Dateline: Home Study

Recent arguments have been that the federal government was too slow to repsond to Katrina. This ignores the fact that 1) the federal governemnt did prepare to repsond but it takes time, and 2) the local and state governments are the first responders and should have made better plans.

So what next? Amid all the calls for the federal government to take a more active role, will they be allowed to? Are the local mayors and state governors willing to sacrifice their power and be told what they need to do by the federal government? I think not, but that be what’s coming. It will be interesting to hear the charges then, after Katrina has faded from memory some. And yes, katrina will soon be forgotten for crying out loud! Remember Camille? If you do then apparently you do not live in New Orleans or the Mississippi Gulf Coast because there were a lot people who wanted to “ride out Katrina”. The results were much the same…death.

Heritage has a interesting article that points out that the current block grants are not working. Much of the federal money given to New Orleans used to buy equipment now sits under water at the fire stations. How would the now indignant Mayor Nagin of New Orleans have responded if the feds had tried to tell him what equipment he could buy and further, where he could put it?

As the song says, “you better careful what you ask for, becasue you just might get it.” Take heed local and state leaders. Before you complain too loudly make sure you are willing to live with the solution.