movie.



Seriously, have you ever been to NOLA? I think not to compare NOLA's plight to fucking Fight Club.



What. Wait, what? Are we having the same conversation? Nope. Ok, great. At no point was I referring to New Orleans. I'm talking about the government.

So, again, what.

YUSUF

YUSUF

Detroit, MI
November 2006

DEC 03, 2006 01:36 PM

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?


MinisterLinguist said:
So, is there room for revolution in the postmodern world of American Politics?


Americans are often reminded by politicians that if they dissent, that somehow their "fun" life will be taken away by "the other party" not to mention "terrorists" in Iraq. Or they risk being labeled "enemy combatant" and arrested.

People must be persuaded that if they speak out, their lifestyle will not be threatened. It's only threated if they remain passive. The truth is, i have to wonder... if I'm seen on television criticizing the president, or eschewing a radical idea, what will be the reaction of my managers/coworkers at my corporate job? Will their opinion of me turn negative and they'd try to get rid of me? I think this question must be addressed for a lot of people that have a livelihood to lose... one that they invested years of education and professional experience. I have a house payment and child support to consider. Perhaps my idea of earning a more independent living is the way to go, but that bastard in the white house has made it difficult for the "little guy" to do so.

bcguitar33

bcguitar33

Jamaica Plain, MA
January 2004

DEC 03, 2006 02:00 PM

MinisterLinguist said:

DieWhiteGirls said:

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?



No, because not enough people give a fuck and we've divided ourselves so thoroughly that it would require the fall of corporate America to smack some sense back into us.

Fight Club minus the beatings is a documentary, not a movie.



Seriously, have you ever been to NOLA? I think not to compare NOLA's plight to fucking Fight Club.



Can you show us where he referred to New Orleans and Fight Club in the same paragraph?

codyp

codyp

Camarillo, CA
January 2006

DEC 03, 2006 02:01 PM

YUSUF said:

codyp said:
I cant wait for the revolution. Could it be in our lifetime?


MinisterLinguist said:
So, is there room for revolution in the postmodern world of American Politics?


Americans are often reminded by politicians that if they dissent, that somehow their "fun" life will be taken away by "the other party" not to mention "terrorists" in Iraq. Or they risk being labeled "enemy combatant" and arrested.

People must be persuaded that if they speak out, their lifestyle will not be threatened. It's only threated if they remain passive. The truth is, i have to wonder... if I'm seen on television criticizing the president, or eschewing a radical idea, what will be the reaction of my managers/coworkers at my corporate job? Will their opinion of me turn negative and they'd try to get rid of me? I think this question must be addressed for a lot of people that have a livelihood to lose... one that they invested years of education and professional experience. I have a house payment and child support to consider. Perhaps my idea of earning a more independent living is the way to go, but that bastard in the white house has made it difficult for the "little guy" to do so.



They say its not the person its the system.
Although bush has done his best effort to ensure the system becomes more threatening to us.

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