slow and steady

Now three full weeks into my work for FEMA, the biggest obstacle to a speedy recovery is one for which I cannot conceive of an answer. The task is so complex, and involves so many disparate parties. There are a multitude of federal agencies working on this disaster. Add to that a number of state agencies, as well as parish leadership, city governance, and nonprofit volunteer agencies. Getting these organizations to move in unison simply can not be done swiftly.

This 'problem' is not a failure of leadership, but instead a fundamental component of a democracy. Unfortunately, democracies, particularly ones with decentralized power, are incapable of making big decisions rapidly. Contrast this with China, as Tom Friedman does in his column in today's New York Times:

Leaders can, and do, just order that problems be solved. For instance, Shanghai's deputy mayor told me that as his city became more polluted, the government simply moved thousands of small manufacturers out of Shanghai to clean up the air.

This entire experience gives me a glimmer of understanding at how difficult the task of coordinating our intelligence agencies must be. At least with this task, to recover and rebuilt from devastating hurricanes, all the players are in general agreement about the goals and methods by which to attain them. And still progress is made slowly. At least, though, it is being made.

The best indicator I have of how conditions have improved in the Louisiana is the state of traffic in Baton Rouge. The city's population doubled to 400,000 when Katrina hit. Many of those people still have not left, because they have nowhere to return. As FEMA and other agencies have gotten trailers and other semi-permanent housing set up in New Orleans and elsewhere, Baton Rouge evacuees are slowly draining out of the city, and each day traffic flows a bit smoother.