Billions in Waste

From the New York Times (June 18, 2006):

"No one really knows exactly how the $10.4 billion in federal housing aid will be spent."

"With the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina anniversary [sic] approaching, local officials have yet to come up with a redevelopment plan, showing what kind of city will emerge from the storm's ruins."

Could you imagine going into a bank for a small business loan and telling the bank officials that you didn't have a plan for spending the money, and futhermore, you weren't actually sure what you were going to spend it on?

The people in New Orleans need help, but the US should not be spending $10.4 billion dollars rebuilding a city below sea level, at a time when sea levels are rising, and hurricanes appear to be getting worse ever year. The destruction of New Orleans was a tragedy. We shouldn't be sowing the seeds for future tragedy by plopping the city back under water.