New Orleans

[Skulhedface]

I don't know much about the political or even military ramifications of the situation in New Orleans, but since I'm probably the person on the boards who lives closest to the situation I can tell you about how it's affecting us all personally.

While I think the state as a whole feels betrayed by the government, I must say that on the whole the people of Louisiana really did impress me. I never knew any of the people I knew were the volunteer-types until I'd run into several of them at the Cajundome at one point or another helping out. It actually brought a smile to my face, because on the surface we're all sarcastic assholes but deep down we do want to do the right thing.

The situation in New Orleans... well, all I know is that the presence of the Armed Forces is sorely needed, as New Orleans has basically been picked dry and it's actually spread out of the city as far as the capital. I live two hours away from New Orleans and even we're starting to feel the effects of it.

I know my sister attends college and her professors are giving all the students warnings about traveling alone simply because the situation is escalating in Baton Rouge, and in a western direction we're the biggest city next in line. Baton Rouge has problems now with looters, vultures and just plain carjackers shooting people after they fill up their cars with gas and taking off with the cars.

We could use the national guard in New Orleans, perhaps, but just as much in the surrounding areas, as it is starting to spread and becoming a much bigger problem.

My father and I discussed New Orleans being rebuilt and he said it'd be stupid not to, not just for our state's economy but for the nation's as well, as a good 25% of all oil is imported/refined in New Orleans. Without it, since Louisiana is barely hanging on by a thread as is, we may as well be New Alabama.

One would think the government would be paying MUCH closer attention to this.