This diary comes early, as we are still not even close to estimating the casualties of Katrina.
But in these moments our resolve as to what to do next forms very quickly. And our impulses may be very ill-placed.
I believe sending people back to live in most sections of New Orleans (and other at-risk coastal areas) is effectively murdering them. How much blood is that real estate worth? Is this all about sentimentality?
For even if we get better levees and pumps, we've got the melting ice caps to think about next. And this country's mostly thinking about how much it will cost to create yet more greenhouse gases cruising to Wal-mart in a rolling living room.
Kyoto and other anti-greenhouse gas treaties would just pinch us further at the pump, wouldn't they? And we just can't have that.
We are a doomed lot if our greatest source of pride lies in defying and consuming Mother Nature. And doing so on the cheap.
Government does have a place setting laws to protect us from our own shortsightedness and baser instincts. We collectively need supervision, harnessing the best of our forward-looking wisdom to avert otherwise inevitable tragedy.
So how about facing the facts that if oil's going to be expensive anyway, we may as well take this opportunity to address greenhouse gas formation. We ought to make it the law.
And since we are all paying out insurance claims and disaster relief how about banning rebuilding and new construction in flood plains and exposed areas? Isn't there enough safe real estate to be effectively and sustainably developed instead?
Sure, we can maintain the highlights of the area...say the French Quarter and the historic sites...those areas will pay for their own defense in tourist dollars.
But isn't it at least cynical, if not outright murderous, to let the poor rebuild on floodplains like some third world shantytown?
Unlike 9/11, Mother Nature is not a terrorist. We are not "letting them win" by altering our behavior in light of tragedy this time (if we ever were).
We are helping us win.