[bullseyebarb]

Good grief, where to begin?!! Lack of funding isn't the problem here. Billions of taxpayer dollars have flowed into the area as have millions more in private donations. Volunteers go down to rebuild homes. The U.S. Corps of Engineers has spent the last year rebuilding the levees around N.O. Let us not forget that Katrina was a storm of Biblical proportions and affected an area about the size of the U.K. Imagine how well you would all cope if Britain went under water. Think you'd do a better job?

The Mississippi Gulf Coast was wiped out by Katrina, yet they are rebuilding steadily but surely. They appear to have a better state government than Louisiana. Ditto Florida during its back-to-back hurricanes in recent years.

New Orleans has a long history of political corruption. It is hardly America's fault if those elected to lead cannot get their act together. The historic districts of New Orleans survived because they are built on slightly higher ground.....such as it exists in that city. Naturally, the city government got the French Quarter up and running as quickly as possible because that is the financial lifeline of New Orleans. In other areas, battles rage on what should be done. Apparently, it's hard to get building permits. Environmentalists are against rebuilding on reclaimed swampland. I don't doubt there are lawsuits.

There are political reasons why race was injected into this tragic event. And the major media was only too happy to fan the flames. It is a terrible thing to see people lose their lives, homes and all they have worked for. But when one chooses to live in a vulnerable area, one must always be prepared for what nature brings.

President Bush has not forgotten New Orleans or the Gulf. I know you all love to criticize him because it's been pounded into your heads what a dreadful man he is. There are no quick fixes for that region. Full restoration is going to be a long time coming. At the end of the day, I believe private initiative and citizens at large will get the job done.