What man hath made

I'd like to start this post by sending out my sympathy, support and other positive messages to the victims of hurricane Katrina.

You, dear reader, have (perhaps) already become saturated with news and images from the U.S. Gulf Coast states where there is unprecedented destruction. In light of this harrowing natural disaster, I decided to do a post.

Now, with all the news and images going on about this tragic event, everyone is quite aware that there has been a good deal of damage. While some people are quick to report that it could have been worse, much worse at that, there is also the truth that it could have been far better (or, perhaps, less devastating). So, how could it have been worse? Well, monster Katrina could have slammed into Louisiana or any other Gulf state as a category five titan-of-a-storm. Instead she hit the Deep South as a still-frightening category four storm. That one category separation makes the world of difference. Had she been a category five there would have been very little of New Orleans, or any other coastal city, left after the storm made land-fall. Granted, these coastal cities did receive considerable damage and New Orleans is basically submerged . . . had the storm been a category five this would pale in comparison. This, by no means, should belittle or down-rate the scale of this tragedy.

On a side note, I give Australia the award for "Most Inappropriate Lack of Concern." Why? Well, it appears to be a deep run Aussie trait to find a connection between anything and everything and Australia and then brag or complain about it. Cricket or any other sport is a prime example, as is where particular America Cup racing ships are built. So, one of the first news reports I saw here in Australia about the devastation in the Deep South reported the tragedy in a very emotionless manner and paid little attention to the human suffering and more on the physical damage. What got me was the sudden change in tone from "distanced news report voice" to "deep National tragedy voice" as the report bemoaned the fact that Australia would suffer from this hurricane too because of high petrol prices. How in the hell is a high petrol price anything near the crushing loss of life and property suffered by the poor residents in those states hit by the storm? I mean it's like: "Yes, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in the U.S. have suffered severe damage from the storm . . . but (gnashing of teeth) oh dear God we are going to suffer just as much here because it's going to cost a fortune to fill up the ol' Holden!" Perhaps I'm over-reacting to the situation. Perhaps I want the tragedy to be the sole property of my birth country and not shared by any other nation. I can't defend that sentiment any bit . . . but this is how I feel.

So . . . back to my original point. How could all of this mess been alleviated? How could this have been made a note-worthy storm but not the destroyer of property and taker of life behemoth that it was? Well, if the U.S. Government had acted wisely then this could have been made much less worse than it is now. Believe it or not, ol' Bush can be partially blamed for some of the destruction and damage.

How, you ask? By withholding funds for essential works projects and cutting back on federal supported budgest of government groups responsible for these works. Basically, in a nut shell, because of the "War for Oil II" (also known as the Iraq Invasion, Gulf War II, War of U.S. Aggression, etc.) Bush had to cut funds to many projects and departments across the country. He had to pay for soldiers and equipment in order to ensure the lion's share of oil, after all. In the case of Louisiana, New Orleans in particular, this elimination of funding led to the devastation we see now. Before the illegal invasion of Iraq there were several government projects going on in New Orleans in order to upgrade and expand the existing levee system among other flood prevention measures. When the invasion began, the axe began to fall and these projects got the cut. Not all at first, mind you . . . these projects were gradually whittled down to the point of near uselessness. The end result was that by the time Katrina hit the city did not have any of its new and upgraded levees ready and in place. One key project happens to be on the levee for the 17th Street Canal, which finally burst and led to the flooding of the city.

And what was our fearless leader doing during all of this? He was on vacation. Yes, he did cancel it short and go to Washington and then take an aerial tour of the devastation but all because he claims he wants to manage the relief effort from the White House where it's easier. So, if that's true what the hell is the man doing on vacation to begin with when he's committed scores of troops to an on-going "country re-building" project (and, basically, a war) in Iraq? No wonder President Chavez of Venezuela called him a "cowboy" and the "king of vacations."

For a professional's view of the issue, read this article.