New Orleans Sinking Faster Than Thought

[Sonny]

Someone tell me why we are spending billions and billions and billions of dollars to rebuild a sinking city?

New Orleans Sinking Faster Than Thought
May 31 8:02 PM US/Eastern

By SETH BORENSTEIN
AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON - Everyone has known New Orleans is a sinking city. Now new research suggests parts of the city are sinking even faster than many scientists imagined _ more than an inch a year.

That may explain some of the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina and it raises more worries about the future.

The research, reported in the journal Nature, is based on new satellite radar data for the three years before Katrina struck in The data show that some areas are sinking four or five times faster than the rest of the city. And that, experts say, can be deadly.

"My concern is the very low-lying areas," said lead author Tim Dixon, a University of Miami geophysicist. "I think those areas are death traps. I don't think those areas should be rebuilt."

The blame for this phenomenon, called subsidence, includes overdevelopment, drainage and natural seismic shifts.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/05/31/D8HV2TCO1.html

[monkeylax]

Someone tell me why we are spending billions and billions and billions of dollars to rebuild a sinking city?

Duh, beacuse President Bush doesn't care about black people (according to my best buddy Kanye), and of course he doesn't care about all the taxpayers that will be picking up this little construction bill.

[Sonny]

Someone tell me why we are spending billions and billions and billions of dollars to rebuild a sinking city?

Duh, beacuse President Bush doesn't care about black people (according to my best buddy Kanye), and of course he doesn't care about all the taxpayers that will be picking up this little construction bill.

Well W certainly hasn't been any friend to the taxpayers - spending money like a punch drunk sailor on a 3-day leave.

[KnoxVegas]

Duh, beacuse President Bush doesn't care...

Spelt like W would have spelt it himself.

[FLALAX]

The regional and government planners that are involved with the New Orleans build projects are taking this as an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. The reason people lived in low areas that were prone to flooding was that it was the cheapest land they could build on. They are rezoning most of the 9th ward and the other low areas so that residential structures cannot be built, repaired etc. They are forcing people out.

Now that could change because the grand master of disaster mitigation, Mr Nagin, has been re-elected. Who knows what political was he will wage to win votes.

[monkeylax]

Duh, beacuse President Bush doesn't care...

Spelt like W would have spelt it himself.

Me fail english?!? That's unpossible!

[OAKS]

Well W certainly hasn't been any friend to the taxpayers - spending money like a punch drunk sailor on a 3-day leave.

So what do people see in W that they actually like? Liberals have a laundry list a mile long - they want to see him impeached because they feel they have good evidence he committed more serious crimes than lying about a sexual act. Conservatives have plenty to be mad about... he spends money like it's going out of style, he doesn't conduct wars like a conservative (whether it was necessary or not, we're stretched across 2 wars and are losing more good men & women every day). It's an honest question.

Rather than focus on the negatives about what people don't like, I'm inquiring as to why people do like him.

[sohotrightnow]

He's a better liar than Clinton? Or is it that he is better at getting away with it?

[TexOle]

President Bush has learned what it takes to win the majority of American voters' opinions.

Tax cuts- people like getting money back, and it is a method of boosting the economy if people spend it

Christian Right- he appeals to them which is something that John Edwards inability to win Kerry his home state proved you have to do in the South

Military- supports the military through funding and other means which is a huge plus with many Americans

Military/Government spending- provides jobs to Americans and boosts the economy

Small Government- yes, under him we have lost some rights which I am not happy about, but notice that there is less government. People don't like being told what to do. A huge example is his desire to reform social security to give people options. Many Americans fear government controls that might be brought on by Democrat leaders.

Security- Some Americans feel that safer under him.

