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[RayZentz AT aol.com]

That article is a crock of unmitigated tripe.
 
Half truths.
 
Exaggerations.   Mixed with utter lies.
 
I visited New Orleans about twenty years ago, with the idea of a potential  
move there.  After touring around the area, seeing the levees, and  
understanding that most of the city proper was actually below sea level, I 
made  the 
deliberate and conscious decision that I didn't want to take the risk of  
living 
there.   I realized then that if a major hurricane hit the  area, there would 
be nothing much left of the city.   Other people  there were aware of the 
risk, 
but said it would never happen.   They  were wrong.
 
It is the same reason I refuse to make any kind of move to  California.   The 
risk of earthquake is too high for me.   I  will also never live in a major 
forested area, because of high fire  risk.   I have experienced consequences 
of 
those choices, which I have  accepted.
 
We make choices and decisions every day.   There are always  consequences of 
our choices.
 
The disaster in New Orleans is terrible.   People are suffering,  and I will 
do what I can to help, as I would for anyone in need, regardless of  the 
cause.   However, don't ever try to make me feel guilty, or expect  me to 
feel 
sympathy for those who suffer natural consequences of foolish or  stupid 
choices.  
 There were many people who left when the storm  warning came, and are now 
homeless. I feel sympathy for these  people.   People who stayed, in the face 
of 
warnings and reason, are  now suffering the natural consequences of their 
choices and actions.    For them I feel no sympathy.   Pity, perhaps, but not 
sympathy.
 
And don't give me tripe about people being too poor to leave, or not  wanting 
to leave "stuff" behind, because it may be stolen.   There  were 
opportunities to leave, which were ignored.
 
Many people who are of "liberal" bent claim to believe in Darwin's  theories, 
specifically Natural Selection.   Here it is, at  work.   So be it.
 
Dr. Raymond Zentz
 
Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail.