The show must go on?

Contractors, out of state "planning" consultants, government employees, and some New Orleans area residents will celebrate the 2006 Mardi Gras season.

More than 1,100 New Orleans residents known to have died in Katrina's wrath won't be there and I doubt family/friends of the 400 or so people/bodies that are thought to be in attics and the ruble of the 9the ward, Lakeview, St. Bernard, and other devestated areas will feel like celebrating.

A city where more than half the population has been virtually wiped away into communities across the country won't find parade crowds of years gone by, a very scaled down carnival season is what has been planned.

We are now more than six months beyond our nation's greatest natural disaster we continue on in Louisiana, stumbling for plans and progress in restoring devestated areas of the state. Healthcare, housing, education, and general living conditions still undetermined.

Many national reports tell a story of how nothing stops Mardi Gras, not war, prohibition, plagues of days gone by. So why in the world would we believe that the nation's greatest natural disaster would change a cultural norm like Mardi Gras?

Understanding, that revenues for the city are connected primarily to partying helps. More than 1 Billion dollars is brought in from this party season in our state, one can certainly see the need for chasing those sorely missed revenues.

What if healthier revenue streams were in place?

Maybe the idea of economic development that creates high wage earning jobs, living wage jobs, in our state, without selling out the health and safety of our communities can emerge and move forward, maybe not.

The truth is, objects in motion tend to stay in motion. Louisiana has long been subject to powerful state lobbysits for the addictive industries.

I personally can speak to the challenges of living in a state with powerful players lobby for this industry. They are like bulldogs guarding their turf. Virtually zero consequences for the social harms that result when peopel become addicted and have lost all as a direct result. In short, the social costs are never connected to lax policy on people and their day to day lives.

No change, old school driven thoughts will support the mindsetting that "The show must go on".

With almost no detox beds, affordable housing, and months away from our next hurricane seasion this is in someways hard to believe. Surviving in a surreal state of curious dismay, perpetual wonder at so many actions and inactions surrounding day to day living we move forward. No doubt a new hurricane season churning towards us in just a few months gives us all reason for concern today. Of course not all people are talking about the nightmare that could "finish off" New Orleans. They are very busy building the economic heart and soul of the state from days gone by --tourism?

Um, not to be rude folks, but have you actually considered that the money and resources for this event should be used to claim the bodies still left in the wreckage and debris? Where are the priorities of people and respect for their loves ones?

Yet the media is boasting that the grand tourism industry proudly announced Harrah's will open along with the once soul ladden New Orleans Convention Center- all timed with the "Carnival" season shows new scaled down debut.

I am not impressed, not by a long shot.

Today the now famous Convention center where 20,000 people were left in the city with swltering heat and swelling flood waters will officially be re-opened for business, one would think it would be closed down.

The greatest free show on earth (which is now taking corporate sponsors!) Mardi Gras....is going on regardless!