It wasn't that long ago that we Americans were really darn full of ourselves. We believed our athletes were the best, our military was the mightiest, our children were the smartest and "American know how" was the most productive. Over the last ten to fifteen years, we've witnessed our standing fall in almost every area.
Of course, the George W. Bush administration played a big role in America's public relations demise. His arrogance and buffoonery sorely hurt our nation's standing with most of the rest of the world. But, while it would be nice and neat to lay our sorry state on the former president's doorstep, that wouldn't be fair at all.
While Dubya and his cabal certainly played their part, our government as a whole has been less than sterling for quite some time. This patent inefficiency is on display again in relation to the environmental calamity bubbling up in the Gulf of Mexico.
After the debacle of our national government's inadequate response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, a lot of people thought things would be far different under the Obama administration. Well, guess again!!
As The New York Times reports, "The federal government [also] had opportunities to move more quickly, but did not do so" and now a severe problem has become a catastrophic one. When decisive action may have turned the tide, our federal government sat on its thumbs and spent far more time and resources trying to undersell the impending disaster, rather than trying to resolve it.
Why is it that our nation seems so inept at responding to emergency situations? We hear about such calamities occurring in other industrial countries and their governments tend to move swiftly and decisively. While they are saving lives and minimizing severe impacts, our leaders tell us not to worry and to continue shopping at the mall as usual.
Of course, the George W. Bush administration played a big role in America's public relations demise. His arrogance and buffoonery sorely hurt our nation's standing with most of the rest of the world. But, while it would be nice and neat to lay our sorry state on the former president's doorstep, that wouldn't be fair at all.
While Dubya and his cabal certainly played their part, our government as a whole has been less than sterling for quite some time. This patent inefficiency is on display again in relation to the environmental calamity bubbling up in the Gulf of Mexico.
After the debacle of our national government's inadequate response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, a lot of people thought things would be far different under the Obama administration. Well, guess again!!
As The New York Times reports, "The federal government [also] had opportunities to move more quickly, but did not do so" and now a severe problem has become a catastrophic one. When decisive action may have turned the tide, our federal government sat on its thumbs and spent far more time and resources trying to undersell the impending disaster, rather than trying to resolve it.
Officials initially seemed to underestimate the threat of a leak, just as BP did last year when it told the government such an event was highly unlikely. Rear Adm. Mary E. Landry, the chief Coast Guard official in charge of the response, said on April 22, after the rig sank, that the oil that was on the surface appeared to be merely residual oil from the fire, though she said it was unclear what was going on underwater. The day after, officials said that it appeared the well’s blowout preventer had kicked in and that there did not seem to be any oil leaking from the well, though they cautioned it was not a guarantee.Why no guarantee? Because, of course, the damn thing was leaking like no tomorrow!
Why is it that our nation seems so inept at responding to emergency situations? We hear about such calamities occurring in other industrial countries and their governments tend to move swiftly and decisively. While they are saving lives and minimizing severe impacts, our leaders tell us not to worry and to continue shopping at the mall as usual.
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