This is a speech in 2004 with Al Gore explaining the importance of the global warming crisis, and how we can fix the environmental problem we are causing, and produce millions of new jobs with new energy technology. He also exposes the Bush administration for all kinds of dishonest trickery to get out of dealing with global warming so they can line the pockets of industries that don't want to decrease their harmful polutants.
Al Gore Speech
The is an Al Gore for '08 website.
Al Gore '08 Website
You know, my heart wants Hillary in '08, but my head and gut say Al Gore is what our country needs. We NEED to work on global warming and new energy sources, which Al Gore will do. We need intelligence, integrity, HONESTY, and a restrained ego in the White House. We need the OPPOSITE of George Bush in the White House. Surely American people can see the error of their ways in voting in "W" now.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
My Strat Arrived!
My strat arrived, and it's hot! Everything it's cracked up to be and more! I'm having a blast with it, it plays like a dream. It almost plays my blues licks for me! Check out www.GuitarMojo.com for a really fun way to learn how to play blues quick. My Fender Standard Fat Strat HSS is in my hands, and everything feels right. Of course my little 15amp Behringer practice amp definitely helps. Anyway, my Strat sounds so good... I really don't know why anyone would want to buy any other guitar! And I should have bought one a LONG time ago! That Humbucker on the bridge is great.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Washington D.C. Anti-War Demonstration
This weekend the Washington D.C. Anti-war demonstration was overshadowed by Hurricane Rita, hardly gaining a short sound byte in the news. And it had "Spin" written all over the short news pieces, since they failed to mention that the Anti-war protestors outnumbered the Bush Supporter demonstrators about 50 or more to One. The Bush supporters were a small token showing. Hmmmm... that's pretty pathetic for Wash D.C. Bush supporters. Look out George...
Finally, big anti-war protest demonstrations! It's about time. The same thing needs to happen for gay marriage rights protests. In the modern United States, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If you sit around and wait for the "right thing" to happen, you're going to sit a long time, which is what's been happening for years. If people want their causes to be advanced whatsoever, they're going to have to get a lot louder and a lot more obnoxious. People have been laying down and getting steamrolled for their rights these days.
Finally, big anti-war protest demonstrations! It's about time. The same thing needs to happen for gay marriage rights protests. In the modern United States, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. If you sit around and wait for the "right thing" to happen, you're going to sit a long time, which is what's been happening for years. If people want their causes to be advanced whatsoever, they're going to have to get a lot louder and a lot more obnoxious. People have been laying down and getting steamrolled for their rights these days.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Ahhh... The U.S. Military
Please keep in mind that it's not the U.S. Military's idea to be in or stay in the war in Iraq. They are stuck with executing the president's wishes. Or whims. Or dogmatic policies.
What has become evident since Katrina is how extraordinarily capable the U.S. Military is of handling a major disaster. We need to use them more and quicker in that capacity. Every city that has an Air Force Base on the gulf coast knows what I'm talking about. Keesler AFB in Boluxi is a prime example. It was nearly wiped out. But noone was lost. They were so prepared for a disaster that they immediately proceeded to help out Boluxi with medical personnel and other capabilities. Every city on the gulf coast most likely wishes they had a military installation after Katrina. The military constantly drills for disasters, that's their job. It's also more difficult to "quit your job" in the military, personnel have more dedication also than many of their civilian counterparts. So when cutting bases in the U.S., think again about how valuable they are during a disaster. Everything you need after a disaster the military possesses. Command and control, chain of command, communications, speed, equipment, personnel, supplies, shelter, and more. We let the state's supremacy get in the way. It's absurd for states to have to "ask" the military to become involved. It should be automatic. And the leadership of the military is extremely more prepared to lead during a disaster. We should let them. Do we reallly think they're going to abuse their power during a disaster? Doubtful. All they want to do is help, and get the job done efficiently and quickly. State's rights during a disaster is overrated, as we saw during Katrina. Please congress, let's reevaluate and restructure disaster response, with a much larger role for the military.
