Potomac Confidential

Potomac Confidential fills the midday lull with discussion by Metro columnist Marc Fisher of the latest news and a rigorous slicing and dicing of the issues that define who we are and where we live.

Fisher was online Thursday, Aug. 11, at Noon ET .

In his weekly show, Fisher veers wildly from serious probing to silly prattle, and is open to topics local, national, personal and more.

Archives: Discussion Transcripts

A transcript follows.

____________________

Marc Fisher: Welcome aboard, folks. I'm glad to be back after a couple weeks away and only sorry that the news we have to thrash over today is so vexing.

Beyond the tragedy that is deepening on the Gulf Coast each day, the main thing to say is this: You get what you pay for. Last year, for the first time in 37 years, the Army Corps of Engineers halted work on the levee system in Louisiana. Reason: Budget cuts. The Wall Street Journal reports today that the head of the Corps was sacked by the president because he was pushing too hard for a new flood control program. The paucity of National Guardsmen available to establish some order in New Orleans is a direct result of the massive deployment of Guardsmen to Iraq--another administration policy designed to prevent the American public from feeling the true cost of the war.

Yet in the president's thin remarks yesterday, there was no call for sacrifice, no mention of conservation, even as gas prices skyrocket and we look ahead at a period of obvious shortage. Just as he failed to call on the goodness and strength of the American people in the aftermath of 9/11, urging contributions to the Red Cross rather than far stronger forms of sacrifice, Bush has once again decided to treat Americans like schoolchildren, making this crisis sound like someone else's problem, one that we can help by writing a check instead of one that we all need to address through common sacrifice and effort.

So the president wins today's Nay of the Day, for failing again to speak straight to the people and for putting the politics of having it all ahead of the reality of life in a community--paying for a decent life for all.

The Yay of the Day, such as it is, goes to the many thousands of people in our area who are already going far beyond the president's call, gathering materials, volunteering their time and sending money, food and themselves down to the Gulf Coast. The Red Cross will train you in a matter of hours and send you off to Louisiana and Mississippi if you're able to spare three weeks of your life to help. I've heard from a great many churches and synagogues that are collecting materials to be overnighted to Baton Rouge and other close-in cities, from where they will be trucked to New Orleans and other coastal spots. And I've been startled by the number of motorists around here who get the conservation idea--my anecdotal sense is that Metro ridership is up today (we'll check for real numbers and try to get them in the paper tomorrow) and I've seen far more folks than usual driving with windows open and A/C off, trying to get the most from every ounce of gas.

Be sure to read today's Pick Story of the Day, the You Are There account of life in the Superdome by Style writer Ann Gerhart, on today's Page One and online at

There's plenty of other stuff in the news, of course, including the welcome report that a slew of new contenders are preparing to jump into the Democratic race for Senate in Maryland--Allan Lichtman, Lise van Susteren and Joshua Rales may not be household names, but that race can certainly use some alternatives to Kwesi Mfume and Ben Cardin.

Had Katrina not hit, we'd be much deeper into the heart of the Virginia governor's race this week, but that campaign is likely to be compressed by the events down south.

And of course schools are opening this week and next and some of you have comments on that.

So on to the action...

_______________________

LeDroit Park, Washington, D.C.: Mark,

Excellent article today.

In today's news I've read about how Katrina has knocked out a chunk of the nation's gasoline production capacity causing gas prices to skyrocket to $4 a gallon in some areas. I also read how the storm could push the nation into a recession, not from the devastation in New Orleans but it's affect on gas prices to which our economy is tied. Then I read that Maryland is moving forward with the ICC by selecting the final route. I also read that a developer has been approved for a plan to build 4600 homes in Allegheny County and market them to long distance commuters from DC and Baltimore. Do people just not get it? Does no one understand the connection here?

