Things Have Changed Since Katrina
So says George Bush, and yes, they sure have.
A friend of mine who's probably never paid a bill late in her life is a case in point. The house she and her husband bought in New Orleans is unlivable, their insurance will only cover a pittance of their losses, they're still paying a mortgage on it -- and rent elsewhere, plus living expenses for themselves and their three kids-- and she says she can't even get return phone calls from the right people in the mortgage department at Bank of America. She told me the other day, she never would have believed it, but they're probably going to have to default.
Here's a photo from a French Quarter shop window from a more frivolous time:
Here's an excerpt from the story about Mr. Bush's remarks by Anne E. Kornblut and David Stout from The New York Times:
Mr. Bush acknowledged that, for some, rebuilding may have been so gradual as to seem non-existent. But, Mr. Bush said: “For a fellow who was here and now a year later comes back, things have changed.”“I feel a quiet sense of determination that’s going to shape the future of Mississippi,” he continued.
And then, in comments that could have been as applicable to the other main challenge of his administration — Iraq — Mr. Bush said: “As this part of the world flourishes, and businesses grow, people will find work and have the wherewithal to rebuild their lives.”
Mr. Bush delivered his remarks at an intersection in a working-class Biloxi neighborhood against a carefully orchestrated backdrop of neatly reconstructed homes. Just a few feet out of camera range stood gutted houses with wires dangling from interior ceilings. A tattered piece of crime scene tape hung from a tree in the field where Mr. Bush spoke. A toilet seat lay on its side in the grass.
Mr. Bush praised the optimism and grit of the people of Mississippi, and he reaffirmed his belief in neighborly cooperation as well as government help. “A year ago, I committed our federal government to help you,” he said. “I said we have a duty to help the local people recover and rebuild. I meant what I said.”
This reminds me of the cartoon -- I think, by my pal John Callahan -- of what a dog hears when a human's talking:
"Blah, blah, blah, blah...blah, blah, blah...blah, blah, blah..."
Amy, I don't know if your friend John is right about dogs. Our Basset Hound understands a surprising amount of words and phrases. He learns the names of his toys in short order along with rooms in the house. He will even make "deals" to get a treat. If I ask him to go get one of his toys, (by name) he will usually get the correct one. It didn't take him long, however, to use his inherent Basset stubbornness to ignore my request, UNLESS I promised him a treat when he brought me the toy! He is also picking up on the spelling of the word r-i-d-e, which you can't say unless you mean it. We are always amazed at what this guy learns! He's actually smarter than many people in one respect: He's an Atheist; just like all other animals!
Bill Henry at August 29, 2006 6:27 AM
Lucy definitely understands words, but adverbs, I believe, are a real problem, as are concepts of time. She's a little light in the deep philosophical conversation department, too.
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2006 6:32 AM
I don't know about Mississippi, but to be fair to Bush, New Orleans looked much, much better when I went home last week than it did even over winter break. Some people got royally screwed by insurance, and I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. But it is at least a functional city—at least, as functional as it ever was.
Jadagul at August 29, 2006 7:36 AM
That cartoon is by Garry Larson, not John Callahan.
johnshade at August 29, 2006 7:42 AM
Oops, thanks...perhaps I had a mental block, due to my heartbreak at spilling a bit of coffee on one of my favorite books, Volume Two of The Complete Far Side:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/0740721135&tag=advicegoddess-20&camp=1789&creative=9325
PS The wedding present I buy for anyone I like.
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2006 9:12 AM
This negligence in an American thing. We're polite pussies who hate to give out bad news... But the American voter has decided that New Orleans is not worth rebuilding, and Biloxi is on its own. People are hoping that the incompetence of the government and the greed of the insurers will get the message across implicitly.
Crid at August 29, 2006 11:06 AM
I don't want to seem unsympathetic, but there are a number of
facts that do need to be considered. Home insurance policies
exclude flood damage. It's there in black and white and (at
least should be) widely known. Flood insurance is available,
though it tends to be expensive.
If you live in an area where flood is a risk, then you have two
choices: buy the flood insurance or accept the risk of flood
losses. It's roughly equivalent to the choice of buying medical
insurance vs. accepting the risk of self-insuring. Though
there's a safety net for no medical insurance that doesn't exist
for lack of flood insurance.
Ron at August 29, 2006 11:40 AM
Their problem right now is that her husband is a professor and they live out of town with three children and their insurance/mortgage and some other recompense is tied to some complication about getting there and listing every item in every drawer or something. And then some other crap, plus not even being able to get return phone calls from the various divisions within BofA. I didn't state it perhaps as articulately as I could've because I couldn't bring myself to ask her again. But, this is one of the more responsible human beings I know, and I think they did have flood insurance.
Amy Alkon at August 29, 2006 4:43 PM
Why are insurance companies allowed to get away with this? If you pay for flood insurance and there's is a flood they should have to pay within a short period of time. They are professional foot-draggers.
Chris at August 30, 2006 12:06 PM
Leave a comment