Conflict of Interest

Billmon noticed a few days back the difference between the FEMA response to Florida's hurricanes and the situation in New Orleans.

As I'm sure you can imagine, this display of the good old American can-do spirit didn't go unnoticed by the people of Florida -- nor did the millions of dollars in disaster relief and damage insurance checks that were cut by various federal agencies with record speed. FEMA officials must have been deeply gratified to see the effect their heroic efforts had in the place where they were most desperately needed -- Bush's poll numbers...

So you can see that when the chips are down, and the need is absolutely dire, this administration can still deliver the kind of coordinated emergency response that once made the U.S. government the envy of the world -- just as it cooly and capably protected the Iraqi Oil Ministry from the chaos and looting that trashed every other government office in post-invasion Baghdad. As is usually the case in public service, it's just a matter of having the right incentives.

The comparison between the TLC showered on Florida last year and Bush's initial "What, me worry?" response to this year's disaster no doubt will go unnoticed by the amnesia patients in the corporate media. And since I'm lucky enough to live in a swing state that is also coveted by GOP political strategists, I probably don't have to worry about it either -- that is, as long as any future disasters around my neck of the woods happen in one of those years divisible by two.

But for the citizens of staunch, deep red Mississippi and slightly less staunch but still red Louisiana, the lessons are painfully obvious. If you're going to insist on living in a hurricane alley, then you need to take personal responsibility for your own actions, stop whining about government incompetence, and embrace the free market solution to your problems -- by moving to Florida.

Quiddity posted a timeline of the response- and included yesterday's events where FEMA wouldn't let the Red Cross and other relief workers into the city.

As more people die.

As Halliburton mobilizes and the Republipork machine licks its chops.

As private citizens take initiative to act despite government orders to back off.

I prefer using Occam's razor, but when you compare the response of FEMA in New Orleans to their response last year in Florida, it only cuts one way.

New Orleans was a vibrant blue city in a red state. It had, as Louisiana stll has, many important Democrat politicians. New Orleans was allowed to die.

It is a waste of time to search for the blameworthy.

Simply follow the money.

We are witnessing a pogrom by neglect, but it's too unthinkable for most people to wrap their minds around.