What has become evident since Katrina is how extraordinarily capable the U.S. Military is of handling a major disaster. We need to use them more and quicker in that capacity. Every city that has an Air Force Base on the gulf coast knows what I'm talking about. Keesler AFB in Boluxi is a prime example. It was nearly wiped out. But noone was lost. They were so prepared for a disaster that they immediately proceeded to help out Boluxi with medical personnel and other capabilities. Every city on the gulf coast most likely wishes they had a military installation after Katrina. The military constantly drills for disasters, that's their job. It's also more difficult to "quit your job" in the military, personnel have more dedication also than many of their civilian counterparts. So when cutting bases in the U.S., think again about how valuable they are during a disaster. Everything you need after a disaster the military possesses. Command and control, chain of command, communications, speed, equipment, personnel, supplies, shelter, and more. We let the state's supremacy get in the way. It's absurd for states to have to "ask" the military to become involved. It should be automatic. And the leadership of the military is extremely more prepared to lead during a disaster. We should let them. Do we reallly think they're going to abuse their power during a disaster? Doubtful. All they want to do is help, and get the job done efficiently and quickly. State's rights during a disaster is overrated, as we saw during Katrina. Please congress, let's reevaluate and restructure disaster response, with a much larger role for the military.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Bush's Larger Federal Government
This is a quote from an article by a Newsweek writer:
"Hurricane Katrina is a wake-up call. It is time to get serious. We need to secure the homeland, fight terrorism and have an effective foreign policy to advance our interests and our ideals. We also need a world-class education system, a great infrastructure and advancement in science and technology.
For all its virtues, the private sector cannot accomplish all this. Wal-Mart and Federal Express cannot devise a national energy policy for the United States. For that and for much else, we need government. We already pay for it. Can somebody help us get our money's worth?"
This is a link to the entire article:
Newsweek Writer Article
Basically, the article says that Bush's federal government is larger, but yet less efficient. I think we've all seen evidence of that lately. Not just Katrina, but does anyone see a real plan being revealed or executed in Iraq? If there is a plan, this administration does not see fit to share it with the rest of us. We need an intellectual attack on this country's challenges and world problems, not a simplistic redneck philosophy. Trust me, Al Gore would have approached our problems intellectually and with compassion. He may not have been the most charismatic leader, but he is a very smart and good man. Bush is certainly charismatic to me, one needs actual brainpower to have lasting charisma. This world's problems are incredibly complex, and we need a think-tank environment and approach to even come close to offering solutions. Think-tanks don't usually include rednecks and religious fanatics.
How did we get in this predicament? In my opinion, two reasons:
1) We as a nation did not approach the 2000 election objectively.
2) Clinton disgusted most Americans with the Lowinski scandal, and they chose Bush instead of Clinton's vice president.
Therefore, we thought that Bush's "I'm a religious good guy" image appealed to us... at the moment. I'm saying "we" symbolically, because I never once considered voting for a Republican, let alone Bush. blech....
So, now we have a Republican agenda, isn't that just special? Please regain your sanity America, and vote for the Democrat next time. Other than Clinton's scandal, he did some great things. He got rid of the deficit, for god sake! If he'd had a Democratic majority in congress, he could have done more. In fact, I hope Hillary is our next president. She'd definitely kick our country's ass back into shape. And she'd have Bill's brainpower to draw on. Imagine... an intelligent president again.
"Hurricane Katrina is a wake-up call. It is time to get serious. We need to secure the homeland, fight terrorism and have an effective foreign policy to advance our interests and our ideals. We also need a world-class education system, a great infrastructure and advancement in science and technology.
For all its virtues, the private sector cannot accomplish all this. Wal-Mart and Federal Express cannot devise a national energy policy for the United States. For that and for much else, we need government. We already pay for it. Can somebody help us get our money's worth?"
This is a link to the entire article:
Newsweek Writer Article
Basically, the article says that Bush's federal government is larger, but yet less efficient. I think we've all seen evidence of that lately. Not just Katrina, but does anyone see a real plan being revealed or executed in Iraq? If there is a plan, this administration does not see fit to share it with the rest of us. We need an intellectual attack on this country's challenges and world problems, not a simplistic redneck philosophy. Trust me, Al Gore would have approached our problems intellectually and with compassion. He may not have been the most charismatic leader, but he is a very smart and good man. Bush is certainly charismatic to me, one needs actual brainpower to have lasting charisma. This world's problems are incredibly complex, and we need a think-tank environment and approach to even come close to offering solutions. Think-tanks don't usually include rednecks and religious fanatics.
How did we get in this predicament? In my opinion, two reasons:
1) We as a nation did not approach the 2000 election objectively.
2) Clinton disgusted most Americans with the Lowinski scandal, and they chose Bush instead of Clinton's vice president.
Therefore, we thought that Bush's "I'm a religious good guy" image appealed to us... at the moment. I'm saying "we" symbolically, because I never once considered voting for a Republican, let alone Bush. blech....
