I agree that the vast preponderance of New Orleans’ damage was caused by shoddy levee workmanship (that is, they were not overtopped by the water, but just could not withstand the force of the water and wind behind them).

However, I disagree that it was the fault of the Bush Administration. The workmanship predated his administration by years.

I do not believe it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to keep constantly mobilized and at the ready the resources required to mitigate the damages of such a disaster. It should be the responsibility of the State and local governments to assess what kinds of disasters are most likely, know where resources are and have a plan in place to get the resources to the disaster as soon as possible, and to make relief efforts run smoothly. FEMA ought to have processes outlined that the States can use for planning, but local governments should know better what they will need, what is available and where, and how the mobilization should be organized.

Just my thoughts.

G

Great article. I don't quite agree with the "pandemic worsens" statement. I haven't been following the news overly close, but i don't think that there has been enough actually confirmed cases of H1N1 deaths to even reach normal flu related deaths per a given time. You are so very right that people and the private sector need to take responsibility for their own lives and social environment.

On the Barack Obama’s Hurricane Katrina issue, I also say that it shouldn't be and think that it wouldn't be. I will be amazed if pretty much anything will be solidly blamed on the President. Remember, the evil pharmaceutical industry with all of their "huge" profits will bear the brunt.

Two of my four daughters have had a serious bout with something flu-like in the last two weeks. Both were "diagnosed" with the swine flu. Alas neither was actually given a test that could confirm they had H1N1. We were told that it was the swine flu by the medical staffs. I feel that there will be a very large over reporting of H1N1 cases.
Remember that News is a business, and bad news sells. Some, not necessarily all or even most, news outlets lean left and tend to bolster the Democrats' agenda. A serious epidemic with the Federal Government as the only entity to come to the rescue is just what the doctor ordered. I seem to remember a quote. Something like 'We don't want to waste a good crisis." An epidemic will further the push for a National Health Care system.

Healthy natural foods along with following your doctors recommendations go a long way to prevent illness.

I'm going on too long. Again, Great short piece that says a lot quickly.

RichardS

I don't fully agree with you.

Katrina was not Bush's fault, except to the extent that the Army Corps of Engineers was asleep at the switch. Unlike Greg, I think the primary responsibility for thees disasters is local and state. Notice that Mississippi endured pretty much the same damage as Louisiana (the coastal part of the state was razed) and yet recovered. Similar story in the Dakotas this year. The problem in Louisiana was people sitting on their duff complaining nobody was coming to help them, instead of rolling up their sleeves and cleaning up their neighborhoods and cities.

That being said, I do think that any fall-out from H1N1 or seasonal influenza should be blamed on the Obama administration. This is not by default, but because of their action. They pre-empted the private sector from planning for the events; they established rules for who would get the vaccine and when; they seized control of the vaccine's distribution and ordering; the set prices.

It's interesting to note all my local providers are out of influenza vaccine. It does not matter how much I'm willing to pay -- it's simply not available. I've never had a hard time finding a place to buy penicillin.

It reminds me of the Russians in Kandalaksha: "petrol is very cheap in Kandalaksha, but there isn't any."

Of course, it's the government's fault.