in article , john smith at
wrote on 9/1/05 8:21 PM:

Philip S. wrote:
You might better direct your anger towards a federal government that had all
the same warnings, all the same information (and probably more), and yet has
STILL not taken control of the situation, FOUR DAYS after disaster struck.
Shoot, Jay, when even the collective might of the United States military and
its assorted agencies are running around with their thumbs up their asses
several days after the fact, is it really appropriate to express outrage at
the victims who are suffering most?

Stop blaming the federal government!
That's why this mess is so bad in the first place.
State and local governments have become so dependent upon the federal
programs, they cannot think, let alone act on their on.
The City of New Orleans did nothing until the last minute.
The State of Louisana did nothing until after the fact.
The federal government is trying to play catch up.
The City of New Orleans knew what the consequences were.
The State of Lousiana certainly had some idea of the consequences based
on their oversight authority.
Both these government entities dragged their heels waiting for Uncle Sam
to come to their rescue before the fact. The only thing Uncle Sam knew
was that it was going to be bad.

Terrorist attack or natural disaster, it really makes no difference--the
current administration ran for re-election less than a year ago on the
premise that they could keep us all safe, that they were better than their
opponents on issues of "homeland security", that when it came to protecting
the homeland, only they could do the job.

Well, John, are they doing the job? Are they keeping the homeland safe? What
if New Orleans had been hit by a terrorist attack? What would your opinion
be of the federal response thus far?