Week 2 - Question #1
The setting for this portion of the novel is the city of New Orleans. Since the devestation of Hurricane Katrina this fall there has been much discussion on the future of this important American city. How do you feel about rebuilding the city of New Orleans? Do you think that the government should spend billions of dollars to rebuild the city of New Orleans and protect it from a future hurricane or should the citizens of New Orleans be asked to pick up and move somewhere else and the city not be rebuilt?
posted by Eric Langhorst | 1:54 PM
21 Comments:
I do not think that the government should spend that much money on a city that is below sea level. If another hurricane hits it will be about the same outcome. I dont think the city is safe, maybe they should build a new orleans more inland and above sea level. so that if another hurricane hits new orleans inland, the water won't just sit there and make all kinds of different diseases.
No offense to anyone living in New Orleans, but I really don't think that it should be rebuilt. America is already in a ton of debt, so where will those billions of dollars come from? If it came from our taxes from everyone in the millions of cities in the US, would that be fair to everyone who didn't live there? And second, the levies needed to be repaired anyway and New Orleans had been given money to do that, but they instead spent that on a couple parks. Last, the water was constantly being pumped out of the city 24/7 because New Orleans is below sea level. I realize that it is historical, but some things just aren't worth it.
My true feelings on this subject are sadly pessimistic. I would truly love to see the people of New Orlean's lives rebuilt, but I don't believe our government can afford such an endeavor. It would mean at least 17 billion, says Jamie Wilson from guardian.co.uk, to rebuild about half of what New Orleans originally consisted of. (Just think of what we lost, though. Can you imagine the enormous cost if we put a price on the former New Orleans that has been built throught the centuries?)...WOW...anyways... Our government to this date is in debt $8,270,763,143,272.32 to the exact penny. (thanks Bush) Let's just add a couple more commas to that number, shall we?
~Callie
i think they should rebuild it and spend all of that money because NEw Orleans is a very important trade city and if we didn't have it we would'nt have as quick trade or as much
I dont think the government should spend so much money on New Orleans because it has a high chance that the same thing could happen again.I would suggest that people hit by hurricane Katrina find a newer safer home and the government shouldn't spend so much time on New Orleans
I dont think that the government should spend so much money New Orleans. I have based this oppinion off of the fact that New Orleans could easily be hit by another hurricane after the damages are repared which will make all this time and effort a waste. I suggest that people find a new home and the government saves some time and money by not worrying about New Orleans
Drew H
I think that it is the government's choice if they want to spend all of that money to rebuild New Orleans. I don't think they should because it would take a lot of money to rebuild it and the city of New Orleans is below sea level, so I don't think it would make a difference if they re-built it anyway because the same thing will probably happen sometime in the future.
If New Orleans would be built again, it would more be hit with another hurricane and become a slum area. For this reason, our government shouldn't even try to build it again. They should be using that time and energy to give the people of New Orleans aid to move on. The area needs to be well cleaned up so wildlife can live there. Because New Orleans was a historical city, perhaps we should build a museum further inland to remember it.
First of all I have read most of the other comments left and agree with many of the points used. New Orleans is a very important trade city, and many people who live in New Orleans dont have alot anyways. Besides, think about how you would feel if someone asked you to move out of your home. I'm sure no one would be very pleased. New Orleans is below sea level, and is basically just like a bowl, but maybe if we just made sure the levies were stronger. It's just the same as if a massive number of tornado's came through liberty and destroyd it all. You can't just say dont rebuild it because of one accident. In the end, I think we should give New Orleans another chance. Just take more precausions.
I think that the people of New Orleans should be asked to move and go live in another city because if the goverment uses billions of dollars to rebuild the city and another hurrican hits and the city gets distroyed again all the billions of dollars that they used go down the drayn. And personaly I don't think that is worth it.
