Changing the Political Profile of New Orleans

R

Rich Lucibella

Staff
Try this one on for size:

Everyone has relocated or been relocated. Thousands claim they're not going back and Fox states the ultimate population estimates may end up at 1/2 the pre-Katrina level.

Well, who is it that will stay in Houston or Arkansas? The jobless, impoverished or the persons with vested residential and business interests in that city? The small business owners or the kitchen help? We may see a transformation of that little city into a conservative stronghold of the south.

Bye Ms. Blanco; Bye Mr. Nagin; BuhBye Mr. Compass.

One can only hope.
Rich
 
Breaking up the inner City culture would solve alot of societies problems. I wish there was some way to get the youth of many of our cities a 1yr road trip away from it. Looks like Katrina found a way of doing that.

Can anyone tell me how we can do that with Philadelphia?

We wouldn't be a Battle Ground State if we could solve the Philadelphia problem.
 
Rich, I think that relocation might be more difficult than you think. Consider that a significant portion of the industry in NO was service related. Many workers were specialists like child welfare workers, social workers, parole officers, food stamp office workers, social security clerks, disability examiners, trial lawyers, police officers, psychiatrists, psychologists, headstart teachers, substance abouse counselors, homeless shelter workers, mental health patient advocates, public housing maintainance workers, liquor store operators, et cetera.

There may be a lot of vested interest in keeping the city sick and crazy, or at least making sure its sickness and craziness is well protected, so I wonder if they will import new 'clients'?
 
I would think that there will be plenty of people who cut their losses and put down new roots elsewhere. The thing is, some of the people who won't go back are the ones who were dependent on the welfare state for their subsitence. They'll be a burden wherever they land.

Personally, I hope that the lesson of Katrina (DON'T DEPEND ON THE .GOV!!!) will change some people's minds about self-reliance. Such a change will make for a stronger citizenry.
 
Rich,

Good for the city, and most likely the state, but I hate to see other states have to take the burden of those that live off the state (and I'm talking all races).

Quite honestly, with Rita and the levees spilling again, the bottom half of NO will not be inhabitable for some time. Sure, people can build and move in but if anything happens to them (they get sick for whatever reason) then it will just be lawsuit after lawsuit on the federal government (they caused it is what they will say).

I've been to NO, as well as as Kessler AFB (can't spell biloxi right now) and I know the area. NO was a great city, it was fun. Got drunk off my butt there way too many times :o . Heck, I grew up in McAlpin Florida, it was just a hop and skip (well, many skips) away from NO :D.

The states that the folks moved to will have to redo their budgets and it's not going to be easy. Then you have to give more for jail and law enforcement, the ones not going back are the ones that have nothing to lose. The ones that are, are your higher wage earners and property owners.

I've no idea why Rich started this thread, what he expected or what he wanted to get from the members, but he is correct, the ones that give to the area that they live in, productive members, of society, will return and rebuild NO. Those that don't, are the ones that now have a second chance if their names are only in the NO police department database.

As for Nagin, he should be brought up on charges, but he's a Texas resident now.... go figure.

Wayne
 
Wayne-
Don't get me wrong....I might have focused this topic on those who won't go back; BluesMan has stated far more succinctly what I might have. They now have a new chance and a new revelation: .gov might keep you in social poverty for life. But, when push comes to shove, it's all on you. May they find the programs, resources and resolve to climb out of the trap.

But, in any case, their numbers will change the politics nowhere, given the dissemination. New Orleans, though....that could be a whole new Ball Game. Not from a NatElecton standpoint....just as an object lesson of what happens to cities that depend on .gov for survival.
Rich
 
Rich,

I too would hope that people would finally wake up to the gov induced proverty and such but it's not going to happen.

In the wake of Rita, they had a story where a welfare person sat there and said, "We tried to get a way out, but the government isn't here" (paraphrased due to I can't speak that bad of English if I tried).

Yet, during the interview, they didn't say, "Hey, you've got wheels, lets get outta here".

Reporter left, the "victim" stayed.

Right now, with FEMA throwing money left and right, with the deal of supplying free homes (even if they are mobile), and going to another state that has a better employment ratio to that of LA, you would think that they would take this second chance and start over.

But, they won't. It will go straight back to the government welfare system that they have depended on for all their lives. And if something happens in the area that they are in, it will be the same, it will never change :(.

As I type this, and knowing the reality of, it deeply saddens me. As well, it deeply angers me.

This is America, where second chances come more easily then other places, and for those to continue to carry out their lifestyles of welfare and crime, just sickens me.

Sorry, but I expected more from my fellow American that has gotten that second chance.

