Real Thought

According to a study by Brown University, New Orleans could lose up to 80% of it’s black population due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.  Why does this come as a surprise? Anyone who has visited the Crescent City knows that much of the African-American population of New Orleans lived in appalling poverty and terrifying violence.  Now that many have been relocated and have a chance to start over, why would they go back?  What would they go back to?  More of the same?

Why should we even be concerned about this?  Populations have relocated since time immemorial in response to natural disasters.  Why should this time be any different?  Unfortunately, this study will probably lead to massive planning by “urban planners” who will attempt to control we lesser mortals without realizing that cities and human habitation can never truly be planned on a large scale.  Their efforts will fail, huge sums of public funds will be wasted and the result will be the same, most of those who lived in New Orleans will never move back.  They will be replaced by new groups who will seek opportunity in the rebuilt city. 

Why not let the people exercise their choice instead of trying to plan it for them?