Marc Fisher: Thanks--a bedrock truth about American life and development is that folks, despite grousing about hefty gas prices, really don't change behavior based on what it costs to buy gas. Time spent in the car is a much stronger indicator of where people are willing to live and what changes they're willing to make in the structure of their days. We cut back on other expenses long before we'd change where and how we live. That's how deep the bond is with the car and everything that goes with it.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: 'And Now We Are in Hell' (The Post, Sept. 1)

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: Marc, Why do people try to ride out Category 5 (or almost 5 in this case) hurricanes? They should KNOW better. You would think hurricanes Camille and Andrew would teach people a lesson. Why don't states force those who choose to stay behind to sign papers absolving the state of having to come pick them out of their attics when their houses flood. Why should we have to put other people in danger because you were too stubborn to leave? I lived on the Outer Banks in N.C. when Floyd came ashore in 1999. We knew to evacuate and did so. Get away from the ocean, major lakes and rivers when there is a hurricance. How difficult is that to understand?

Marc Fisher: There are two categories of folks in question here. Those who had the wherewithal to leave and those who didn't. I understand the former group because I probably would be one of them, at least for a Cat 2 or 3 storm. There is little in life more fun than riding out a cane. That said, you have to be more than a little nutty to sit tight for a monster storm like this one. So in that first category we have the thrill seekers and the total denial crowd.

Most of the folks we're watching on rooftops now fall into the second category--they had no way out. They are city dwellers who don't own cars. The buses and trains had long since stopped moving when the evacuation orders came. These folks were genuinely stuck, unless they had the gumption and smarts to snare a ride out with someone.

_______________________

Centreville, VA: Is there any way we can avoid politicizing the response to the New Orleans tragedy at least until after we get the refugees evacuated safely to a place where their basic needs can be met? Already I've heard ignorant criticisms coming from both sides of the political divide that don't do a darn thing except try to divide us when we don't need it.

Let's get these people taken care of. Afterwards we can get back to scratching and clawing at each other.

Marc Fisher: I don't hear a lot of political sniping yet, and the sounds coming out of the Democratic governor of Louisiana and the Republican governor of Mississippi are pretty much identical. I am perhaps guilty of what you're lamenting, as my intro today levels considerable criticism on the policies of this administration, but I think that's a reasonable set of arguments to make and has nothing to do with the fact that everyone wants to get relief to those who are stuck in New Orleans as quickly as possible, regardless of policy differences.

_______________________

Baltimore, Md.: Given the scope of the disaster in the Gulf, this may seem like partisan carping, but did you think President Bush gave a weird and less than inspiring Rose Garden speech yesterday? I did when I saw it and so did the New York Times, based on its editorial this morning. The president spent much of his speech detailing a long laundry list of supplies being sent, ticking them off one by one. He appeared shell-shocked, working his lower jaw in an odd manner throughout. (He had flown over the devastation that morning, to be fair.) If you saw his presentation, I would like your verdict. Thanks.

Marc Fisher: As I said above, I thought his presentation was shockingly lame and minimalist. For someone who had just flown over the area, he seemed incapable of expressing the depth and breadth of the devastation, which is odd because that was one of his finest skills in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Maybe the speechwriting team has changed since then, but I thought he hit the right notes in those first days after 9/11 again and again. This time, he seemed grudging in his expressions of compassion and stingy in his description of the government response and his (lack of) call for public help.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I lived in New Orleans for two happy years, and I'm heartbroken at suggestions that the city is gone forever. Is there another instance of a modern city of that size -- not a now-defunct mining town -- being dismantled, not to be rebuilt?

Marc Fisher: Last I read, even Bhopal is coming back to life. Of course, that was a completely different kind of devastation.

It's hard to imagine that New Orleans wouldn't be rebuilt, but the better question might be, Should it be rebuilt? There's a strong argument to be made that given the levees and the loss of coastland in that region even before the storm, New Orleans was a doomed city anyway. The city's Times Picayune paper did a powerful series on this a couple of years ago and it's still on their web site, www.nola.com, if you want to see the ultimate in I Told You So reporting.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: I don't get it. The devastation in New Orleans is heartbreaking. Yet nothing is being done to save the thousands of people either trapped in their homes or in the hell of the Superdome. Where are all the ships, boats, etc., that can be used to gather people and take them someone -- anywhere -- away from this mess.

