OK I said I wasn't going to blog but I have a couple of rants to get off my chest .. maybe I am rethinking this blogging thing ...

First off Hurricane Ike is NOT the be all end all proof that Republicans run things better than Democrats. Nor is Gustav proof that Republicans run things better than Katrina. The whole series of storms is a lesson on human nature. I wrote this on a forum I visit frequently reading someone who SERVED on the ground during Katrina and Gustav and rightly gave thanks to Katrina for preparing everyone for Gustav

The pre-hurricane effort in Louisiana before Gustav was unheard of in our state history. This is the first time I recall evacuations, for the most part, running smoothly. Some people want to give all the credit to Jindal but you hit the nail on the head with where the bulk of the credit belongs -- experience. Jindal did what he was supposed to do and since I like Jindal it doesn't hurt my feelings that he will be praised for his efforts. This storm even made Ray Nagin look better. I like to point out to folks who are not familiar with the history of hurricanes in Louisiana that it had been decades (Besty in the 60's) since New Orleans suffered a direct hit from a significant hurricane. The lower Ninth Ward flooded then just as it did with Katrina. In 2004 Hurricane Ivan headed towards NO and turned at the last minute. The evacuation for Ivan was an utter and complete disaster. Drive times from NO to BR (normally 1 hour) were in the 12+ hour range. People died in the resulting gridlock. What people don't realize is that for all that died in Katrina in 2005, it would have been a LOT worse if Ivan had not provided a dry run for the evacuation for Katrina. Still, the bad experience in 2004 almost certainly resulted in SOME of those who stayed and died (don't want to discuss the able vs. the unable -- they had a good plan for that with Gustav). The aftermath of Katrina provided very serious efforts from the state level all the way down to the prepared citizen. The mistakes made in Katrina were learned from -- at least in the short term.

Fast forward to Ike. One can make the case that Texas had its analog of Betsy-Ivan-Katrina with Carla-Rita-Ike. It had been a while since Carla (and there is very strong evidence in post-storm analysis that Alicia was not a major hurricane). A bad evacuation experience with Rita in Houston setup the people who stayed in Ike. The evacuation rate for Galveston with Rita was near 100%. Thousands supposedly stayed with Ike. Still Texas had a MUCH better plan this time. I fully believe that if the Houston metro area gets hit with another major in the next few years there will be no state more prepared to deal with it than Texas. Like I said, experience helps.

Besides the absolute greatest failure of Hurricane Ike was the number of people who didn't leave the coastal areas. Ike and its lack of media coverage is not a win you want to claim. The death toll will undoubtedly rise.

Second, Ike is a conspiracy theorists dream. Thousands stayed behind. Few died. No media coverage. Where are the missing? --Hint: more will show up. They stopped counting the dead with Katrina after a year. Katrina was a unique media event. Most hurricanes are not covered unless something unusual occurs. Levies failing is a man-made disaster. That's why it was covered. Ike has a slowly rising death toll. Even if it reaches the hundreds it won't get covered. Remember Hurricane Stan killed nearly as many as Katrina in 2005. You likely didn't know that because of Rita and an earthquake elsewhere in the world that killed tens of thousands. Part of news media is good/bad timing.

Ask yourself this? Who was the first woman to fly across the English channel? Of course you don't know. The Titanic sank the day before.

Third, my experience with Gustav was eye-opening and the further shaky economy could take it to a new level. Americans are used to getting things when they want it. Credit is like water and everyone is in debt. We spend more than we make and we don't save. Worse is that Americans are increasingly expecting someone else to provide it for them. People may claim to be against socialism but when you are increasingly expecting state help when things go south, you are setting up a culture that wants socialism whether you claim to be opposed to it or not. When you take away electricity people do not see it as an opportunity to see the stars. They complain about it and expect the state to pick up the tab for their misfortune. "I didn't get anything out of Katrina" ... Good. I cannot tell you how many supposed conservatives were ranting on local radio about how it wasn't fair that FEMA wanted to LOAN them funds for a generator after the storm.

Since when was AC and electricity a necessity for life?

Before you jump on me for the "medical necessity" crowd, the state RIGHTLY helps those people. To every other extent its not the states fault you weren't prepared for the hurricane. For those who were missing college football, the NFL or your favorite show on Fox News/CNN, or who couldn't deal with a week or so without electricity shame on you for expecting the state to be your mom. Grow up.

I always hear that Americans are a resilient bunch. We had better hope so because when an entire society of adolescents masquerading as adults isn't able to get more credit and actually has to PAY off their debt and buy things with REAL money the nation has two choices: collapse into a tantrum for the ages demanding someone else provide their needs or grow up. I hope we choose to grow up.