It seems the Times-Picayune is taking great issue with Rep. Tancredo's recent comments about Federal relief spending in New Orleans (my earlier post is here ). More to the point, they call his comments "the ramblings of an uninformed, mean-spirited demagogue." I think they are missing the point.
I understand this hurts, but "compassion fatigue" is starting to set in when it comes to New Orleans. After two long years I think it is reasonable for the rest of the country to ask, "OK, how much is enough? And, when can we see results?" Look at it from their point of view: the Road Home Program is a financial disaster which the State cannot seem to control; fraud is looking like it's upwards of a billion dollars; murder seems to be the only "brand" that New Orleans has anymore; large swaths of the City still lie nearly empty; and the Mayor of New Orleans appears out-of-touch, unappreciative, and blames everyone else for his troubles. No one seems in control in the Crescent City. Did you hear this kind of stuff two years after Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992? Two years after 9/11? Me either. Leadership, or the lack thereof, matters. That is what the Representative from Colorado seems to be commenting upon.
So the issue to me is not weather Rep. Tancredo has, or has not, seen a levee failure. The issue is not with the thousands of private individuals who have struggled, and who continue to struggle, to rebuild their lives and their city. The issue is weather we - and our fellow Americans - can trust those currently in positions of responsibility in the City and in the State to be, well, responsible. On balance, the evidence so far does not look good.
How things turn out on 20 October will, I think, say a lot. About us, about our future, and about how much we are willing take responsibility for that future.
My .$02
UPDATE: Via C. B. Forgotston - this is the kind of thing that makes out-of-state Congressman say harsh things about our recovery. It's beyond embarrassing.
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