$150,000,000,000...think you could spend it all?

[RobTheDrummer]

They should make a Katrina Memorial Park out of the area below sea level.

The rest of the city should be rebuilt according to the free market (like everywhere else) with normal justified reactionary funding from government. The idea of setting aside $150B is a ridiculous idea that has no justification other than feel-good politics. If Bush wants his ratings to go up, he should just start having press conferences once in awhile instead of throwing money away.

It is a rare opportunity that a city gets a chance to completely rebuild. This federal boondoggle will probably create a welfare city like the world has never seen instead of the modern bustling hi-tech port that it should become.

That sounds like something I heard on Glenn Beck....they should build a great "City of the Future" but as long as that idiot dem runs the city, it's gonna be bad.

[f.sciarrillo]

I think what will happen is they will level it all out, sell it to land developers dirt cheap, and they intern will make millions off of it ..

[Banned]

$150 billion is the projected amount being tossed around in Congress these days. THere is a bigtunnel project being built in Boston which is setting records for going over estimates. here is a story from a taxpayer watch group:

Boston’s Big Dig project -- the most expensive road project in American history -- is officially bankrupt.

A federal audit has concluded that Boston’s Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel (called the “Big Dig”) project should be viewed as “bankrupt” and the projects managers should be replaced. The chief of the project subsequently submitted his resignation.

The audit also stated that the Big Dig “stands as one of the most flagrant breaches of integrity…in the history of the 85 year old Federal-aid highway program.”

When Congress originally approved construction of the project, it was to cost $2.5 billion and be completed by 1998. According to the audit, the project’s total cost could reach a staggering $13.6 billion – $2.8 billion more than projected just six months ago.

When money for the Big Dig was debated on the Senate floor in 1991, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) stated, “There is no intention of repeating or coming back for additional resources.” Taxpayers should hold Congress and the State of Massachusetts to that promise.


So with this blueprint of federal spending programs, the $150 bil could quite possible balloon up to over $900 billion before New Orleans is finished. Some more food for thought.

[Gallowglass]

I recieved this in an e-mail today, thought it might be relevant:


"Here's something thought provoking:

The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual manner, think about whether you want the "politicians" spending your tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

a.. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
b.. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
c.. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
d.. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
e.. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans - It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division

Louisiana Senator is asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans.

Interesting number, what does it mean?

Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman,child), you each get $516,528.
Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1,329,787.
Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C. !!!..........................Are all your calculators broken????

Maybe everyone should just flood their houses, then we can all be on the "big easy" street for the rest of our lives, and forget about working, and paying taxes and all that useless stuff!"

[Banned]

What a great post.

We should all copy that post and send it to our senators and congressmen in D.C. and remind them those billions they toss around come from US, and its time to stop wasting it.

[songsmith]

I'm kinda freaking out. Joe and I agree! ----->JMS

[Banned]

[the herald]

both sides of this argumnent make sense.....it will be destroyed again, thats inevitable but it does suck to lose an American city, I agree with letting the french quarter and all other areas that arent totally destroyed continue, and maybe they could turn the rest of the destroyed areas into wildlife preserves or state parks. If they do rebuild they should build all structures on stilts like on the oceanfront, it doesnt make sense to build on the ground when your nine feet below sea level. also I think that the rebuilding should come individually. There will be tons of people willing to sell there property cheap and get out of there. Rich investors will come along and buy these properties and make rental properties, vacation homes, etc. so a lot of that will take care of itself. people with flood insurance should receive there money to rebuild or move. But, as was mentioned earlier, those who owned properties with no flood insurance should not expect money from the government when they knew the risks!What is really scary is that thousands of people are being moved into these temporary trailers, now whats gonna happen to them when the next hurricane season hits?? more death and destruction it really is a sad and confusing situation trying to decide what is right thing to do.

[tonefight]

Lake New Orleans would make a very nice vacation destination

[f.sciarrillo]

Lake New Orleans would make a very nice vacation destination

That is a great idea. Turn the whole area into a lake. Or even make it like Venice. That would draw the tourist in real fast ...

[Gallowglass]

OK, that's two votes for the "Venice" idea.

[the herald]

Perfect! New Venice live with the water! not against it! or does that make too much sense?

[Banned]

Quikly, get into the gondola business before anyone else and make a killing.

[the herald]

Im spendin my 26 dollars in life savings on Coleman gondolas stock!!!

[f.sciarrillo]

If you think about the Venice idea; that would save millions, or even billions a year on maintaining the levees. Such as the fact that they would'nt need them anymore. It would make a great tourist attraction, and would bring the city out of poverty pretty quick.

I would invest in it lol ..