New Orleans crisis

Wouldn't you think that the levee problem would be that of the Mayor of NewOrleans. The condition of the levee is a local issue and not a federal issue altho it has now become a federal issue. The Mayor and the former Mayors of New Orleans probably should have thought of this problem way before the federal government. More than likely there have been no Presidents that have memorized a speech. When President Bush made his speech and looked down at the paper a lot showed you that he is no different except I don't think he reviews his speech before giving it and others probably have. He happens to be a politician just like the mayor and governor are. Bush has no excuse for having not caught this earlier than he did but he didn't and he is trying to play catch-up now. Not a good sign for a president.The Mayor stood in front of a TV camera crying as to where is federal government. What was that!!? He is the Mayor of a city and has yet to act like one. There is looting everywhere there was flooding and he wanted the federal troops to come in and help. What happened to his police force? Where were the parish authorities? How about the Louisana Highway Patrol. We saw none of these anywhere. That should have been the first line of defense against the looting, raping and destruction. Then would come the state national guard followed by the federal government. The chain was broken instantly by the mayor and the governor. What happened to all theprisoners in the different parrish jails. My understanding(and that is hearsay only) is the mayor granted the release of the prisoners so they would not be caught in the flood. Duh!! If this really did happen we can now say New Orleans and the surrounding area are in a little bit of trouble. Maybe that is where some of the looting started.
Now lets talk about the price for the repair. The price of 262 billion is a little on the steep side. Yes there will need to be repairs but that is an outrageous amount. I would believe in the billions but not that much. Did no one in New Orleans have insurance? If the insurance companies have to pay out and then the government also fork out 262 billion then something is wrong with this picture. I live in an area where I am 30 miles from a lake that they believe will flood one day. So they have decided to require that all homeowners in the flood zone have flood insurance. The lake as never flooded but just in case. Somebody is thinking of gouging the prices maybe.
Speaking of gouging! Increasing the oil prices because a few derricks were destroyed is a little on the gouging side I do believe. Then to blame it on the storm. We have had other storms and the price of oil was not determined by that no matter what damage it did. Just a good reason to increase the price once again and have something to blame it on. We do not rely on the oil for the gulf. And neither does OPEC. America needs to quit bowing to this treatment and finally stand up and do something about it. Now the price has increased again because of the 'possibility' what Rita may do. Why are American letting this crap happen to them? We use to have the guts to stand up and say no. Are we becoming a weak nation that will cower and do as we are told even tho it is not to our benefit.

Stand up America!!

That's it for me.
I'm off my little soapbox.
I love my country and will always be on and off the soapbox till someone hears me.