So, now we have a Republican agenda, isn't that just special? Please regain your sanity America, and vote for the Democrat next time. Other than Clinton's scandal, he did some great things. He got rid of the deficit, for god sake! If he'd had a Democratic majority in congress, he could have done more. In fact, I hope Hillary is our next president. She'd definitely kick our country's ass back into shape. And she'd have Bill's brainpower to draw on. Imagine... an intelligent president again.
Impeach George W. Bush
This is an exerpt from Senator John Kerry's Speech at Brown University planned for later today.
"They didn't listen when Katrina approached the Gulf and every newspaper in America warned this could be "The Big One" that Louisianans had long dreaded. They didn't even abandon their vacations."
Complete text of planned speech:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2005_09_19.html
I go a step further than John Kerry. I say IMPEACH PRESIDENT BUSH. One apology doesn't erase his administration's past, president, and future incompetence.
And don't forget, AMERICA... half of you asked for this. You voted George Bush back into power for another term. Not me, I never voted for him. You asked for the federal government to be smaller. Regardless of that, this federal government is not only smaller (or is it really?), it is totally incompetent, full of people in positions because of political payoffs, not their qualifications. Michael Brown was appointed to FEMA because he was a key campaign member's roommate. Good lord!!! Here's a quote from the Wikipedia story:
"After Bush entered office in January 2001, Brown joined FEMA as General Counsel. He was the first person hired by his long-time friend and college roommate, then-FEMA director Joe Allbaugh[13], who also ran Bush's election campaign in 2000. Allbaugh later named Brown his acting deputy director in September 2001. President Bush formally nominated him as deputy director on March 22, 2002, and the Senate confirmed many months later. Soon after, when Allbaugh left to join a private company, President Bush nominated him again in January 2003 for the directorship[14]. Brown was sworn in to his position on April 15, 2003."
Here's the entire Wikipedia story:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brown
So that's how the Bush Administration goes about choosing people for key administration positions, positions that affect all of us. It makes me wonder what the "real story" is behind is appointment of Roberts for chief justice. I am totally and always suspicious of George Bush and his administration. Some say Bush is just a puppet of the Republican Party. If so, then the Republic Party is even worse than I thought. And does George W. Bush really act like a "Christian"? Not in my book. I think he just uses the Christian Right to keep himself and the Republic party in power. What are Republic honorable aspirations? Money, money, and money, in one form or another? Democrats at least do have admirable goals of supporting real people, not to just get richer. Sure, there are rich Democrats. Thanks goodness, or the Democratic party would have no power whatsoever. Wake up and smell the coffee, America! The Republican party is just using you to get rich! That's all they care about! Republicans don't care about Christianity. They care about money in their pockets.
"They didn't listen when Katrina approached the Gulf and every newspaper in America warned this could be "The Big One" that Louisianans had long dreaded. They didn't even abandon their vacations."
Complete text of planned speech:
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2005_09_19.html
I go a step further than John Kerry. I say IMPEACH PRESIDENT BUSH. One apology doesn't erase his administration's past, president, and future incompetence.
And don't forget, AMERICA... half of you asked for this. You voted George Bush back into power for another term. Not me, I never voted for him. You asked for the federal government to be smaller. Regardless of that, this federal government is not only smaller (or is it really?), it is totally incompetent, full of people in positions because of political payoffs, not their qualifications. Michael Brown was appointed to FEMA because he was a key campaign member's roommate. Good lord!!! Here's a quote from the Wikipedia story:
"After Bush entered office in January 2001, Brown joined FEMA as General Counsel. He was the first person hired by his long-time friend and college roommate, then-FEMA director Joe Allbaugh[13], who also ran Bush's election campaign in 2000. Allbaugh later named Brown his acting deputy director in September 2001. President Bush formally nominated him as deputy director on March 22, 2002, and the Senate confirmed many months later. Soon after, when Allbaugh left to join a private company, President Bush nominated him again in January 2003 for the directorship[14]. Brown was sworn in to his position on April 15, 2003."
Here's the entire Wikipedia story:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Brown
So that's how the Bush Administration goes about choosing people for key administration positions, positions that affect all of us. It makes me wonder what the "real story" is behind is appointment of Roberts for chief justice. I am totally and always suspicious of George Bush and his administration. Some say Bush is just a puppet of the Republican Party. If so, then the Republic Party is even worse than I thought. And does George W. Bush really act like a "Christian"? Not in my book. I think he just uses the Christian Right to keep himself and the Republic party in power. What are Republic honorable aspirations? Money, money, and money, in one form or another? Democrats at least do have admirable goals of supporting real people, not to just get richer. Sure, there are rich Democrats. Thanks goodness, or the Democratic party would have no power whatsoever. Wake up and smell the coffee, America! The Republican party is just using you to get rich! That's all they care about! Republicans don't care about Christianity. They care about money in their pockets.
