In which Krugman nails it.

(Fridays New York Times Op-Ed page) - In Friday's nytimes, Paul Krugman gives the most succint summary that I have seen of what the administration's problem with governance is.

In regards to the unfolding tales of woe in the Big Easy. He writes ...

"I don't think this is a simple tale of incompetence. The reason the military wasn't rushed in to help along the Gulf Coast is, I believe, the same reason nothing was done to stop looting after the fall of Baghdad. Flood control was neglected for the same reason our troops in Iraq didn't get adequate armor.

At a fundamental level, I'd argue, our current leaders just aren't serious about some of the essential functions of government. They like waging war, but they don't like providing security, rescuing those in need or spending on preventive measures. And they never, ever ask for shared sacrifice."

I think that basically sums it up and all the rest is details. The people calling the shots are so obsessed with shrinking the size of government, taking it out of the sphere of public life, looking for 'free market' solutions and have told people for so long that "the guv'ment" is the source of their problems that they have started to believe their rhetoric extends to basically all governmental functions... even essential ones.

The rhetoric of finding 'free market' and efficient solutions ignores the fact that efficiency in things like wars and natural disasters will have to be predicated on incredible human suffering.