Wayne
 
Well, who is it that will stay in Houston or Arkansas? The jobless, impoverished or the persons with vested residential and business interests in that city? The small business owners or the kitchen help? We may see a transformation of that little city into a conservative stronghold of the south.
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I think this will all depend on where the handouts are... handed out. I also think the chances of your small business owner cutting losses and started over elsewhere, are just as likely as the impoverished doing the same. Possibly more likely.
 
I also think the chances of your small business owner cutting losses and started over elsewhere, are just as likely as the impoverished doing the same.
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I think not. Much more difficult to cut and run when you own vs. rent; when your money stays there vs. follows you.

This is not an anecdotal exam; it's a percentage one.
Rich
 
You want a scenario worthy of Macchiavelli?

New Orleans is a heavily Democratic city in a heavily Democratic state.

The poor of that city, knowing from whence the goodies come, have an idea regarding which side of their bread is buttered, so to speak.

It might be said that the poor in New Orleans vote Democratic as a Pavlovian reflex.

Now, we have 300,000 of them in a state just lately become Republican, Ann Richards(D-TX) having been Governor not all that long ago.

25,000 votes here, 50,000 there. Lots of races in Texas won by a lesser margin than 50,000 lead-pipe-cinch Democratic votes.

Next election is going to be interesting.

LawDog
 
This is not an anecdotal exam; it's a percentage one.
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You are a character Rich. Not the best jab I've seen you give... but it'll work.

The Mayor is dying to get people back in the city. He's going to move (soon) to get a plan in place, which will inveigle people to come home. I'm sure the Governor will help.

All walks of life will come back to benefit from the Mayor's plan. There are many types of business' and services which will be irrelevant until NO is rebuilt. I doubt business owners will come back when they can rebuild elsewhere. Sure they'll have to deal with tying up loose ends back in NO, but there will be no business to sustain them. In fact, they have less reason to return than your impoverished who are looking for aid, and are willing to follow this aid.

Only time will tell if your rigorous scientific analysis, or my lowly casual observation, will prove true.
 
For those of us with a slightly smaller vocabulary.

inveigle: to wheedle: influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering.

Thanks for the new word, Trip20. :)

-Dave
 
Next election is going to be interesting.
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Indeed, and if ABCs interveiws with storm survivors after Dubyas speech is any indication, the Dems got problems.

Middle Class, religious African-Americans blacks are not dumb and helpless and they are appaently getting tired of being treated like they are dumb and helpless by the Dems, the media and their race baiting shills...they are gonna rebuild their homes and businesses with the assistance of the Feds and the religious charities and they are gonna remmeber who hepled and who screwed up come election time.

Gov Blanco is gonna be a one termer, what a whiney idiot.

As for the lumpenproletariat scattered to the far winds...well except in chicago...they dont vote

WildvoteearlyvoteoftenAlaska
 
Maybe Congress will step up to the plate and find that it really has to cut pork barrel projects to pay for all this. :D


Probably not, but its a thought.
 
New Deal All Over Again

I don't know what will become of the U.S. economy..high energy costs, unlimited federal spending, but I do know that New Orleans will experience a rather robust economy over the next couple of years. It may prove to be the modern day "New Deal..WPA". For those that want to work, New Orleans might just be the place to live.
 
Getting the money.

"Maybe Congress will step up to the plate and find that it really has to cut pork barrel projects to pay for all this."
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Whose $$$ are they gonna use? Who's gonna give a loan to build / rebuild a house in that smelly malaria-bowl??
"...they are gonna remmeber who hepled and who screwed up come election time...."
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they have not learned one ounce of truth ( judging from the way they acted during Katrina ) in the last 40 years. (LawDog, you confuse "Democratic" with democrat. One is the useful application of freedom, and the other is a rabid rat up your pants-leg, hangin on to your danglies.) Just one man's opinion.
 
My wife summed it up well after watching the news this afternoon:

"Why do you think people will do something for themselves when the government will do it for them?"
 
Demand follows the clientele. ;)
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I am in central AR.
Observations so far:

Lower Income student whom is now attending my College - I am still dazed with all that has happened , I have finally crossed over that mountain range I always wondered about, yes I can see clearly now - there was no Wizard of Oz She has been struggling to bust out of her chains, she honestly felt "held down", some family, most "friends" if you will, questioned why she wanted to better herself, the free ride required less effort.

Her older brother, a plumber, whom also caught grief from family and friends- whom really wanted to start his own business in NO someday- told a plumber up here. Sir, I really need to work, I won't lie, someday I hope to be your best competitior. Company hired him, and the owner said, Son- I hope you do give me a run for my money someday.

These two, brother and sister, feel the free thinkers will take a stronger hold of what is to be NO. They are afraid the dole folks will be a burden wherever they are/ end up.

AR has its political machine as well. "Keep 'em down and make 'em promises, and they will vote our way."

LawDog brings up a very good point - it will be very interesting on our elections here, and elsewhere around the country.
 
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