Failure was an option

I have always been a strong supporter of the Bush administration, but I am a realist after all. While the topic I am about to discuss is obviously very late, it is relevant in the broad scope of historical perspectives. The topic is the failure of the Bush administration to repair the region rout by Katrina. This is not to say this topic has anything to do with the administration's abilities to prevent such a disaster, rather, the inability to build up the community. The same occurred when the administration utterly destroyed the airlines after 9/11.

I'll preface my argument with what I view as the prime example of what the administration should have did to promote prosperity back into the region. The following quote is in reference to president FDR's response(s) to the Great Depression.

"Civilian Conservation Crops. 1933. The CCC hired more than three million young men age 18-25 of poor families, mostly from cities, to build roads, plant trees, and work on flood control and other conservation projects. The youths were stationed in rural camps under military supervision. They were provided food, shelter, and $1 a day in wages, most of which was required to be sent home to their families." (Degregorio, 498)

You may ask how this passage has any relevance on the modern era. I am about to tell you. What efforts has the administration made to bring back the community ravaged by Katrina? Very little, in fact. Sure the levees are being rebuilt and/or fixed. Businesses are trying to come back. But the majority of these businesses are relying on their own finances and the belief that people will be coming back in order to generate the pre-existing cash flow.
The administration could have done exactly as FDR did in the New Deal. President Bush's first move should have been to ask any and all local businesses whether their stores still housed the equipment necessary to build new homes and buildings, plant new trees, and rebuild roads. With the result of this question being fulfilled the government could have completely funded, or at the very least, subsidized the purchase of this equipment. Then, make a call out to any impoverished peoples willing to make a fair wage (preferably $10+ an hour). This wage would be almost 50%+ higher than the average wage for a family of three ($16,090 a year). Finally, construct large camps, guarded by the military, and allow these people to go about the simple tasks of digging holes, building buildings, etc. All things necessary to build a community. Anything to promote construction and rebirth in the region.

You then may ask what all this would do to better the region than has already been done. It would accomplish several goals.

1. It would provide an obvious steady income for a year or more to families otherwise in want for an income.
2. It would revitalize the region by providing subsidized reconstruction for the region.
3. Establish confidence in the value of the region and the government to the American people. This would encourage private investment as well as the return of the previous inhabitants.

If the administration had followed the guidelines expressed in FDR's New Deal they could have avoided the problems this region is going to endure for years to come. As well as repair the President's lowering approval rating.


Degregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents.
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

The Beginning

This is officially my first blog post. I've thought for some time about creating a blog in order to comment on various topics of the day or week. National/local politics interest me the most as well as any historical, scientific, or theological topic that may arise. This will be my primary focus a majority of the time, and I may throw in a comment about life for all those people interested in those types of topics.