On a lighter note... my new Fender Strat
The light green Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS is like the guitar I just ordered, except mine will be agave blue, like the color of the blue telecaster pictured. I'm thrilled to be finally getting a strat. Now I need to practice! The HSS is a standard strat with a humbucker pickup added at the bridge, and special settings in the controls to take advantage of the humbucker. The Standard guitars are made in Mexico under strict Fender control. Apparently the standards (Mexican strats) are excellent, and cost about half as much as an American strat.
The Pope's Gay Witch Hunt
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/09/091505catholic.htm
In the style of true McCarthyism and the communist witch hunt in the 50's, the pope is running a search and destroy mission on any priest who is even perceived to have gay tendencies, as reported in article at link above, and all over the media. The pope is trying to make gay appearing priests the scapegoats for the disgusting pedophilic behavior exposed in the Catholic priesthood. The problem is not gay priests, the problem is forbidding priests from having any sex life. The solution is to allow priests to marry. The gay witch hunt is just a waste of time and resources, and shows just how behind the times the new pope is. The pope's efforts here are just a lot of negative energy... who needs it? He look's like a pretty sour dude, and he's proving it. That's what happens when you never get any I guess. In contrast, look at the positive energy happening with Clinton's Global Initiative to end world poverty and promote tolerance.
In the style of true McCarthyism and the communist witch hunt in the 50's, the pope is running a search and destroy mission on any priest who is even perceived to have gay tendencies, as reported in article at link above, and all over the media. The pope is trying to make gay appearing priests the scapegoats for the disgusting pedophilic behavior exposed in the Catholic priesthood. The problem is not gay priests, the problem is forbidding priests from having any sex life. The solution is to allow priests to marry. The gay witch hunt is just a waste of time and resources, and shows just how behind the times the new pope is. The pope's efforts here are just a lot of negative energy... who needs it? He look's like a pretty sour dude, and he's proving it. That's what happens when you never get any I guess. In contrast, look at the positive energy happening with Clinton's Global Initiative to end world poverty and promote tolerance.
Bush Follies... Clinton Shines
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050831/news_1n31assess.html
Two days after New Orleans is under water, Bush is still making speeches to defend his war in Iraq. The war he started to finish what his daddy started... don't let anyone tell you it was for any other reason. Of course, everything Bush does is motivated by helping his rich cronies make more money. Either that, or he's finally motivated to do something to save his political ass after the Katrina disaster. He's not a nice man. He's stupid. His basic value system is power and money, not caring for people. Also, cake pic is what he was doing the day that the levies flooded New Orleans... along with the vain guitar shot. Note how he is sucking his thumb in the cake shot, which he probably does every night. Meanwhile, Clinton does his best to save the world peacefully:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/17/clinton.un.reut/index.html
Clinton Global Initiative
Clinton Foundation
Friday, September 16, 2005
Bush's Speech on Katrina relief plans
President Bush's speech in New Orleans on September 15 was a step in the right direction. Now, follow through with your promises quickly, President Bush and the entire federal government. I don't care about his delivery, dress, or surroundings. In fact, I don't like him nor will I ever like him and his Republican policies. I only care about the people of the gulf coast region, and speeding up assistance. As I've stated before, the feds are responsible for the dismal flood protection in New Orleans because of their lack of funding for flood protection improvement over the years. So now they need to step up and assist the people affected, and rebuild the New Orleans infrastructure and flood protection. The housing, hospital, etc. needs to be rebuilt in a sane, above sea level location. This time, build it right.
Animal Rescue in New Orleans
We have been extremely saddened by the stranded animals in New Orleans. Federal assistance would help so much right now. Using military vehicals and helicopters to reach the stranded pets would help so much. We need all of you to contact the president and department of defense officials to authorize and instruct the military resources in the area to assist in animal rescue in New Orleans. ASPCA, HSUS, and other animal organizations or rescuing and sheltering animals as fast at they can, but in many cases military vehicles are needed to actually reach the animals. Thank you to Guard, Coast Guard, and other military individuals who have already taken it upon themselves to assist the animals. You may monitor the situation and contribute at www.ASPCA.org and www.HSUS.org. Obviously, the human relief is important such as www.redcross.org and www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org, but the human society has created and actively proliferated the pet society. These animals are totally dependant on people, we have created them that way. So it is unforgivable to desert them now.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman: "Excellent album (Where You Live), 'Change' is a very mellow and healing song during these tragic days.
