or Rome wasn't built in a day
Our local nutcase is at it again. Rambling away about how it's all Bush's fault that the Gulf Coast region so devestated by Hurricane Katrina, almost exactly a year ago, still hasn't been 100% rebuilt. Sad, but true.
What he fails to realize ... well, let's just say that Stardock doesn't have enough room in the database server that houses JU for what the poor man doesn't realize and address what's going on, instead.
In New Orleans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineeers, that organization that was laughed at when they said they'd rebuild the levee system in time for '06's hurricane season, completed the task with several days to spare. People have returned to reclaim their part in the restoration of the city. Mardi Gras, that celebration of decadence, took place this year, even if it's exuberance was a little muted. The city even had mayoral elections. They chose to re-elect the incompentent and corrupt individual that helped destroy the city, but that's their decision and they have to live with the consequences.
Damage in Mississippi and Alabama is well on it's way to being fixed. Life, for a lot of folks, has returned to normal.
On the issue of funding repairs - whose responsibility should it be to get that funding? The city? Yes. A good chunk of it should come out of the city - because they're the ones who are going to be benefiting. The state of Louisiana? Most definitely. The Federal Government (aka stealing money from the rest of the country) - sort of. Yes, we as Americans should assist the folks in Louisiana to rebuild. It's our duty to our fellow countrymen. However, to expect that all of the funds and efforts to for reconstruction are to come from Federal coffers is irresponsible, at best, and criminal, at worst. Not only does the bureaucratic incompentencies at the Federal level hinder this, any money funneled into Louisiana has to go through the corrupt and criminally negligent state government. The necessary oversight to prevent this loss and corruption will (and obviously has) slow the process down considerably.
This brings up the issue of what's taking so long with federal funds. I don't necessarily understand it all, myself, but I do know that nothing happens fast when dealing with the federal government. Bureaucracy wasn't invented by an American government employee, but it was most definitely perfected by one. Sadly, there are those that would blame these bureaucratic inefficiencies on the present adminstration. However, if the idiot in question would think, rather than spew rote hatred, this beaucratic nonsense has been around for decades, and the military is a classic example of it, not the exception.
I guess, I'd better finish this off with something upbeat and witty ...
Nah.
Remember this - Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither was New Orleans. It took over 200 years to get it where it was, why should we expect it to be 100% restored in 360 days? It's better than it was a year ago. Today's better than it was yesterday. Tomorrow, it'll be better than it is today. Give them the time, and you'll be pleasant surprised at what can happen.