There may or may not be an inertial state of laziness in the typical New Orleans resident. I don't know. I don't have the stats on welfare, and don't really feel like looking them up. I did say this:
Quote Originally Posted by me
From a practical standpoint, I pretty much agree that the areas below sea level should not be rebuilt. A waste of current funds and a potential disaster waiting to happen. But if that's the plan, they need to just step up and say it, and tell the former residents that they need to give up hope of returning and get a job somewhere else.
Call it closure or whatever. If you promise people you will rebuild, they are going to expect it and assume you will take responsibility for it. I believe I posted ages ago in a Katrina thread that the citizens should be hired on to the rebuilding effort (think 30's era depression work), which would a) get them off their butts and working, and b) give them a sense of empowerment, pride, and ownership. But forcing people to work is soooo 20th century, so it's not going to happen. What the government needs to say is "we are done here, we aren't recommending you live below sea level in a hurricane zone, you need to find another place to live and get on with your life". The administration doesn't seem to want to rebuild the lower parts of the city, and I have to say I agree with that decision. But they need to grow a pair and just say it.