Howe was the only one who had enough courage to say the "markets" solution was bullshit and it is too late to wait for the markets to adopt and that we need to go to rationing immediately. Congressman Bartlett made the excuse that PO is merely "important" rather than "urgent" and that politicians are forced by the system to attend to the "urgent" (hurricanes) while ignoring the "important" (imminent collapse of our way of life).

I for one do not accept these half-laughed-away giggle excuses. (Hee Hee hee.) If Bartlett is representing the best intersts of his voters (Maryland) rather than his own best interests (getting financial support from the party for re-election), then he would stand up to the powers-in-office and call them out on the mat rather than making excuses for them. What good is winning the next election when there will be no "public" to serve after the imminent collapse. Katrina shows us how close to the edge we are. Katrina was a dodged bullet to the head because the full script of the "Oil Storm" movie did not play out. It was too close for comfort. The party games need to end.

As for Republicans versus Democrats, and our different ways of dressing and swaggering about, I don't think Mother Nature gives a hoot.