Sorry you saw the bad part of town (and you can't tell me your restaurant experience isn't repeated in LA, NY, Miami, Chicago and other cities), but you seem to be a lot like most of the media, equating the worst side with everyone in New Orleans. Had you seen some of the non-FQ neighborhoods, and met some of the people, you would have seen an entirely different picture. Thankfully, the fate of New Orleans is not in your hands.
(And guessing the feces you saw was in the FQ? Always a problem there, and probably it was from dogs, but I wouldn't state that absolutely. One of the worst problems in the FQ are the TOURISTS from elsewhere who think they can get drunk/high and run wild in the FQ. To a degree, they can, but it's one reason residents avoid the area.)
Dang straight! But you'd rebuild the city underwater? Scum would just float again. Raze it, increase the elevation upon its waste, make a smaller more modern and efficient city.
My heart goes out to all those who've lost everything, yet that same heart is twisted by the breakdown in civilization from affected groups.