Author Topic: Here's an excellent article on the REAL Katrina disaster (Read 520 times)

BTW · « **on:** September 09, 2006, 04:01:34 PM »

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,212263,00.html

I like this part, and is what I was trying to say about a year ago when I said it isn't natural for people to flop over on an overpass and die..

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What Hurricane Katrina exposed was the psychological consequences of the welfare state. What we consider "normal" behavior in an emergency is behavior that is normal for people who have values and take the responsibility to pursue and protect them. People with values respond to a disaster by fighting against it and doing whatever it takes to overcome the difficulties they face. They don't sit around and complain that the government hasn't taken care of them. And they don't use the chaos of a disaster as an opportunity to prey on their fellow men....

People living in piles of their own trash, while petulantly complaining that other people aren't doing enough to take care of them and then shooting at those who come to rescue them — this is not just a description of the chaos at the Superdome. It is a perfect summary of the 40-year history of the welfare state and its public housing projects.

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Goth · « **Reply #1 on:** September 09, 2006, 05:02:20 PM »

I'm sorry BTW, but America doesn't want to face the fact that the welfare system doesn't relieve poverty, it enables it.

Dago · « **Reply #2 on:** September 09, 2006, 05:35:29 PM »

Good article. Truer words were never printed.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2006, 06:30:18 PM »

On behalf of those of us in Houston who've had to sit quietly and take it up the prettythang from these "victims", thank for posting this.

I used to love to go to New Orleans for vacation. Now, they'll never see a dime of my vacation money.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2006, 06:33:43 PM »

Mess left behind at local apartmentsApartment owners blame Katrina evacuees
By Mark Garay
(8/04/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - Local apartment owners are angry over the mess they says Katrina evacuees left behind. And they say they want help cleaning up.

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We want to be clear from the start -- this story does not reflect every Katrina evacuee who came to Houston. Most are good, respectful, law-abiding citizens. But apartment owners say many others have come and gone without any regard for what they've left behind.

It is a true land owner's nightmare. Trash is on the floor and carpet is stained and matted -- apartments nearly beyond repair. It goes well beyond normal wear and tear and apartment managers say Katrina evacuees are leaving without even paying the bill. Getting these units livable again will cost a lot more.

"It can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000," said apartment general manager Stephanie Ricardo.

Ricardo says the typical cost for getting apartments in shape for people to move in is around $500.

Houston area apartment owners are hopping mad. They say they've opened their doors to help people in need and in return, inherited a huge, costly mess.

"The managers are telling me it's the stench when they leave. It's the food on the floors, some defecation," said developer Larry Hill.

Hill says apartment owners weren't allowed to take deposit money from the evacuees.

There are 810 units at the Glendale Park complex in southwest Houston. Ninety-eight were rented to Katrina evacuees and of those, 50 percent have suffered serious and costly damage.

"In some cases, they took islands, kitchen islands and moved them into the living room," said Hill. "They've rearranged it and did what they want, and then when they left, we're stuck paying for it."

And those costs are mounting. At Glendale Park alone, there's $90,000 to $115,000 worth of unpaid rent and utilities. Owners are not shy when they speak of evacuees.

"They've been given free everything all their lives, and they don't respect what they don't earn," said Hill.

Delving into the condition of these apartment units might help Houstonians understand why there's so much anger. In some cases, evacuees have left with appliances, refrigerators, ovens, and yes -- even the bathroom sink.

Nearly 200,000 evacuees came to Houston after Hurricane Katrina. On Thursday, the city promised to start reimbursing apartment managers who have been housing those evacuees. The city is late on those payments, but blames it on FEMA. The city says it's now processing 500 checks a day.

BTW · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2006, 07:42:39 PM »

Diablo, I've watched this nightmare unfold. I'm 48 years old. I've watched this welfare culture rise in front of me. There is absolutely no solution in this city. Now , the rest of the country sees how very bad it is. When I saw the pictures of New Orleans from my motel room in Lake Charles, it looked like a third world country. I can't tell you the embarrassment I feel for this city. But I assure you, I didn't create it. The mayors and governors of the 30's 40's 50's and 60's didn't create it. The federal government of the 60's and 70's created the huge debacle. The city did not build those miles of projects. The federal government did.

But I see no help coming. And when I say "help" I don't mean money. I mean help to correct this huge disgusting error of creating a welfare culture. The city leaders thrive on this. The people who elect the city leaders are of this class. The people paying the taxes in this city want change. But we can't elect change because the people LIVING on our taxes are the majority! There is absolutely nothing we can do on a local level to end this welfare mentality. People tell me to move, but my whole family is here. I guess its a southern thing, but I can't just move. They're gonna have to take me out in a body bag.

It is going to require discipline at a national level to recapture New Orleans. As is, its a lost welfare state with a living standard close to that of Haiti.

Shuckins · « **Reply #6 on:** September 09, 2006, 07:55:35 PM »

New Orleans land-owners aren't going to rebuild low-rent housing neighborhoods. They will take advantage of the fact that coastal property commands premium prices and will sell to developers.

What will eventually emerge, in five to ten years time, will be a gambling Mecca with high-value condominiums and yuppy retirement mansions as far as the eye can see.

Those cities that took in the helpless unfortunates from NO, I'm afraid you've got them for some time to come...if not permanently.

