The joke is when Bush and European talk about "Iraq sovereignty". That (made up country will not see sovereignty until every single occupier is out of its soil and perhaps followed with 10-15 years of civil fuck fest. Those poor bastard's will have to kill for a long time. That is why it was invaded and don't forget that. Now they can be busey in thier own backyard.

The Katrina showed that the local governments, the jewel of our democratic system is powerless in events of great importance. The cities and counties in large part and states are hopelessly dependent on our 800 pound gorilla, the federal government. This federalist system if allowed will continue to not meet the people's needs at local and grass root levels. This huge monopoly has been complacent for years with large amount of revenue coming to its coffers unchecked. Washington has eroded the "people" aspect of the government by the people for the people. It is now a government that believes it knows what is good for the people, no questions asked. Increasingly questions about the governance is being met with disdain and contempt.

particularly now after 9/11 any attempt to rein this 800 pound gorilla is met with the "national security" and "homeland security" trump card to sidestep the people's grievances. On the other hand what is good for corporations are good for people.

unfortunately the American people are still in a state of shock after 9/11 mainly because this administration has hijacked that tragic event and has manipulated it to meet its short and long term strategic goals.

I do not believe that these guys in Washington are evil or mean to destroy the "American Dream", but I believe they are in that same mode as Enron was thinking that what they do now can bring prosperity later, even though it may not be above the board. By laying about the state of the politics and erosion of out individual freedoms they believe they can bring better days.

They also I think have convinced themselves of this over exaggeration of what happened on 9/11. I again strongly believe the terrorist attacks on 9/11 deserve our utmost attention but the current strategy will not do the trick. This approach of us and them based on past experience will escalate to more violence on both sides with each getting further and further from why they are fighting. This conflict in time will become like the IRA insurgency against British where after several decades no one will know why they are fighting except for responding to the latest attack and defending against a future one.

The FEMA fiasco is indicative of this administration relying mainly on loyalty and patronage rather than abilities, skills, and commitment to service to fill positions. So long as appointee "breaks the ideological bread" and invokes god several times and is tied to the "corporate family" he or she is in.

I wonder how they are spending billions of dollars for homeland security. Lets hope they are not buying $5000 service revolvers and such. You see, the old Roni, his protege did that in 80's as you may recall if you have not conveniently developed dementia.