The Argument Continues "Mississippi Got Larger Share of Aid"

[eyescene]

Mississippi Got Larger Share of Aid

This community is grateful for the help. But Louisiana's losses were dramatically higher than any other state's and thus deserving of greater compensation. In reality, Mississippi has gotten a larger share of federal aid.

Donald Powell, the president's point man for recovery, downplayed the comparisons with Mississippi. "Tell me exactly what you need, and I'm happy to sit down and listen," he said. "But the evidence has to be based upon the need, not a comparison."

That is easily done. Our needs are real and quantifiable.

Louisiana had three times more damaged homes and seven times more severely damaged homes than Mississippi. Universities in this state had three times as many students displaced and had four times the losses of Mississippi's campuses. Louisiana fisheries suffered almost 75 percent of the damage done by Katrina, and our hospitals lost 97 percent of the hospital beds closed by the storm.

Yet in every case, Mississippi ended up with a disproportionate share of aid. Housing grants, for instance: Mississippi got $5.5 billion in Community Development Block Grant money for its 61,000 damaged homes. Louisiana, with 204,000 damaged homes, got $10.4 billion. If the aid were given out proportionately, this state would have gotten twice that much.

We hope that President Bush and Congress remember that imbalance when they consider Louisiana's request for $4 billion to keep the Road Home Program in the black.

MORE (http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003632881)

[RGDoherty]

Again......Homes are private dwellings to be handled with insurance. Flood insurance for New Orleans to be exact. The Federal Aid is actually for rebuilding infastructure, which we had more damage to by the storms.

[eyescene]

but they were mis-treated....yada yada yada!

[Guru]

It also has a lot to do with getting all your leg work done to apply for aid. If you lollygag around and ask for out of whack things it only lengthens the time it takes you to get aid. Therefore, while you are not getting any because you have not followed proper procedures, have asked for the sky, etc then other locations are going to move ahead and eventually a data sheet shows some places having received larger amounts of money simply because they did in fact receive theirs while you squandered your efforts.

[RGDoherty]

mistreated means compensation????? Sounds to me like they are wanting to punish somebody......Like I said, nothing's our fault so it must be yours is the mentality running rampant in a lot of areas.

[just-Wynn]

if we were given more $$$, perhaps it was because everyone here was out helping each other and trying to rebuild a few days after the storm, instead of sitting on our @$$ with both hands out.

[Tully Mars]

Yea well, 68.245% of all people lie with statistics. :smt009

Could it be the fact that LA squandered the money that was given to them in previous years for the purpose of strengthening the levee system. Past performance is certainly an indicator of future success.

Very quickly after the storm, Mississippi established a plan for getting back on its feet and, with the exception of a few glitches, has done a good job of executing the plan. I would venture to say that at the 10-year anniversary of Katrina the song will be the same..."it's not fair, Mississippi got more than we did." I also think that 10 years from now the comparisons of progress will be similar, Mississippi will be recovered while Louisiana will still be languishing in indecision, pity and their tired "whoa is me" attitude.

[Guru]

Good thoughts Tully, the evidence is already here.

[eyescene]

if we were given more $$$, perhaps it was because everyone here was out helping each other and trying to rebuild a few days after the storm, instead of sitting on our @$$ with both hands out.

No comment!

[aaron]

This it total bull. The hurricane hit us directly. It's path went straight up through south Mississippi. These people just want money. New Orleans will never be what it was.

[eyescene]

New Orleans will never be what it was.

Only b/c they chose it!

[Pop]

HMM?

Some people point to the clout of Mississippi's congressional delegation as the reason. Others say that Louisiana's reputation for political chicanery has hurt us.


