it’s not just recovery, mr. president

Sayeth the so-called President of the United States:

“This recovery will take years.”

It’s not just a recovery, Mr. President, that will take years. We must also adjust to a post-oil economy.

We’re past peak oil production, according to multiple estimates, and the U.S. (from the government down to the people) hasn’t yet altered its behaviors to take this into account. Lip service is given to true energy alternatives, while tax breaks, relaxed emissions standards and trivial adjustments in CAFE standards are put forth as so-called “progressive change” in energy policy.

Whatever.

Mr. Bush, while I’m happy that you are finally on-site and consoling the people of the Gulf Coast, you should’ve been there earlier (and you shouldn’t have diverted needed National Guard resources for a photo op, either). The rest of your administration should’ve also been in action rather than on vacation – we don’t elect people to take huge amounts of vacation, we elect them to run the country.

This flippant reaction to a disaster that is already larger in scope and effect than 9/11 is criminal. Yes, you’re one the ground now, and some supplies are making their way into town. But it’s many days late (many years late in terms of the FEMA warnings) and many dollars short – and at the expense of lives that could’ve been saved had you acted appropriately in the first place.