After recently filming for a documentary on New Orleans and the gulf coast, I came to be conclusion that New Orleans rebuilding is not economically feasible nor would it make financial sense. I interviewed an expert on the levee system who said the latest estimates are $250 Billion to bring the city levee system up withstand a category V storm. That's without building a house. The gulf coast is a better bet, but the potential for complete devestation as we see above will remain constant. It is unlikely insurance coverage will ever return. I think the nation needs to be realistic and understand that even though rebuilding is a wonderful goal, most of the residents of the area will not come back to the devestated areas anytime soon becuase the probablity of complete devestation again in our lifetimes is high. People have to make common sense decisions, and most of them will and are.

Britton, I appreciate the heartfelt message behind your comments. Unfortunately, they reinforce my opinion that the media has centered the nation's attention on New Orleans (damaged by flooding caused by failed levees) and has totally ignored and neglected the people of the rest of the Gulf Coast whose lives were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I can tell you are a caring person and hope that you will realize, remember, and tell all your friends that the people of the Gulf Coast (outside of New Orleans) are also suffering greatly. As a nation, we should be ashamed of the response of our government to this tragedy. We should all be learning from this experience that our government is not going to be there to help us if there is a similar tragedy in our neck of the woods. We can only depend on each other for help. That is why it is so crucial that we all try to do what we can to help. Donate to faith-based or private organizations that are helping in the region. Volunteer to join others in the clean up (no it isn't done) and eventually in rebuilding efforts. Pray for the victims and the volunteers.

I think its good that people are trying to go back to their normal lives by trying to go back to work. Its what everybody needs to get through this.

Shame on you Art Davis! Isn't there enough pain in the world without you contributing to it? God bless the people of Waveland and Bay St. Louis and God bless our mail carriers and all the people who are praying for these folks and have contributed in any way to their recovery.

While that is good for Mississippi...

MSNBC needs to find out why first class mail in the New Orleans area is not getting delivered.

I have only received mail 1 time (that is 1 time since Hurricane Katrina at the end of August) where I live in Orleans Parish.

I currently have no respect for the US Postal System.

Anyone should be proud of our postal workers. If you knew how much torment and harrassment they take not only from the public but from their own supervision..you would give these people a medal! God bless our postal workers...God help their tormentors.

Hats off to the wonderful postal carriers who are still doing their jobs! To the beautiful folks in Waveland, Bay St. Louis, and New Orleans, keep your heads and hearts up. You are in our prayers in New England. God bless you with HOPE for tomorrow.

IGNORANT GEORGE! I am appalled at the level of ignorance in the U.S. about the South. I can make an educated guess that GEORGE hasn't been to the South, much less been to the GREAT STATE OF MISSISSIPPI! I would sure hate to know that someone would make an uneducated statement on the plight and lifestyle of a group of wonderful people that he knows nothing about. I myself am a proud Southerner, and you should be ashamed for making such statements. I would like for you to cancel your internet service and pick up a book and educate yourself. I can give you a list of great authors from Mississippi to pick from, such as, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, and John Grisham to name a few. Grow up GEORGE!!!

I AM A RETIRED MAILCARRIER IN DENVER. (43 YEARS) AND YES WE ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING THE PUBLIC. I HAVE NEVER REGRETTED MY DECISION TO SERVE THE POST OFFICE.

To Gerald K:
No, the Postal Service is not run by a private company. My husband is a retired letter carrier and I was a carrier for 12 years he is still a union member so we are quite well informed. The Postal Service is still a US government agency. The only difference is that is financially independant, not subsidized by taxpayer money anymore. It is also the cheapest, and most productive, most efficient Postal Service in the industrialized world. We were proud to help people, I even put out a house on fire with only children at home. Guess what? I got severely reprimanded for using 15 minutes of overtime for that. The only thing we didn't like about our jobs was the "chainsaw" mentality of management who didn't have an ounce of compassion and treated us like children. There were days in NY when I was the only person out in a snowstorm, delivering the mail as expected but it was necessary and people would offer me a cup of hot cocoa.

I have been a Letter Carrier for 19 years, and it is one of the best jobs on earth. Where else can one get paid to do regular healthy exercise while simultaneously providing a valuable public service that most customers love us for? The pressures from management are no different from those in any other competitive company. USPS is an agency that was established under Title 39 U.S. Code in the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, but operates as a mostly self-supporting semi-private corporation, and that is the key to its success, being subject to competitive marketplace forces, in spite of the monopoly on first class delivery. It handles over 200 BILLION pieces of mail per year. The vast majority of that unfathomable number gets to its destination in a timely manner, in spite of some bad handwriting and wrong addresses. We have the best rates on packages ten pounds and under, and Priority Mail is one heck of a deal now. My customers all tell me that they prefer to send packages through us, not only because of our kinder handling compared to the competition, but because it is so easy to do using Click-N-Ship, where you can print your own postage and mailing labels on your PC and have your carrier pick up from your door in most cases. We also provide free forwarding of first class mail for a year. If anyone has trouble with mail not getting forwarded, it is usually because the form is not filled out correctly, either with misspelled names or wrong addresses. Whether letters cost 37 cents or 39 cents, it is still the best.

