A possible bias may be a work here, but I find it rather sad that those most responsible (if anyone is) for the troubles in New Orleans most try to pass the blame while the one least responsible is the only one who has taken responsibility. I have actually heard people saying (and writing) that no blame rests on anyone except the President, while I strongly feel that, due to the evac plans that were not followed, the delays in requesting federal help (National Guard, etc...), and other various factors, what blame exists is to be found in lower levels of government.
Anything I could say has already been hashed to death, but you may have missed several points that I feel are crucial. First, the death toll stands at 659. Tragically high, yet not nearly the cataclysm that was initially feared. Second, to the best of my knowledge (and limited time), neither city evacuation plans and state response plans were followed completely. Third, everything that happened in New Orleans had been predicted and warned about for decades - expect perhaps the looting - and nothing was done by the "responsive and compassionate" leadership of the city and state. Fourth, it is the responsibility of the state governments to call for federal aid - especially when that aid involves military personnel. National Guard units are under the command of the governor. Neither was requested until after President Bush called and urged the governor to do so. Fifth, the talk about blacks being "targeted" in some way is preposterous. Look at the inner city of most urban areas. Anything that affects that inner city area is going to affect a greater number of "racial minorities" than "racial majorities".
There may be other salient points, and I make no assurances that the above is 100% correct, but it is true to the best of my knowledge given the limited time I've taken to be informed.
Now to some interesting economic thoughts - again, not original, but with my own spin.
First - the response of the free market, even though there are some tacit restrictions on prices, has been terrific. WalMart, Home Depot, cell phone providers, and other major retailers began preparing for the hurricane before it made landfall by stocking stores around the area expected to be hit with food, water, and relevant supplies (mobile cell towers and generators moved into the nearest safe zones in the case of the cell providers). Positive press was probably part of the story, but there was also money to be made. Survival items were given away, but markets existed for vastly increased quantities of "hurricane related but not survival" items.
Second - private relief efforts aside, the government spending/rebuilding/assistance/relief in disaster scenarios significantly decreases the costs of living in areas prone to disasters. My intelligent but non-economist mother saw this as a problem, and any economist worth his/her salt will heartily agree with her. Put in simple "economist speak", government disaster relief distorts the true costs of living in such areas, allowing more people to live in such areas than is best for the society as a whole. Instead of accounting for the true cost of potential ruin, they count on government relief to defray their costs. I have heard several economists who are concerned with the growing trend of increasing relief efforts and setting up special funds for victims of disasters. I agree with them. It is always easier, politically, to increase the amount of relief and be seen as "compassionate" than to decrease the relief and be decried as "heartless", "racist", and whatever else your political enemies will attempt to crucify you with. If we set up special funds for Katrina victims, al la 9/11 funds, where do we draw the line? At least with 9/11 you could draw a line at "victims of foreign attack during time of peace", though even that line is tenuous at best. Looking at things from a public choice perspective, it seems likely that more and more tax money will be spent on disaster relief of various kinds, and the costs of living in a disaster-prone area will continue to decrease.
Third - should we rebuild New Orleans? No, we should not rebuild it. Should it be rebuilt? Perhaps, but only if the costs of rebuilding are born by those who will live/work/have businesses there will we really know. Only then will we know if the benefit the residents expect to receive is greater than the costs of rebuilding.
Fourth - will the average income/wealth of New Orleans increase, stay the same, or decrease as a result of the hurricane? My bet is that average wealth will increase. If it is truly months before people are allowed back in to the entire city, I would expect that a lower proportion of low-income individuals will return to the city than the proportion of high and middle-income individuals.
All right, that's enough for tonight. I still have to read for class tomorrow. Do your homework, be willing to look beyond the major sources for news and information, and you won't need me.
NR
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