<TABLE cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top noWrap align=right>Main Entry: </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=def) -->chicanery<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=def) --></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top noWrap align=right>Part of Speech: </TD><TD>noun</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Definition: </TD><TD><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=def) -->deception<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=def) --></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Synonyms: </TD><TD>artifice, cheating, chicane, deviousness, dishonesty, doge, double-crossing, double-dealing*, duplicity, feint, fourberie, fraud, furtiveness, gambit, hanky-panky*, intrigue, machination, maneuver, plot, ploy, ruse, sharp practice, skulduggery, sophistry, stratagem, subterfuge, surreptitiousness, trickery, underhandedness, wiles</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Antonyms: </TD><TD><!-- google_ad_section_start(name=def) -->forthrightness, honesty, integrity, truthfulness<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=def) --></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right>Notes: </TD><TD>duplicity implies double-dealing while chicanery suggests trickery and wiliness</TD></TR><TR><TD class=src vAlign=top align=right>Source: </TD><TD class=src><CITE>Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)
Copyright © 2007 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.</CITE>
* = informal or slang
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[CircusRide]

I've always considered Louisiana a little third-world country anyway. People over there just ain't right. They do everything different than the rest of the country.
Had they not built a city below sea level, they wouldn't have to worry about levees.

[eyescene]

hmmmmmm?

[Augustus McRae]

I've always considered Louisiana a little third-world country anyway. People over there just ain't right. They do everything different than the rest of the country.
Had they not built a city below sea level, they wouldn't have to worry about levees.


You obviously don't know many folks from Louisiana! They are wonderful people. But your point about the levee is THE POINT!

The problems of destruction we had in Mississippi, while tragic, were/are fixable! We can rebuild on those spots, albeit in some areas "up" a few feet. The primary problem in Louisiana IS the levee and the level. The levees are NOT fixed, as I understand it. And HOW do you fix that situation.

Further, I think the media has to shoulder some "debit" for this situation as well as some "credit." The "picture" of New Orleans depicted by the media in the aftermath of Katrina was NOT one of hope and not one that enticed many people to come and help them. In turn, the picture of Mississippi (when there was one at all) was one saying, we appreciate help, we need help, and we are willing to participate. PLENTY of Louisiana people helped themselves, helped others, and appreciated the help they got. PLENTY of Mississippi people whined, continue to whine, and did not do much "pulling themselves out and up." They have not made the TV!

[eyescene]

Further, I think the media has to shoulder some "debit" for this situation as well as some "credit." The "picture" of New Orleans depicted by the media in the aftermath of Katrina was NOT one of hope and not one that enticed many people to come and help them. In turn, the picture of Mississippi (when there was one at all) was one saying, we appreciate help, we need help, and we are willing to participate. PLENTY of Louisiana people helped themselves, helped others, and appreciated the help they got. PLENTY of Mississippi people whined, continue to whine, and did not do much "pulling themselves out and up." They have not made the TV!

Well you got a point there Augustus! They did look pretty bad. Still do. I mean who wants to run help someone when it might mean your life. They are responsible for that part!!! Get'er done, lock'em up and throw away the key!

[chaz]

How much federal money was LA receiving BEFORE KATRINA as opposed to MS? Was MS complaining then?

[Bluesman]

I think the Federal Govt. has spent enough on them already.. It is about time they get off their hineys and try to help themselves... They think they got it bad now but just imagine how bad they would have had it had we not "bought" them from the French in the whole Louisiana Purchase thing... :smt118

[CircusRide]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070813/katrina-luxury-condos/

Gives new meaning to Roll Tide.

[wilebill]

The C-L had an editorial the other day (http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/OPINION01/709030311/1008/OPINION) answering the one from the Times Picayune.

[CircusRide]

If we got more money, then I say we put up a toll booth entering MS from all LA highways. Maybe that'll keep some of them from moving over here.

[fuzzis]

I've always considered Louisiana a little third-world country anyway. People over there just ain't right. They do everything different than the rest of the country.
Had they not built a city below sea level, they wouldn't have to worry about levees.

I could have sworn that I read an article last week that was talking about how New Orleans wasn't built below sea level but that decisions about shipping channels and the erosion of the natural barriers had in effect contributed to the city's vulnerability. One of the things that many people are working on is the restoration of the wetlands and getting rid of some of those channels so as to enhance the city's protection.

[CircusRide]

I could have sworn that I read an article last week that was talking about how New Orleans wasn't built below sea level but that decisions about shipping channels and the erosion of the natural barriers had in effect contributed to the city's vulnerability. One of the things that many people are working on is the restoration of the wetlands and getting rid of some of those channels so as to enhance the city's protection.

New Orleans is sinking. That's true. I think it's due to the chocalate foundation though.

[58ford]

I think LA is missing the point.
It isn't that MS got proportionately more money, It's that our politicians stole proportionately less.