Refugees in New Orleans wait in vain for their political power to be restored. NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 18)Nearly four months since Hurricane Katrina hit ground along the Central Gulf Coast, 40 percent of New Orleans households remain powerless. 'We are dealing with a superstructure created more than two centuries ago,' government spokesman Jason Packer told powerless residents of New Orleans' still-dark 9th Ward. 'Unfortunately, there is no connection we can repair to bring any of you political power at this time, but we are hoping to correct this sometime over the next 50 to 100 years.' Packer added that the blame really does not rest with him, as many of Katrina's victims have been powerless for as many as six generations. 