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2 years later, New Orleans a mix of good and bad

And maybe serious attention needs to be looked at, why would you rebuild in an area that is only going to flood again, when the next major hurricane comes barreling through? If the levies cannot hold back the sea, if the ground is below sea level, why put billions of dollars into rebuilding? Why not move inland several miles, find higher ground, and start anew?

I am a NOLA ex-pat of many years, a NOLA of 10 generations. I love NOLA, I hate NOLA. For NOLA I laugh, jeer, weep, at the same time. NOLA's murders, it seems, hinders not heads on tourism's pillows. NOLA's comedy tragedy mask defies logical recovery. Previous commenter, "Why not move inland several miles, find higher ground, and start anew?" That's logical recovery? God help me, us, all of us. "NOLA, old girl, thank God we can laugh."

More than half of New Orleans sits above sea level. And sea level is not the deciding factor in re to what floods and what doesn't anyway. Areas of neighboring Jefferson Parish that sit as far below sea level as any in the city did not flood. Most of Holy Cross, which sits in the Lower Ninth Ward, sits above Sea Level and it flooded anyway. The valleys of many mountainous area almost have been known to flood as what's left of hurricanes makes its way north. Please take the cliches elsewhere.

It is stupid to rebuild the city of New Orleans, and the citizens of the US (the tax payers) support the "flood insurance" for those that want to return or build new there. The city will always be at the mercy of hurricanes, etc. and no one should hang the expense of the continuous rebuilding on the rest of the country. The federal govt. (the US tax- payers) should not be forced to underwrite the security of New Orleans.

Rebuild New Orleans by all means,but hurry up already! I am ashamed to live in a nation that started a war in Iraq and has spent billions over there,and for the President and Vice President and cronies to make money off of his illegal war,while one of our great Southern cities withers on the vine.President Bush promised to rebuild NO,and he is failing miserably.I don't understand why it is taking so long to bulldoze the homes,and rebuild if not the same type of home that was on the property,but townhomes,and single family home communities,block by block.What happened to having America's new designer's show their stuff and at the same time help the poor by building better,smarter?Take a look at communities like Rosemary Beach,etc..and build with natural barriers to protect homes and people.Make corporations responsible for their own cleanup like Hyatt Hotels for the vacant hotel,etc.Bring the troops home from Iraq and have them rebuild and add security for New Orleans,there used to be Seebee's who built stuff.What ever happened to them? I applaud Oprah and her efforts to help,my question is why aren't there more people like her? I know there are more rich people who can do the same as she and build a small community for homeless,get people out of toxic Fema trailers. This is just my thoughts,I am in San Francisco,and I wonder if we are the next New Orleans,with an earthquake?Good luck to all of you in NO,I pray for you every day.