Katrina aftermath

I've been thinking about the massive failure of governments at all levels and the role of the private sector in a catastrophe. It seems to me that the private sector is better prepared, equipped and more able to deliver aid where it is needed. (Fascinating side note from the second article: Wal Mart has meteorologists? Yes they do). There are lots of really interesting stories of private companies doing amazing things both for their workers and for those in need. Yet clearly government has an important role in a disaster like this. A fundamental role of government is to help out in a major crisis. But the severity of this disaster was magnified by incompetence and bureaucracy at all levels, from the mayor and the police force to the president.

What we all need to take away from this is

1. the state will not be there when we need them most in a disaster
2. we are responsible for ourselves and our families, and for each other – waiting around for the government is a painful and sometimes fruitless experience
3. modern governments move slowly, respond slowly, and are constantly bogged down in process, red tape, and good intentions.
4. we have not learned much of anything from 9/11, and aren't very likely to learn much from Katrina. Governments don't learn, they can only be reformed. By others. Neither Bush nor this congress are up to the challenge – they're the ones who created the mess that is homeland security in the first place. Their solution is likely to be shuffle organizations around and create some kind new bureaucracy that oversees the existing mess...