http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/GI17Aa01.htmlOn Thursday night, the president of the United States, the strongest nation in the world, spoke with the forceful leadership worthy of the awesome power of his office. For the first time in his presidency, George W Bush told the American people and the world that the American spirit of courage, community, equity and unbound optimism is alive and well, and he intends to galvanize that spirit towards a noble national purpose of reconstruction. "I as president am responsible for the problem, and for the solution," he said.
The insurance industry categorizes hurricanes as acts of god. Yet the recovery from damages from acts of god is dependent on the courage of humans. While the accountability of the failure to prevent foreseeable disaster will no doubt be sorted out through exhaustive investigations and public hearings at all levels over time, the Katrina disaster can be viewed as a godsend opportunity for Bush to redirect a nation floundering in its purpose and to bail out a debt-infested economy on the verge of collapse.
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Notwithstanding the tragically unnecessary deaths, suffering and destruction, the resettlement and reconstruction can be structured to stimulate massive demand in an economy plagued with overcapacity. But it is a task beyond the scope of the market. "I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority," Bush said. He has declared a national challenge and put the US on a war command economy footing against complacency and defeatism. "It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority," he said, "and a broader role for the armed forces - the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment's notice."
Bush has proposed that New Orleans and the entire hurricane-affected region be put under a special program of reconstruction to be financed by government funds and credit with the provision of employment for the millions who have lost jobs and businesses. The storm wiped away up to half a million jobs in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas and demobilized countless businesses. And its tab on physical damage alone is certain to top $100 billion, with only about a quarter of that covered by insurance. Bush's program puts emphasis on helping the poor to use the Katrina disaster to escape the poverty trap, by providing generous job training and job placement and child-care assistance. He offered to help state restructure the rebuilt the economy toward new opportunities in the new century while preserving the cultural heritage of the past.
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in closing Liu said:
It has been reported frequently that Bush believed that God put him into the presidency to do His will. Perhaps Katrina to Bush can be compared to the burning bush to Paul.
Henry C K Liu is chairman of a New York-based private investment group.
what reward will smirk give Liu?