The Faulty Ego as Viewed by Mort

I’m particularly fascinated with the technology of things. Spending time learning about the levy system protecting the city of New Orleans until its breach in August of 2005 as the result of a massive hurricane provided me with an unexpected insight into the machinations-or lack thereof-of the two-term President responsible for coordinating Federal Disaster Relief to the devastated areas. I can’t say I was impressed and the following is my personal commentary entered in our library for posterity. Mort.
Four days after the event itself-the hurricane dubbed Katrina-the President of the United States feels himself to be enough of a force that a mere visit from him will undo the dramatic lapse in judgment that has rendered hundreds of thousands of people dehydrated and starving. Unable to gather together the massive resources of one of the richest most powerful countries in the world and get those resources to the areas of crisis with any semblance of timeliness, this inept man retains such an incredible ego that apparently his mere presence will assuage the hunger, thirst and demoralization inflicted on these people since Katrina’s grand entrance and prolonged exit. Quite frankly if he had showed up Monday night or perhaps Tuesday morning I might have felt somewhat soothed, that perhaps help was on the way and yes, as President, he was spearheading the prompt supplying of needed items. A token fly over on Wednesday followed by Friday’s visit hardly makes up for the lack of arriving Federal aid.
Apparent as New Orleans’s possible plight seemed to be to most Americans-after all the city is protected by a series of levies that haven’t been revamped in a good many years, and its antebellum mansions grace land below sea level-if hit by a storm displaying the destructive capabilities of Katrina, our esteemed President once again (as usual) didn’t get it. Now he will sweep in to ravaged areas, act as though he cares, make a trip through the devastation, pat people on the back, shake a few hands, look encouraging then return to a hot bath, air conditioning, plenty of food and water. I wonder how he would react deprived of food, water or medical necessities for over four days. Would it perturb him spending those four plus days enduring high temperatures, and humidity, wading through fetid water, dodging bullets and wondering where on Earth help was? After all this is the United States….this type of thing happens elsewhere in the world but surely not here….
Just as New Orleans and Louisiana are suffering from Federal neglect so to are Mississippi and Alabama. Hurricane damage stretches inland for a hundred miles or more in some cases. Cameras portray the piles of lumber and bricks that were once towns. Perhaps the government has been too busy defending its poor performance to the world to view these pictures. Such institutions as the Red Cross seem to have found time not only to visit but to provide necessities, perhaps the government could look to them for tips on effective mobilization to better prepare themselves for the next calamity.
Those people in the projected path of a hurricane are encouraged to prepare. Stock up on canned food, bottled water, batteries, extra money, gas the car etc. Why then not the government? Shouldn’t they be waiting in the wings, ready to enter a disaster zone as soon as the storm is past? Particularly as it seems to take them so long to get their act together. Certainly the circumstances surrounding this particular storm and city warranted some sort of preparedness on the part of those expecting to go in and provide help.