Hey folks!
It's me, Patri-ette. While I figure you all haven't been holding your breath awaiting my next post, it is a bit difficult to find the time to write anything when you work 3 part time music gigs, have children and a spouse to take care of, and (sniff!) have to SHARE a computer with a "Blog-O-Maniac"!
But, I found something I thought you might be interested in. Listening to the radio this evening, I heard the talk show host refer to a March 2005 NY Times editorial on the "Free Land Giveaway" in Crosby, North Dakota, and Plainville and Ellsworth, Kansas. So, being the absolute "computer idiot" that I am, it took me a few minutes to locate the story. (Please feell free to look it up if you don't mind; cuz, I don't remember what my husband said to provide a link to my blog post.) Anyway, the point of the story is twofold: 1. These 3 small communities are desperate to attract new families to the area. They don't want their towns to die. 2. They are giving away free land or drastically reduced tax rates on property/homes, etc. I love this! 21st century land run! What a great pioneer spirit; the very one that made America great the first giveaway go round. What does this have to do with anything? Well, folks, try this on for size: Rather than rebuild N'Orleans, why not give free bus, train or car rides to displaced N'Orleanans, N'Orlingians, N'Orlongolians, etc. I'm serious. Do you folks realize how much it is going to cost to rebuild "The Big Easy"? Why bother when there are towns desperate for new folk? I even found a couple of websites for Crosby, North Dakota. Of course, they don't mention what folks do for a living in these small towns; probably farming; which, as we all know, is an "iffy" business at best. I also imagine that the increase in new move-ins would greatly impact goods and services; although it would also be a boost to the area's economy and would bring new construction, new commerce to the region. What a super opportunity for men, women and children to have a fresh start in a new place ABOVE water, where crime is minimal (at least for now) and opportunity to better oneself is available. If my home, possessions and future were several feet underwater and I knew that hurricanes would continue to menace the area on Mother Nature's "seek and destroy missions", I would avail myself of the opportunity to start over in a new place. However, these are not simple times. If we could redo the Oklahoma Land Run of the late 19th century in 2005 I'm sure we would run into environmental impact problems. We would have to do study after expensive study to determine if someone else's dead ancestors were several feet under where we wanted to "stake our claim". I'm sure the ACLU would have something to say, cuz they never seem to shut-up about everything else. Somehow I'm sure the IRS would get involved. They don't like anyone to get anything for free; unless they can tax the bejesus out of it. But when all is said and done, damn, it gets my first generation American pioneer spirit blood going!
Patri-ette
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