Tough Questions from Katrina and Rita

In the aftermath of the two monster hurricanes, some very tough questions should be asked (and so far have generally been avoided.) Here goes:

We ( the president, the Congress, the federal government generally and the public, it appears) have made an open-ended commitment to make whole the people who have suffered from the impact of a Force 5 hurricane-- a commitment that now appears to exceed $200 billion. The commitment and the outpouring of support, including the incredible numbers of volunteers who have gone to the region to help, has been impressive and heartening. But what happens when a Force 3 hurricane hits-- and the next one and the one thereafter? And when tornadoes hit in the Midwest, as they do at this time of year? And when mudslides and fires hit in California? People will be killed or dislocated, businesses forced to shutter, commerce interrupted. Will we give them the same open-ended commitment-- or say "Sorry-- even though you are just as dead and your family just as bereaved, you are just as homeless or destitute, you don't qualify? Where will we draw the lines?

Of course, the same issues arose after 9/11-- why have a huge fund to compensate families of these victims of terrorism when we did not do so for the Oklahoma City families? What about future victims of terrorist attacks, but much smaller attacks? Now, however, they will arise more frequently and with a much more slippery slope.

Here is another question: what will happen to the rest of charitable giving after so much has been given to the victims of Katrina? We have had unbelievable and unprecedented efforts to raise money, from two former presidents and every celebrity singer and actor in America-- there is at least one benefit concert, it seems, every day. I can't go into a store or an office without an appeal for funds. The public has responded, admirably. But I still get my pleas each week from my favorite charities, including the DC Central Kitchen, Bread for the City and So Others May Eat, all fighting hunger in Washington. Will they get less support because their donors have given a lot of what they have set aside or committed to charity to Katrina?

No easy answers. Lots of tough questions.