What is Wrong with NOLA

Driving in the New Orleans area is worse than driving in Dallas traffic, and today I feel the need to get some things out there for all to know.  I have a list of things that suck about this area, but first I’ll point out the good:

• Good food is available
• I’ve noticed several times how close people are to each other while I’ve been in restaurants.  Someone will come in and other people will have 20 minute conversations with them, complete with the kissey on the neck thing at the beginning and the end.  It is nice to see community!
• Beer, wine, liquor, mixed drinks, frozen drinks available everywhere, and to-go if you want.
• There is a laundry that will wash, dry, and fold a weeks worth of my clothes for $10.55.

What I don’t like:

• First, this whole area is a death trap- situated between a huge lake and the ocean, and in many cases the land people are living on is below the level of the water.  It is all kept dry by massive government projects and maintained by government employees.  The thing that chaps my ass the most about this is that federal tax money (AKA my money) is going to help fund this insanity.
• The road infrastructure is about 40 years behind the needs of the population.  The only real expressway is I-10.  Lots of areas are stop and go streets that have the poorest coordination and timing I’ve ever seen.  I’m not exaggerating this.  About 50% of the time I’ll catch every light possible.  In most intersections you can’t even turn left,  you have to go up and turn around.  The money wasted on time and fuel has to be enormous.  It takes me 2 times longer than it should to get anywhere.  I think this is due to the amount of corruption in the government.  Money that could be used to improve infrastructure gets used for who knows what.  (lots of local politicians are in jail right now)
• The drivers are bi-polar.  One minute they are pulling out in front of you and attempting to go as slow as possible, until you have an opportunity to get around them, then they are all Johnny on the spot.  Assholes.  This place is full of assholes.
• I get harassed by random people if I’m outside of my vehicle for more than 20 seconds.
• Many of the restaurants (the ones known for ‘good food’) don’t bother to make their places look nice or look clean.  You have to focus 100% on the food and ignore everything around you!
• In general, everything looks broken or is broken.  Stuff just doesn’t work right.
• I won’t even get into what a mess New Orleans proper and the area east of there are.  It looks like a war  zone!  Lots of abandoned houses and businesses just deteriorating.
• Huge number of football fans.  Do I need to say more?

So I guess this is a pretty neat place to visit, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what anyone would want to live here.