Posted on 09/05/2005 9:33:42 AM PDT by TheRobb7
I have posted this at my website (link above).
"The value of liberty was thus enhanced in our estimation by the difficulty of its attainment, and the worth of characters appreciated by the trial of adversity." --George Washington
There have been several people, from politicians to pundits, that have opined about how to--or whether to-- rebuild the city of New Orleans.
Right here and now, I will take a stand:
REBUILD THE CITY.
In the wake of a natural disaster of epic proportions, we also now have an opportunity of epic proportions.
Not since the era of the Great Depression have we had an opportunity to reshape the landscape of the American Future.
In much the same way that the New Deal changed American society, President Bush has the opportunity to change the face of America and establish a true Ownership Society.
Now is not the time for caterwauling, arguing, hate speech, race baiting, or class envy.
Now is the time for action.
Now is the time for the Best and the Brightest of America's private sector to step forward with new ideas to meet and overcome the new challenges that are before us.
One of the lessons we have learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is that the way that the city of New Orleans was planned, laid-out and build was a prescription and invitation to disaster.
There are organizations in America RIGHT NOW that are capable of banding together plan, re-design and commit resources to rebuilding one of America's best cities.(http://www.greatrivereng.com/) (http://www.asce.org/)
History shows us the power of great minds backed by great efforts that can even change the course of rivers (www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/riverflow.html).
If the American Spirit was strong enough to reverse the flow of the Chicago River A CENTURY AGO, just imagine what that same Spirit could do today with the resources at our disposal.
Re-designing and implementing a plan to rebuild New Orleans will put multiple thousands of people back to work.
Highway projects across the coutry can now be fully staffed, putting even more displaced New Orleanians to work. (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=highway+construction)
The time has come to stop playing political football with America's energy future.
Beginning the road to America's energy independence is imperative.
The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge must be opened to provide America with not just a fresh supply of oil, but also jobs that will continue to boost our economy and bolster America's pre-eminence among the nations.
(link to President Bush's comments: http://www.anwr.com/archives/senate_supports_drilling_in_alaskan_refuge.html)
Even the housing industry can contribute to our immediate future by providing housing for Katrina survivors (www.nahb.org/) (http://katrinahousing.org/).
America, YOU CAN DO THIS!
THIS IS THE AMERICAN CENTURY.
STAND UP, BE COUNTED, AND PROVE TO THE WORLD WHO WE REALLY ARE.
Thanks for visiting The Perspective!
I say, "bury it in sand." I'm tired of hearing about its dysfunction. Screw it.
However, I wouldn't spend one taxpayer dime before two things happen:
1) the bulk of the wetlands are restored... that was the natural barrier, an enormous sponge that would siphon off the worst force of hurricanes. Also, that's what keeps the delta continually building up.
2) the levee system is completely rennovated as per recommendations going back to 1995. Politicians of both parties balked at sufficient funding, and now everyone has to get together and decide that NO is important enough to the entire nation to sufficiently secure it.
" wouldn't spend one taxpayer dime "
That's the whole point here and the beauty of what I'm proposing.
Everything I mentioned could be done by the private sector. The creation of jobs to rebuild not only New Orleans, but also projects nationwide to put multiple thousands of people to work and rebuilding their lives doesn't have to spend a dime of taxpayer money.
The American Spirit doesn't require a federal subsidy.
THAT is what I am trying to inspire.
(Thanks for your response. It's good ideas like yours that will help.)
The American Spirit doesn't require a federal subsidy.
Sometimes, as in war or natural calumnity, the federal government, OUR COUNTRY, has the constitutional charge of providing for the general welfare and the common defense.
Galveston, TX was rebuilt after the disastrous flood of 1900 by the residents and businesses themselves - AFTER the Army Corps of engineers built the seawall that protected it against future floods.
Likewise, wetland restoration and adequate levee restoration is something the feds should be concentrating our public resources to - the rebuilding of the city itself should be left to the residents and businesses - and not to big government contracts to bechtel, etc.
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