I still think my favorite reason someone voted for him over Kerry in the last election is because during Kerry was a puck hog and never passed it in hockey. The truth is Bush portrays the 'Good Ole Boy' that relates to many people in the South. Cheney helps win over traditional members of the GOP. Other people just hate the DFL which really ran an incompetent campaign, and appears headed for failure for years to come. I have worked with Iraqis, and they have some serious opinions of Bush. Many of them have called both Clinton and Bush Sr. spineless. They feel that the Iraq war should have been over long before we invaded a second time. I do support President Bush, but I am not a fan Cheney and others involved with this presidency. I have some experiences with the military personnel that have shown me that the Iraq war is a just one. I also am a huge fan of tax cuts. He has done many things that should help him to become one of the great presidents, but he has failed for multiple reasons. When 9/11 happened we praised him for his leadership, and now we fault him. The most vocal group is always those that seem to be against the leader which has happened through Vietnam, Nixon, and Clinton. Their are a lot of reasons to dislike Bush, but we could have some worse leaders. I think the main issue is that we can now access information that before was impossible. You must also look at groups who are traditionally against the GOP such as media (easily heard) and education (fills the minds of American youth). Most people as they grow older tend to lean more to the right while younger people are more liberal. The whole issue is complicated.

As for supporting New Orleans I can see why we are helping a city which should be the goal of all Americans. We must support our own, but common sense says that if you have to rely on levees to always keep you dry then you probably should not be living there. New Orleans will always be a special American city, but we need to think what it is that we want New Orleans to be in the future. If Bush was not supporting the rebuilding of New Orleans don't you think people would be more critical of him? It is just a thought.

[Lax_Stats]

Someone tell me why we are spending billions and billions and billions of dollars to rebuild a sinking city?

Because it is there!

[Hugh Nunn]

President Bush has learned what it takes to win the majority of American voters' opinions.

FEAR. Plain and simple, the Republicans more effectively played on the fears of voters. The voting public was afraid to NOT vote for Bush.

And I would like to be first in line to slap the Democratic Party leadership, Rank and File, janitors, and interns for their total inability to produce a viable candidate.

[sohotrightnow]

Security- Some Americans feel that safer under him.

This is one that always puzzles me. I find it beyond belief that people in the Midwest and South cite this as one of their main reasons for voting for Bush and for why they still support him. I mean, seriously, do you think terrorists give a you-know-what about Crapville, Arkansas? What does he do in these areas to make them feel safer? Are people in Toldeo, Ohio living in such danger each day that they need an increase of 3 million dollars in annual funds to fight terrorism? The recent allocation of anti-terror funding to lesser-populated areas and the reduction of funds to places such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston is really troubling to me.

the truth is Bush portrays the 'Good Ole Boy' that relates to many people in the South.

People should do themselves a favor and read "What's the Matter with Kansas". It is a great book that outlines how Conservatives have won the heart of America through a variety of avenues. Among other things, it outlines how Bush and his team portrayed him during the 2004 Campaign as a working-class man. This is another one that drives me insane. Are people so naive that they don't realize that he went to Yale and Harvard, is loaded up the wazoo, provides insane tax cuts for the richest people in the country, and when the cameras are off he hangs out with the some of the richest people in the world? Yeah, what a man of the people. They need to stop buying that cowboy BS and wake the hell up.

[TexOle]

Fear would go with security. We like feeling safe. Why do we have home and car security systems? Why do kids have security blankets? It is a huge topic.

Let's also be honest this is not a dumb man we are talking about. We might all think about some of his not so bright moments, but he managed to get reelected for a variety of reasons. He knows what it takes to win.

My favorite was an anti-Bush email sent by a St. Olaf professor to his students. I was first upset that this professor was sending these messages to students, but then I read the letter. It cited numerous examples of his "failures in Texas" which had me rolling on the floor laughing. It was quite clear the professor failed to do some research on these topics.

[Zeuslax]

sohotrightnow stated:

People should do themselves a favor and read "What's the Matter with Kansas". It is a great book that outlines how Conservatives have won the heart of America through a variety of avenues. Among other things, it outlines how Bush and his team portrayed him during the 2004 Campaign as a working-class man.

One of the best books I read last summer. Basically, it outlines how people vote for things that don't affect them. On both sides of the isle! A few counties in Kansas are highlighted as examples of people voting against thier best interest. As things keep getting worse. They continue to vote with the same pattern. Also, they don't vote for thier pocket books, they vote using their emotions.

This New Orleans situation is a real political quagmire. Damned if you do and damned if you don't for the politicians.

[FLALAX]

The democrats and republicans are still trying to define who and what they represent. The NY Senate race is a great example of this.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/story/4 ... 6248c.html