1. Change - Tracy Chapman
2. Talk To You (album version) - Tracy Chapman
3. 3,000 Miles (album version) - Tracy Chapman
4. Going Back (album version) - Tracy Chapman
5. Don't Dwell (album version) - Tracy Chapman
6. Never Yours (album version) - Tracy Chapman
7. America (album version) - Tracy Chapman
8. Love's Proof (album version) - Tracy Chapman
9. Before Easter (album version) - Tracy Chapman
10. Taken (album version) - Tracy Chapman
11. Be And Be Not Afraid (album version) - Tracy Chapman"
The lyrics to the first track, "Change" are very poignant for these challenging times, and I wish Bush would read them. He has an opportunity to change after being totally humbled by Katrina, but will he change? I fear that is way to much to hope for. I figure the next 2 years are a total writeoff as far as progressive changes in federal government. Bush will probably just go ahead destroying everything the government can do that is good for people. He could use Katrina to bring the poor in our country out of the hell they are in, but I cannot imagine that he will. So anyway, here are the beautiful lyrics to "Change" by Tracy Chapman. I saw her sing it on Jay Leno last night, and it totally impressed me. Ellen Degeneres was on the same show by coincidence. Ellen is wonderful, and so is Tracy. I believe I'm going to get an instruction DVD for learning blues guitar in the style of B.B. King, in honor of New Orleans. Nightline had B.B. demonstrating his guitar technique of all things... it was great!
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you’re down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right being wrong
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings a pain that can’t be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
Are you so upright you can’t be bent
If it comes to blows
Are you so sure you won’t be crawling
If not for the good why risk falling
Why risk falling
If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you’d broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
1. Change - Tracy Chapman
2. Talk To You (album version) - Tracy Chapman
3. 3,000 Miles (album version) - Tracy Chapman
4. Going Back (album version) - Tracy Chapman
5. Don't Dwell (album version) - Tracy Chapman
6. Never Yours (album version) - Tracy Chapman
7. America (album version) - Tracy Chapman
8. Love's Proof (album version) - Tracy Chapman
9. Before Easter (album version) - Tracy Chapman
10. Taken (album version) - Tracy Chapman
11. Be And Be Not Afraid (album version) - Tracy Chapman"
The lyrics to the first track, "Change" are very poignant for these challenging times, and I wish Bush would read them. He has an opportunity to change after being totally humbled by Katrina, but will he change? I fear that is way to much to hope for. I figure the next 2 years are a total writeoff as far as progressive changes in federal government. Bush will probably just go ahead destroying everything the government can do that is good for people. He could use Katrina to bring the poor in our country out of the hell they are in, but I cannot imagine that he will. So anyway, here are the beautiful lyrics to "Change" by Tracy Chapman. I saw her sing it on Jay Leno last night, and it totally impressed me. Ellen Degeneres was on the same show by coincidence. Ellen is wonderful, and so is Tracy. I believe I'm going to get an instruction DVD for learning blues guitar in the style of B.B. King, in honor of New Orleans. Nightline had B.B. demonstrating his guitar technique of all things... it was great!
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that love can break your heart
When you’re down so low you cannot fall
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
If you knew that you would be alone
Knowing right being wrong
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would find a truth
That brings a pain that can’t be soothed
Would you change?
Would you change?
How bad how good does it need to get?
How many losses how much regret?
What chain reaction
What cause and effect
Makes you turn around
Makes you try to explain
Makes you forgive and forget
Makes you change
Makes you change
Are you so upright you can’t be bent
If it comes to blows
Are you so sure you won’t be crawling
If not for the good why risk falling
Why risk falling
If everything you think you know
Makes your life unbearable
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you’d broken every rule and vow
And hard times come to bring you down
Would you change?
Would you change?
If you knew that you would die today
If you saw the face of God and Love
Would you change?
