I try to avoid discussing overtly political issues on this site.
Jack checks email from his peeps.
I do so not out of some altruistic philosophy, but rather because I just don't have the energy or enthusiasm to support dogmatic debate. Plus, my current career choice doesn't exactly give me the luxury of being able to objectively separate support of a policy from support of the policy enforcer.
However, a recent article found on an online insurance trade magazine was just too rich to pass up, given the recent disaster along our Gulf Coast. To me, the existence of this article (note the June 2004 publication date) online is important not only because of its content, but also because it shows how the web allows public access to primary records. The self-congratulatory article details a Baton Rouge consulting firm's contract to create a "catastrophic hurricane disaster plan for Southeast Louisiana and the City of New Orleans." Thanks to the web, now anyone can easily access information indicating what plans and estimates did (or did not) exist prior to the tragedy in order to make their own judgments.
The article begs the question: if we spent $500K federal dollars to have consultants prepare a disaster preparedness estimate and relief plan, then why was that plan not implemented? Geez, even this fluffy press release was able to identify that given New Orleans' "...vulnerability, unique geographic location and elevation, and troubled escape routes, a plan that facilitates a rapid and effective hurricane response and recovery is critical."
Also available online is the City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Annex I Hurricanes (caution: long).
OK, enough conspiracy theory and Wired-style self-importance.
