Posted on 09/04/2005 9:38:42 PM PDT by logician2u
You are not the only one who zeroes in on the number of buses floating around without either a driver or passengers, buses that could have been used to evacuate thousands of New Orleaners to higher ground.
But they weren't, so let's concentrate on what this article is attempting to point out, can we?
A full 35% of black households in New Orleans don't own a car. We could ask why and I'm sure there are several reasons that could be given. One of the reasons is that it's too expensive to own a car. Another might be that auto theft is common in New Orleans, so the less you own the less there is to take.
But the reason that Randal O'Toole concentrates on in this article is that many residents feel they don't really need a car. This segment of the population has become dependent on public transportation for getting around.
And public transportation, as good as it may be in New Orleans, cannot and will not replace the good ol' private automobile when it's time to get out of town in a hurry.
This is not blaming the victims but rather is a critique of the urban environment in which they live, one that encourages dependency and stifles individual initiative.
Note the major investments New Orleans has made over the past 20 years to run trolleys on Canal Street, with plans to also resurrect the Desire line. Tourists may like it, but how much do these streetcars help those who have to rely on public transportation? It's doubtful they helped much in evacuating the city prior to the hurricane's arrival last Monday.
If you consider all the factors - below sea-level location, inadequate levees/canals/pumping stations, poorly functioning public transportation, police getting a sudden case of blue flu - along with an apparent inability on the part of civic authorities to get the word out to all residents that this was a severe storm about to hit - it's a miracle that those without cars of their own survived at all.
No, I didn't need to follow the link. It's been posted at least a half-dozen times in the past week, along with the conflicting stories about the governor declaring a state of emergency or not declaring a state of emergency.
I don't disagree that things could have been managed a whole lot better. I do have some doubts that a Republican mayor (does New Orleans have any Republicans?) might have behaved very much differently, other than not insulting the President.
Forget the buses for a moment and think about the "big picture" if you can.
Large cities such as New Orleans have a considerable portion of the population that's become dependent on what is euphemistically called "public transportation." When that public transportation fails, as in an emergency, these people are stuck unless they can hitch a ride with a neighbor or someone.
I've relied on public transportation myself, although not willingly. It sucks, really sucks. Maybe it's better where you live, but I kind of doubt it. If I didn't have a car to get around in, I'd seriously consider buying one. But apparently a good number of New Orleans residents are happy without one, many more than are in poverty if this article is correct.
Now, is this a worrisome situation? I think so.
I felt that the whole ordeal in New Orleans showed the value of owning a gun.
Cars and guns are necessary equipment to survive in a city (or in the country, for that matter).
Unlike in Tennessee Williams time, any white person that would ride "A Streetcar Named Desire" would have to have a death wish.
But apparently a good number of New Orleans residents are happy without one, many more than are in poverty if this article is correct.
Now, is this a worrisome situation? I think so.
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I lived in NYC for almost 20 years. Like everyone else who has ever lived in a big city I recognized those people as people from the projects. Those are HUD (Dept of Housing and Urban Development)buildings. Their housing is subsidized and they collect welfare. And they collect preditors too who go back and forth from jail. The woman are almost 100% unmarried. None in the pictures on tv show people who are skinny with hunger. All are fat and the women have plenty of children but no husbands.
They're all creatures of the welfare state. Your kind of kindness will always murder people. Try doing stuff that doesn't include professional kindness. The results you get have a better chance of being what you intend.
I'm about ready to give up on you.
First you skip the article and get hung up on the number of buses sitting around unoccupied. Then you complain about the Democrat mayor and the Democrat governor not doing their job.
Now you imply that I would coddle the fat, dumb and lazy.
That's not what this article is about, comprehende?
My sympathy for your enduring NYC for nearly 20 years.
Don't forget the buses that weren't used.
(The article is about the lack of transportation.)
Good grief.
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