What we have in Hurricanes Rita and Katrina are pronounced examples of what to do, and what not to do, when preparing at the state level for a hard rain that is going to fall.

It is amazing how much more effective the federal government appears in performing its role in disaster aid when it is not also asked to also retroactively perform a dysfuctional state's role. The Federalies job is to be that of traffic cop, coordinating the larger aspects of what is supposed to be a detailed state formulated plan.

In Texas with Hurricane Rita, Governor Rick Perry was on his and way ahead of the game, working in advance with representatives of FEMA and localities throughout the threatened areas to ensure that the implementations of relief could and would be in place as quickly as possible after the winds had died down. Perry, as he is in all things, was eminently prepared for this meteorological contingency, and it showed when the fan hit the chips.

In Louisiana with Hurricane Rita, we saw the results of protracted Democrat governmental control; pronounced ignorance of the routine maintenance of the tools to minimize and wholly prevent torrential damage, no plan to prepare for or deal with the storm to come, and shifty evasions of the issue, as Governor Kathleen Blanco twice declined the President's offers to preemptively enter the state to assist in the preparations.

In fact, the most flak the President incorrectly took for the Louisiana debacle was centered on the ruination of New Orleans, which was barely hit by the Hurricane itself and was only subsequently flooded when the levees, which local governmental entites had for decades robbed of their federal coin for mainetenance and upkeep, gave way to the waters.

If the federal government is the first line of defense for these sorts of things, why even elect Mayors (this means you, Ray Nagin) and Governors? Why not take the money expended on these elections and spend them elsewhere, say on further disaster planning?

Conservatives, of course believe in federalism, and in the good local government necessary to make it work. As we have always said, the Washington, D.C., Leviathan serves terribly as municipal administrator, which is why we strive to limit federal adventurism as much as possible.

When the populaces choose wisely locally, we are able to see good state and local government in action. As they have done in Texas, statewide, lo these last five years, as exhibited by the reaction to the latest wind to blow. Governor Perry showed how these things are to be done.

The same can not be said for those born on, and voting in, the Bayou.