NOLA Dirt Bag Project

I live in New Orleans and I love New Orleans and it was horrible enough to suffer one of the worst natural disasters in American history, but the shame of the federal response brought tears to my eyes. But to learn that this beautiful, unique city was drowned due to the willful negligence of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, brought rage to my heart. And who has helped us? Not the federal government, not FEMA, not the Army Corps of Engineers, not the insurance companies. No, it has been friends and strangers, students and the elderly, neighbors and visitors--the best of who we are--who have stepped in to gut houses, save lives, share in the pain and the joy, and offer a helping hand.

President Bush looked for a photo-op and offered empty promises. FEMA was slow to respond and still treats us like second-class Americans. The Army Corps shrugged it off--"woops!"--and continues to dance around the fact that the levees are still screwed up, that their pumping projects are a joke, and that if you live anywhere with an Army Corps project, you're gonna get screwed, too. Congress continues to dither about this and that. I guess we're second-class Americans to them, too. And lastly, the insurance companies, especially Allstate, were happy to take our money before the storm, and just as happy to leave town after. If you own Allstate stock, well hallelujah, you're in bed with the devil.

So there you go: we're drowning in their shit and I'm tired of it. This project won't save the world, no less New Orleans, but it will make a point, one that an automated "Dear Second-Class American" letter can't so easily answer. And if these dirt bags receive enough dirt bags, maybe they'll start to listen and do the right thing.

By the way, if you're looking for a less impassioned statement on the facts of the case--on the neglect, the abuse, the politics, the law and the science of it all--check out Levees.org, an amazing local group that's working hard to arm us with knowledge and to make things right. And to keep up with the shitstorm we face, come back periodically to the NOLA Dirt Bag Project Blog.

Thanks for your support!
NOLA Dirt Bag Project