The right to stay in New Orleans: Yesterday I watched CNN

[texpatriot2004]

interview a black man in a part of the city that wasn't flooded. It was a poor part. There is not much damage. There are several people, black people, still living there that don't want to leave. I am sorry I didn't get the name of the man they were interviewing. I thought the man had a very, very valid point. (As an aside, I do understand the seriousness of the health threat.)Still, this man had lived in his house there for 43 years or something. He said they had been coming around to "scare" them into leaving and that if they did leave they would have nothing to come back to. I think he is right. What guarantee does this black man have from this government, that just screwed his people in a time of need, that he would either a)receive monetary compensation for his loss; or b) be able to return to his home intact. What about property rights here? It is a valid question. Think about it. If the man leaves he becomes and "evacuee" with "evacuee status" and has no idea what life will hold for him. Maybe he gets a debit card, no, wait they canceled that program. Maybe FEMA will take his phone calls if he can find access to a phone once he leaves his home which now has a working phone or maybe FEMA won't - they might be "too busy" to take calls from evacuees. I can understand the health threat but what about the right to stay in your home and keep your property? This is even more pertinent since yesterday I read about some affluent white women of New Orleans talking about rebuilding a "new, better New Orleans" without the poor side of town, the "slums."

What reason does this man have to trust this government? I don't trust this government and I am not in his shoes.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. If it were dry and I had access

to food and water I would stay. They'd have to carry me out.

[texpatriot2004]

2. Well, the man has enough water pressure to flush the commode

he has enough water for 4 weeks and food and others are there too. That's exactly what he said is they will "carry me out in a body bag." That's the only way he is going. I don't blame him.

[neweurope]

3. You're right. Furthermore the wealthy can stay evidently. Some

hotel (Hyatt?) announced yesterday that it would probably have it's kitchen working by to-day. So Hyatt isn't thrown out, the Hyatt workers aren't thrown out, and evidently the Hyatt's customers aren't thrown out! Health threat? The Hyatt (or whatever the name was) evidently isn't threatened. It seems there's really a dispossession of the poor and only the poor going on - the rich aren't concerned.


------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. There are whites staying as well....

What I'm wondering is if they will be forced out as well as the poor blacks.

I'm sure the plan is to flatten all the poor houses and gentrify the city, rebuilding on a tiny amount of "poor housing" for the maids and busboys who will be needed in the new New Orleans.

[texpatriot2004]

10. yeah, I guess we'll see as it unfolds. n/t

[truedelphi]

5. He's right about there most likely would NEVER be anything to return to

Radical friends intuit that this whole area will be bulldozed.

Randi Rhoades of Air America seems to say the same thing.

Once it has all been bulldozed, the developers, the casino interests and the oil people will have the access and control.

There is no reason for people who have houses that are dry to leave. After all, illness isbreaking out in the Houston sports arena where people have been relocated.

I have nothing but fear and loathing about the prospects of anything working out well.

[Zenlitened]

8. Re: "illness isbreaking out in the Houston sports arena." Good point.

One of the major reasons we're being given to explain why everyone must leave is because of the health threats. I think I'd prefer to take my chances in a dry house in NO, too, if the alternative was a Refugee Camp* where conditions were deteriorating by the day.


*I use the word "refugee" because these folks are being TURNED INTO refugees right before our very eyes. They're being scattered to the wind, and that sets my radar off, too. :(

[Zenlitened]

6. I just can't get comfortable with the idea, either.

This "everybody must leave the city" thing... it just hits me funny.

There are parts of the city untouched, as you noted. In other areas, flooding was minimal -- mop the mud out, wash it all with bleach and move on sort of thing.

Yes, still other areas of the city are TRUE devastation. Totally uninhabitable. But the idea of turning an entire U.S. metropolis into a ghost-town... I just can't wrap my head around it.

And so we start to think of sinister motives. Well, who can blame us, at this point? After all the lies, cheating, distortions and thievery of the Bush administration... who can blame us?

Frankly, tin-foil hat has become the default mode with these shady characters around. Being suspicious of them is just plain common sense, and that's entirely their own fault.

Like you, I'll also refrain from running yelling "conspiracy theory!" for now, at least. But this whole thing just doesn't sit well. :(

[Stinky Bushes]

7. I am divided because

on the one hand, these people will likely run out of food and water, plus if they have health problems they will be up a creek. At the same time, it is scarey to me that our Government can just come onto our private property and force us to leave.

This sets a scarey precedent. If the government is allowed to come into New Orleans and kick people out, who's to say they wouldn't make up some phoney bird flu scare in your community and start forcing people out in a massive takeover bid.

[cornermouse]

9. Not necessarily.

"if they have health problems they will be up a creek".

Government is already saying that they will have the ports open and running. I suspect that requires people to work it and unless they plan to helicopter anyone out who needs to see a doctor, there will probably be some sort of clinic/ER there as well.

[slaveplanet]

14. The people that are still there

The ones the Feds refer to as (insurgents) holdouts...are not the type to be out of food or water.

Ever hear of a swimming pools and water filters that the Army uses to drink straight swamp water.
Believe me, plenty of fresh water can be found.

Hell, I myself keep a 6 months supply of food, and NBC respirators. In case you forgot, this is the Gulf Coast. These people are used to Hurricanes, not everyone is unprepared like the government wants everyone to think.

you can get along without power for the most part.

We used to have Civilian Defense....but that was wrapped into Fema and they want you uninformed and dependent in times of crisis.

Some of us haven't fallen for the bait.

And if everyone would think like this before a disaster. And came at them with a unified front. They wouldn't be able to pull these shenanigans.

More looting will be done by these troops than actual looters...hope everyone is happy.

[Eric J in MN]

11. Informed adults should have a right to stay.

It's fine for the govt to warn people about the risks, but they shouldn't be forced out.

There would be risks wherever they go.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

12. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I saw on the news tonight (I think NB

C)That there are still 3 working hospitals in NOLA. I think they meant the NOLA area, I am trying to remember what the reference was to and am drawing a blank.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

13. Now I remember, they were during a piece with a military higher

up. They asked (in reference to the toxic water) what are you telling your men. Para phased, I tell them to shower, wash everything, change their socks, etc. Then they went to that there have only been minor outbreaks of anything (no details). Then they flashed to a patient on a gurney(sp?) and said there are still 3 working hospitals in NOLA.