Glad to hear that and my apologies for implying otherwise. But it doesn't make sense that you want to put the lion's share of the blame on local officials. Obviously those at the heart of the situation think they are doing what they should or they wouldn't have been re-elected.
But what about New Orleans? The same bungling mayor remains in office, inexplicably re-elected only a few weeks ago. (Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, much criticized for her peformance, also remains in office.) The levee system, although repaired, remains suspect. Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acknowledge that they are not certain the levees would withstand another hurricane.
Above is what you bolded. Wasn't the levee system build by the feds? funded by the feds? So if it's not right yet, isn't it the fed responsibility? Wasn't it the feds who built it 18 inches below what it should have been? Wasn't it the feds who were told it was a problem and did nothing about it? Isn't that the heart of it?
Sara 
"I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell." - Harry Truman
