Priorities

The New York Times had an editorial over the weekend, calling attention to the way that New Orleans has disappeared from the radar of decision makers in Washington. It's worth reading. There was one paragraph in particular that, for me, summed up many of our problems.

The price tag for protection against a Category 5 hurricane, which would involve not just stronger and higher levees but also new drainage canals and environmental restoration, would very likely run to well over $32 billion. That is a lot of money. But that starting point represents just 1.2 percent of this year's estimated $2.6 trillion in federal spending, which actually overstates the case, since the cost would be spread over many years. And it is barely one-third the cost of the $95 billion in tax cuts passed just last week by the House of Representatives.

The total cost would be just a fraction of what we've spent on Iraq so far, with far less expectation of pay-back. The President is travelling the country making speeches, but does he mention New Orleans? Is Condi Rice in Europe drumming up support for the rebuilding effort? Has Dick Cheney been strong-arming Congress to put language supporting the Army Corp of Engineers in the defense budget?

The administration has gone back to focus on its main objective, using the "War on Terror" to expand its power, reward its friends and pursue its vision for Iraq. Katrina, which was an annoying distraction before it struck, briefly took over when it was all over the TV each day, but it has gone back to being an annoying distraction now that the water has receded. Sadly, as the Times notes, recovery won't happen without serious leadership. But I don't see that coming, from the White House or Congress.

New Orleans may be the first American city lost in the "War on Terror."