I am 50/50 on this issue. The city of New Orleans is very important to America and its people. It is one of the largest port cities in the U.S. and is a great supplier to America. Without New Orleans, One great city would be lost. But, New Orleans is below sea level. If we rebuild it, we are just asking for something bad to happen. We can try to prevent it all we want but we're just asking for it. The first time, the levies were not built properly but who knows if that would have prevented the flooding. I do not know if we should rebuild the city because there are so many pros and cons. Hopefully, whatever decision President Bush makes, will be the right one.
Yeah...I agree with what Brent said. The government really shouldn't spend billions of dollars on something that would be totally pointless. Let's say we did in fact rebuild New Orleans. What if another hurrican hit?? Would the U.S. just keep forking out billions of dollars to rebuild New Orleans each time it flooded? And our country is already in alot of debt, so it doesn't make much sense to rebuild New Orleans...
I don't think that the government shouldn't spend so much money on a city that the same thing might happen again. Also we could use the money for other causes that are more important than that like repaying some of the debt we owe! Since America is already in debt they are going to get the money from other sorces. Like the people by puting it on taxes which is not a good idea because taxes are already high enough people in the U.S. are already mad. I think the people who live in New Orlands should find a house above sea leval because i don't think they want to risk their lives again! With all the diseases that the hurrican made more people could die. Why would the people in New Orlands want to risk their lives for something that can be avoided? In conclusion, i don't think we should spend so much money on something that might happen again.
Yes, I think New Orleans should be rebuilt. This time when they rebuild it the people will make the city better and prepared more if another hurricane comes again. One way the people could make the city more improved is by strengthening the levies and create a lot less bad parts of town with better neighborhoods. Hopefully they can create houses that will cost a reasonable amount of money so lots of the people who lived there before can move back. Also, the city should build good schools, hospitals, and other necessary things for a town to run well. The only problem is the amount of money that will have to be spent.
First - short history re hurricanes. How many have breaches A levee? Only one? To build a levee they piled dirt on top of what had been a swamp for millions of years. Bad support. On top of this dirt they put heavy concrete walls. The water pressure pushed down on the very bottom layer and it became unstable and the dirt moved to let water begin to seep through and that was the end of that area of the levee.
As for the "billions" to rebuild? To our congressmen money is basically 'uncountable'. It does not matter to them how many dollars are involved. If they want to do 'anything' they will do it, regardless of the cost. America today. Face it, admit it. Our opinion is immaterial. NOLa will be rebuilt by its citizens, slowly. It will take many years. It will not be the same. Right now people are commuting between Baton Rouge and NOLa on the interstate. At 95 miles per hour. Working, not living in NOLa.
I am an ex La resident and I love NOLa.
ps - What about the rest of the devastated Gulf Coast. Ignore them?
I think that New Orleans should be rebuilt because it is such a historical city and it is important to a lot of people. Also you can't just leave a city where there were homes to many people.
I do beleive that the U.S. government should invest the money into rebuilding New Orleans. I think this because without New Orleans, we would loose a very important trade city, and the price of gas would keep going up. Also alot of farmers would loose money because they can't send their rice down to New Orleans. I was just down in New Orleans this past November, about 6 months after the hurricanes, and beleive they eat alot of rice. (Espically for the Jumbaliya) Anyway, New Orleans has a very rich history, and it would be a shame to loose such a great city.
I fell that they should rebuild New Orleans. The reasons why are because there is a lot of history behind New Orleans. And another reason is I thank that the government should spend the billions of dollars on it and try to figure out how to prevent that kind of flooding ever happening again.
I believe the government should tell the citizens of New Orleans to pick up and move onto a new better life. I believe this because if another hurricane hits that is stronger then all the money would be wasted on a new city that would be once more gone..
Clayton B
in my opinion i think the people should just move because its not worth espending so much money for rebuilding the city and maybe next year he same its going to happend and the goverment its going to have to pay again and waist more money so the people should move for their own benefit and so the goverment saves the money for something that we really need.
fernanda 2nd hour
I think that we should rebuild the city just not use so much money on it. In a few years another hurricane will go through and destroy it again. If we don't spend as much money on it and just keep it the way it was before. Everyone might be happy with everything.
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