Would you change?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
New Orleans Reconstruction
A wonderfully objective and thorough Wikipedia article on the situation in New Orleans is found at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_preparedness_for_New_Orleans
We will go further to tell you in our opinion what should probably happen in New Orleans. Although we think that a below sea level bowl is a horrible place to locate a city, we concede that the people and government of New Orleans and Lousiana will not totally relocate the city because of emotional and traditional attachments. Therefore, we advocate a compromise. Rebuild the city starting with the locations that were not flooded, the French Quarter specifically. Rebuild north and west of that location. Do not rebuild the areas of New Orleans which were flooded. Bulldoze and clean the soil in the flooded areas. Build parks and day use areas in the flooded areas, do not build dwellings or allow residents to move back into dwellings below sea level. We think that it would be folly to rebuild or move into anything under sea level, even businesses, hospitals, and skyscrapers.
Form a think-tank type reconstruction board to create the direction in rebuilding New Orleans, made of local authorities and experts, and also experts gathered worldover. The Dutch flood control system and other innovative flood control ideas need to be totally considered for use in New Orleans. First, the present population needs to be protected by conventional flood control based on what is already in place. A flood control plan does need to be devised immediately for the future. If New Orleans is to be rebuilt in its present location, then a new flood control system capable of withstanding and controlling damage from a level 5 hurricane and worst case scenario storm surges. If that is impossible, then building in New Orleans should be severely restricted. Common sense and scientific reasoning should be the guiding principles in planning for the future of New Orleans. I do not believe that anyone should be allowed to move back into the 9th ward or any other flooded areas.... ever. New Orleans should be very creative, innovative and thorough right now, not jumping into action based on emotional attachments or a desire to get "back in business".
Downtown with hospitals, hotels, and all the skyscrapers where people could be trapped by flood which are based on below sea level foundations should be torn down and relocated northwest of uptown and the French quarter above sea level. Radical in some circles, but necessary in our opinion to recreate a viable city less victim to destruction from natural disaster.
We also want to emphasize that the Federal Government needs to foot the bill for all this without hesitation. The Feds owe it to New Orleans in a big way for their slow response to Katrina which cost lives, and for their negligence in failing to finance flood control in New Orleans over the years. If it means that we have to pull out of Iraq to be able to afford infrastructure improvement in our own country, specifically New Orleans in the immediate future, so much the better. If our country does not reduce our deficit soon, we won't be able to help any other nations anyway. We owe China so much money that China will be dictating our national policy soon, if they don't already.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_preparedness_for_New_Orleans
We will go further to tell you in our opinion what should probably happen in New Orleans. Although we think that a below sea level bowl is a horrible place to locate a city, we concede that the people and government of New Orleans and Lousiana will not totally relocate the city because of emotional and traditional attachments. Therefore, we advocate a compromise. Rebuild the city starting with the locations that were not flooded, the French Quarter specifically. Rebuild north and west of that location. Do not rebuild the areas of New Orleans which were flooded. Bulldoze and clean the soil in the flooded areas. Build parks and day use areas in the flooded areas, do not build dwellings or allow residents to move back into dwellings below sea level. We think that it would be folly to rebuild or move into anything under sea level, even businesses, hospitals, and skyscrapers.
Form a think-tank type reconstruction board to create the direction in rebuilding New Orleans, made of local authorities and experts, and also experts gathered worldover. The Dutch flood control system and other innovative flood control ideas need to be totally considered for use in New Orleans. First, the present population needs to be protected by conventional flood control based on what is already in place. A flood control plan does need to be devised immediately for the future. If New Orleans is to be rebuilt in its present location, then a new flood control system capable of withstanding and controlling damage from a level 5 hurricane and worst case scenario storm surges. If that is impossible, then building in New Orleans should be severely restricted. Common sense and scientific reasoning should be the guiding principles in planning for the future of New Orleans. I do not believe that anyone should be allowed to move back into the 9th ward or any other flooded areas.... ever. New Orleans should be very creative, innovative and thorough right now, not jumping into action based on emotional attachments or a desire to get "back in business".
Downtown with hospitals, hotels, and all the skyscrapers where people could be trapped by flood which are based on below sea level foundations should be torn down and relocated northwest of uptown and the French quarter above sea level. Radical in some circles, but necessary in our opinion to recreate a viable city less victim to destruction from natural disaster.
We also want to emphasize that the Federal Government needs to foot the bill for all this without hesitation. The Feds owe it to New Orleans in a big way for their slow response to Katrina which cost lives, and for their negligence in failing to finance flood control in New Orleans over the years. If it means that we have to pull out of Iraq to be able to afford infrastructure improvement in our own country, specifically New Orleans in the immediate future, so much the better. If our country does not reduce our deficit soon, we won't be able to help any other nations anyway. We owe China so much money that China will be dictating our national policy soon, if they don't already.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)