BTW · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:00:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Shuckins
New Orleans land-owners aren't going to rebuild low-rent housing neighborhoods. They will take advantage of the fact that coastal property commands premium prices and will sell to developers.

What will eventually emerge, in five to ten years time, will be a gambling Mecca with high-value condominiums and yuppy retirement mansions as far as the eye can see.

Those cities that took in the helpless unfortunates from NO, I'm afraid you've got them for some time to come...if not permanently.

Well that's just BS. HUD announced two weeks ago they were going to reopen ALL the housing projects in New Orleans. It seems important that New Orleans remains a welfare city.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:04:22 PM »

Mayor White here in Houston has been rattling his sabre to Nagin, more or less letting him know he's got more to worry about than a "hole in the ground" in NYC. White's my kind of Democrat.

BTW · « **Reply #9 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:06:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
Mayor White here in Houston has been rattling his sabre to Nagin, more or less letting him know he's got more to worry about than a "hole in the ground" in NYC. White's my kind of Democrat.

Yea, I like what he said about "Houston is a *WORKING* city."

Seems like a good mayor.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #10 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:11:29 PM »

Hehe, **** yeah that was awesome!

Brenjen · « **Reply #11 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:29:11 PM »

Everyone knows the truth, some are just afraid to admit it. Political correctness is a disease. I had friends in the superdome that told me, it was absolutely as bad as the worst reports you heard. All that came after was whitewash so people wouldn't be angry about the unruly mob mentality & continue to support rebuilding an expensive city below sea level.

Reggie White wrote an excellent book on the welfare mentality, I can't remember the name of it but it was accurate. The people of the United States of America should refuse to pay any more money to the govts (local - state or federal) until they agree to stop illegal immigration, stop funding every bankrupt company & ill concieved federal program, stop selling out the people of this country for the idea of "one world" or the "new world order" or whatever the hell their calling it now, just get to work & use their heads in general.

Did you know that General motors has a pension plan debt of 90 BILLION dollars? They are in talks with the federal govt. to fund half of the debt so they can get out from under it completely. In other words, we the people pick up 45 BILLION in a private companies debt. I feel for those pensioners, I really do, several of my family members work for or have retired from GM; but all the freebies have got to stop or we'll be the next third world country to develop in the western hemisphere. That goes for rebuilding cities built in idiotic locations, welfare, foodstamps, fighting wildfires, aid to tsunami victims halfway around the world...everything.

Hate to sound bitter, but I am. The fed. should spend money on education for AMERICAN kids & after two or three generations we'll be back on top as the greatest nation on earth.

Dago · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:50:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Brenjen
Everyone knows the truth, some are just afraid to admit it. Political correctness is a disease. I had friends in the superdome that told me, it was absolutely as bad as the worst reports you heard. All that came after was whitewash so people wouldn't be angry about the unruly mob mentality & continue to support rebuilding an expensive city below sea level.

Reggie White wrote an excellent book on the welfare mentality, I can't remember the name of it but it was accurate. The people of the United States of America should refuse to pay any more money to the govts (local - state or federal) until they agree to stop illegal immigration, stop funding every bankrupt company & ill concieved federal program, stop selling out the people of this country for the idea of "one world" or the "new world order" or whatever the hell their calling it now, just get to work & use their heads in general.

Did you know that General motors has a pension plan debt of 90 BILLION dollars? They are in talks with the federal govt. to fund half of the debt so they can get out from under it completely. In other words, we the people pick up 45 BILLION in a private companies debt. I feel for those pensioners, I really do, several of my family members work for or have retired from GM; but all the freebies have got to stop or we'll be the next third world country to develop in the western hemisphere. That goes for rebuilding cities built in idiotic locations, welfare, foodstamps, fighting wildfires, aid to tsunami victims halfway around the world...everything.

Hate to sound bitter, but I am. The fed. should spend money on education for AMERICAN kids & after two or three generations we'll be back on top as the greatest nation on earth.

You feel the way many Americans feel, but those ideas will never fly. First, virtually every politician is much more concerned with campaign contributions then he is with voter concerns. Average Americans who pay taxes aren't the contributors they need, its the big corporate donors. Next, those same politicians fear negative publicity, and that is the weapon people like Jesse Jackson use as blackmail to extort the politicians to continue and expand the welfare state. With that loudmouth attention seeking scum sucker threatening to withhold the black and minority vote, types like him get what they want from politicians, and we pay the freight.

So, with spineless politicians more concerned with dollars and voting blocks, the true interests of the nations people will never be served, the greed and power lust will continue to corrupt our elected representatives and with it our very system of government.

Shuckins · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2006, 11:09:19 PM »

BTW...can HUD compell private landowners to build low-rent housing?

They can do so ONLY if the private landowner accepts funding from HUD for the rebuilding effort. If that landowner wishes, he can get funding from banks or private building contractors to rebuild....and put in any damn type of housing he may want. Or sell the land outright to the highest bidder.

lazs2 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2006, 10:16:53 AM »

"The war on poverty" "the war on drugs" "the war on terror"

All excuses by the government to wage a war against it's citizens with their own money. An excuse to susspend any human rights and freedom... to kill and imprison citizens who are the "enemy".

lazs