Katrina reality checks beginning

Expect more of this.

In the wake of the Katrina devastation and outcry, we're going to be seeing a lot of analyses emerging which show quite clearly that state and local governments along the gulf coast have been negligent, kleptocratic and morally bankrupt. Again, I don't want to grant a pass to Bush or FEMA. Their response has been ridiculous. But the truth of the matter is that states and localities are in the best position to create positive outcomes in disaster situations.

Part of the reason is that for decades, these folks have ignored the reality staring them in the face. The other part is simple mismanagement:

In Katrina's wake, Louisiana politicians and other critics have complained about paltry funding for the Army Corps in general and Louisiana projects in particular. But over the five years of President Bush's administration, Louisiana has received far more money for Corps civil works projects than any other state, about $1.9 billion; California was a distant second with less than $1.4 billion, even though its population is more than seven times as large. Much of that Louisiana money was spent to try to keep low-lying New Orleans dry. But hundreds of millions of dollars have gone to unrelated water projects demanded by the state's congressional delegation and approved by the Corps, often after economic analyses that turned out to be inaccurate. Despite a series of independent investigations criticizing Army Corps construction projects as wasteful pork-barrel spending, Louisiana's representatives have kept bringing home the bacon.

One can surely criticize the response of the Feds. But as we all know, an ounce of prevention is equivalent to a pound of cure. Blame Bush, Brown, Chertoff all you like. I encourage it. But what of dozens of politicians and bureaucrats over decades and across the region? Ask yourself why New York responded as it did to 9/11 and the Gulf, New Orleans in particular, responded as IT did.