Well, the situation is different here in New Orleans zip code 70118. I still have not recieved 1 piece of mail since Katrina. The post office here only has 29 workers out of 100+. Residents have to pick up their mail from the post office which is not even getting much mail from the main sorting branch. I don't fault the workers since many of them have unlivable homes after the flooding. However, the USPS should have come up with a plan to ship in temporary postal workers from other areas of the country. New Orleans has had volunteers from fire and police departments come from across the nation to help us out in our time of need. I don't understand why the USPS can't do the same. Even if I only get mail delivered once a week, it would be a welcome improvement.

MSNBC - YOU MAKE ME SICK. You would not put my comment yesterday because it contained a bad remark about Bush. You have no backbone and are as bad as Bill O'Reilly and the rest of the TV media that panders to the most corrupt administration this country has ever seen. You probably sent my email to Homeland Security. Why don't you post this??? Wimps.

I have a unique perspective, I was born in california and have in various parts of the country, because my father was in the military. I consider all of us americans, wherever we are from. I salute the postal workers for their hard work. My prayers and thoughts are with the people of the gulf coast.

Dear wonderful Southern neighbors.....Please forgive the stupid remarks from that Davis dude...I am a northerner and I don't feel that way about the South nor its people. I have a wonderful sister-in-law from Natchez MS and she is a wonderful lady and mother and wife.We aren't all nasty and rude up here believe me...God bless! (from Michigan)

I am really surprised that "Art Davis's" message got through and was posted. People like him is what contributes to the hate in the world now. Ignorance! I applaud the Postal Service and all their efforts. I am sure like any other company they may need improvements, but given the circumstances seem like they did a wonderful job. Keep up the good work! And "Art" I really hope you realize that you were completely out of line.

On behalf of the carriers at the North Saint Paul Carrier Annex (zip 55109) I would like to wish Micki Clifton and her fellow carriers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Just a "Hello" and a "glad you made it" to Micki from Ken from Pass Christian who used to chat with Micki at CB's and on my way to the gym.

Yes,the Postal Service is best place that I've ever worked at and so is it for the other 700K or so. Then if not,those who don't think so,should find other employment. We serve the Country well. It's not the best Job in the world,but it help raises Families.

Despite her own personal losses, Micki Clifton keeps HOPE and FAITH alive in Bay St. Louis, MS, delivering mail with her friendly smile and cheerful nature. She inspires others with her positive outlook of the future. People like Micki will see that Bay St. Louis one day thrives again. I am very proud that she is my sister.

man...ya'll still won't post my past comments about ART so i won't attack but please don't post people with such a bad attitude of mississippi again....please?

Courage under fire has a whole new meaning in South Mississippi. The mail carriers got back on their feet, left their families to deal with no homes, no food, no water and more, just to try and have some normallacy for their customers. To this day, they deliver the mail past slabs and only pray that their beloved customers made it out alive. They are on the verge of nervous break downs over the devastation in our communities and possible loss of their jobs because so many deliveries are now gone. I am one of those employees that lost everything, no walls to even look at, yet I got back to work to help with the 51,000 changes of address. I had to hear complaints over .02 postage raise, yet I didn't have a home to go to, but I was there for the customer. So think twice all of those who think we are dumb southerners. At least "The South Rises" everytime called upon. Management doesn't praise us, we praise each other.

I am so proud of all my fellow postal workers in South MS. Some of the comments about inadequate mail delivery are really way off. We have come to work and taken care of our customers when we were living in tents.. Its made it impossible to take care of our own disasters at home but we made sure the public was taken care of first. As far as New Orleans I know they are doing their best. Where are the employees going to stay if they were sent in from somewhere else? They have to put their safety and that of their families first. For those who think they can do a better job please apply I assure you its not anywhere near as easy as you think... To all of those customers out there who have been kind and patient we appreciate it.. Thank you and May you be blessed in the New Year. SOUTH MS MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS

I cannot believe that there are people in our country like "Art"! At a time like this we are to pull together and do what we can for our FELLOW AMERICANS! Not post ignorant messages on a blog that is only here to help people cope with their loses. To the people of MS and LA: Somebody has to apoligize to you about "ART". This man is sick, twisted, ignornant and loves the negative attention people give him. He will never survive if his world came crashing down on him, as he will have NOBODY! I feel bad for you ART. There is not one single day that goes by without me thinking about you. I hope and pray for all of you!! Please do your best to have a Happy Holiday Season and a blessed New Year!! You will always be in my heart!!

Don't be so down on poor "Art." Maybe he was dropped on his head when he was a baby. Forgive me for being negative, but sometimes we do need to laugh, and I don't mind laughing at Art's expense.