OPINION: Did You Watch CNBC's "Against The Tide, New Orleans?

I wish I knew about it - I would have watched it.

Personally I don't think it'll ever be the same lovable gumbo we used to have. And until it is, I am not coming back, as much as I miss it.

Not until we get rid of bush and his friends.

Olivera,
Thanks for responding. I hope your spirits have risen a bit since the anniversary of the storm. I didn't know about the show either. I found it by accident just as it was coming on. I agree that it will probably not be the same. Immediately after the storm, I had doubts that it would recover at all. As time went on, it became apparent that the recovery could have actually provided the stage for some positive changes. Two years later, with the immediacy of the event has faded, the opportunity also fades. Just like a home, daily neglect of every day maintenance causes damage and every day that damage is not corrected compounds the difficulty and cost of repair.

Don,
Thanks for responding. whether its "bush" or a tree or a houseplant, I think the scope of this thing is larger than a party or president. The gentleman who led San Francisco's recovery and now leads the effort in New Orleans said, on the show, he had never seen anything like the area's devestation. His opinion that we would have to go back to a city like Dresden, after WWII to find a comparison. I don't recall his name at the moment.

Robb, New Orleans, as we knew it just over two years ago, is gone for good I think. The French Quarter and tourists will continue but too many other things have changed. Global warming is a new consideration, which by itself, would cover the city with water in the not too distant future. The city is plagued with social problems and the levee repair is suspect. Too many citizens left, returned and left again. Insurance issues turned out badly and distribution of rebuilding funds has been scandalously slow. A smaller New Orleans will survive and some parts perhaps indefinitely.

Hi Ron, Glad you stopped by. I read the recent cover story in National Geo. which presented many of the issues that you have outlined here. Between the coastal erosion and global warming, in a few years I will own "ocean-front property." The only problem is it will only be about three days before its "ocean floor." Thanks again Ron. Its always good to hear from you.

I did not get to see it, but it will air again tomorrow at 8, so I'll definitely try to catch it

Hi Penny,
If you catch it tomorrow, come back and let us know what you think. Its not comprehensive, but worth watching.

I just caught it on a late-night replay. (I see I'm not the only one who can't sleep...).
I thought it was a good, albeit brief, overview of all the important issues. I'm glad they started with the levees, cause without that, nothing else matters. I still can't help but get angry everytime I hear the Corps tooting their own horn about what a great job they're doing. As one person on the show said, how many times are we going to throw good money after bad to keep building the same shoddy levees?

If the Corps' engineers are any indication of competency, no wonder all our tech jobs are going overseas (I bet there's plenty of engineers in the Netherlands who could do a better job). We need a bumber sticker: It's the Levees, stupid!

I was glad that they highlighted Shell's decision to stay, as I think those are the types of decisions that make corporations good citizens.....too bad they didn't name names on those who cut and left. Chevron. Ruth's Chris. Oreck. Entergy...which got a massive bailout from our recovery money, yet still relocated to Jackson, MS.

Hi Penny,
Sorry you couldn't sleep, but happy that you gave your observations and thoughts. Perhaps you shouldn't have given away your bumper-sticker slogan. You could go into production.

The comment about the "good after bad" is so true. However, it seems that so many who have no direct ties to the area have taken that thought, looked at the price tag of replacing "bad with good" and want to simply wipe out the problem, along with South Louisiana, rather than spend "their" tax dollars. It seems they forget that you and I and generation of Louisianians have paid those same taxes.

About the Corp, I don't see how Redee (?) or whatever the commander's name was, could actually be aware of all the majors flaws.....esp. down in your beloved "Parish"...and make the claims that he made.

Yes, it seems Shell knows a bit about ethics. That's what I meant in my comment to Don, was about. It will require sacrifice by the citizens, government on all levels, business and industry partnerships and leadership, as well as the continuation of the wonderful volunteer effort to pull this off.

The things I'm tired of:
In spite of the media coverage, it seems the rest of the country still has no idea of the massive area of recovery and how the actual City of New Orleans is only a slice of that area. Additionally, when they talk about abandoning this area they have no clue how much that would impact them and their posterity if they, in effect, would extend the proposed "Fence" along the side of the east/west I-10/12 corridor......trying to treat the area like it was a Nuclear Power Plant that suffered a meltdown.

Caught it late also .
Made me ill to see Shell oil doing good yuck...............................
Although the other oil companies acted as they usually do .

I know what you mean about everyone bawking at the price tag for replacing the levees, but if we would only do it right ONCE, we wouldn't have to keep doing it again. Well, the Corps always told us the levees could withstand a CAt3. Wind strength in NOLA was CAT2...but they didn't hold, so I don't put much faith in anything the Corps says.

As I've said before.....let 'em build the fence and we can become Bayou Country....the import/export taxes along would provide us with a lot more than we get now.

Penny,
Your right about Bayou Country. We could also tax the hedonism that many come here to enjoy and then return to their home towns to live the quiet and role-model life.

I don't think it would take them to long to recall the strategic and economic value of the area if they put up the fence and forced everyone to relocate. It is really ironic that a century and a half ago, the U.S. Government sent thousands to die to ensure that the southern states did not secede. Yet, now it seems many want to disown what was and continues to be one of the South's most valuable assets. I suppose if they were to build a fence they would would still want to control the river. Therefore, I suppose we would all be shipped to Guantanamo Bay.

I didn't catch the show, but you know my dad (from Houma) has always said they should have divided Louisiana and Mississippi in half and not lengthwise. The southern halves of both states have more in common than the northern halves.

Don, I apologize that I missed seeing your comment until now. Please don't think I was ignoring you. Shell was not just the only oil company. It was actually the only "major" corporate player that stayed around after the storm.

Thanks for your comment and again, sorry for missing it.

Bundy,

So true, Often, when I am communicating with those from outside LA, I find myself explaining that geo-cultural phenomena about the state. Thanks for commenting.

I watched another airing on CNBC last night that makes me feel without a doubt I should find somewhere else to retire. I was 11 years old living in the "9" when Betsy hit New Orleans. I vowed that I would not go through that again. I moved to Chicago when I was 19 keeping that promise but always in the back of my mind hoping that they would make good on there promise to fix the levees. I had hoped that I would at least be able to retire home around my family. No chance of that happening now. Out of 300 family members, my brother is the only one left, the rest are spread out all over the south. He plans on leaving when he retires in 2 years and my sister in Slidell is leaving in 18 months. This is really hard for my family giving up, we can trace our roots back to when cows walked along Bayou St. John and back to the 1700's in Donaldsonsville and Napleonville. But, Black Americans are a people that have been fragamented and put back together since we were stolen from the shores of Africa. If we survived the most horrific human tragedy known to man, we can survive this as well.

Hi Freda,
Thank you very much for your comment. I certainly agree, the show doesn't paint a very bright future. If you have time to leave another comment, I would be interested to know how close you are to retiring? How many of the 300 family left as a direct result of Katrina? In your family's diaspora across the South, did the majority settle in a certain city or state?

I have no doubt that you and your extended family will survive. On the upside, specifically for you, you have the experience of recreating your life and home once before when you relocated to the Windy City......On the other hand, I also understand "there is no place like home......" Again, thanks for writing.