And, just as saddening, where are all the countries that should be helping us the way we help them?

Marc Fisher: Best I can tell, other than a token phone call from the king of Saudi Arabia, we're on our own, and that's to be expected given the discord between this administration and much of the rest of the world. You could argue that we're better suited than any other country to deal with this ourselves, and you'd be right, but if we had better relations with other countries, there'd at least be expressions of token support from elsewhere.

As for the ships bringing help, the one from Baltimore is a week away from getting to Louisiana, and I just heard the Pentagon announcing another few thousand Guardsmen heading that way, but clearly, there's a shortage of manpower because of deployments to the Middle East.

_______________________

Re: A/C & Open Windows: If you drive with your windows down and a/c off to save gas, you are making a classic mistake. The drag created by opening your windows causes your car to work harder and, therefore, use more gas. Please do not recommend this as an fuel saving idea -- it is just the opposite.

Marc Fisher: Yes, I had that nagging in the back of my head even as I typed that earlier bit. You are of course right, but I think the natural thought that comes to many folks is that turning off the A/C has to save on gas, so it's the gesture that I was reporting on more than the wisdom of making that choice.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: This seems like an evil thought, but I wonder what the Reverend Pat Robertson and would say about the devestation of New Orleans. What aspect of modern life would they blame?

Marc Fisher: There's already quite a bit of traffic on conservative Christian web sites about how a major gay gathering in New Orleans scheduled for later this month has obviously been scratched, and how the storm was perhaps intended by higher powers for that reason. Go figure.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I wanted to say something to all of the single people and couples with no children living in the suburbs who drive these big SUVs:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!$$$$!!!!!!!

Marc Fisher: Well, ok, I share your urge to cackle in their general direction, but do you really think this will send masses of people out to buy hybrids? Somehow, I doubt it. Those who can afford SUVs will find ways to afford $5 gas--that's my bet.

_______________________

Marc Fisher: Over on washingtondcgasprices.com, folks are reporting regular gas at 3.49 to 3.69 throughout the area. Anyone see $4 gas yet? We will by the end of the day. The interesting flip in the marketplace is that it's the no-brand "Lowest Price" independents whose prices are rising fastest because they have to buy product on the daily spot market, while it's the Big Oil outlets--Exxon, Shell, etc.--who are normally at the top of the price range, but who today are the relative bargains because their companies sell, distribute and set prices on a weekly basis. The biggest hit at those stations will come Friday, which is the day most of the big companies set their new prices; that makes today the day to fill up.

_______________________

Columbia, Md.: Could you give some more details about the Red Cross program you mentioned in your opening? Perhaps a contact number or some such.

Marc Fisher: You'll find all the info about how to volunteer and how the orientation program works at this site:

http://www.redcrossdc.org/Volunteer/how_to_volunteer.php3

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: American Red Cross of the National Capital Area

_______________________

Oakton, Va.: Submitting waaaaaaay too early, but I need a break from the depressing news. In watching all these newscasts and press conferences on the New Orleans situation, I see all these people giving timelines for "restoring" normality -- 6 weeks, 8 weeks, etc., then people can start coming back. Back to what, exactly? What no one seems to realize (at least I haven't seen anything to indicate it) is that many or most of the thousands buildings that have been completely or partially flooded will have to be torn down. Even the ones that only flooded a few feet will need major rehabilitation. When the authorities start cleaning up the debris (an awesome task even without the condemned buildings), that debris will include entire neighborhoods. Hundreds of thousands of people are going to have to find a new city to call home, I'm afraid.

Marc Fisher: Where do half a million people go? I think back to all the waves of refugees I watched back in 1989 and 1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, whole towns of gypsies, Bulgarians, Poles, East Germans, on the move. Many ended up going back home eventually, but many others stayed wherever they plopped down after their first long march. Will Houston get a permanent surge in its population? Baton Rouge? A lot will depend on what kind of rebuilding effort is launched and how quickly its scope is decided upon. Once families put their kids in new schools and find a place to sleep, displacing them again becomes much harder.

_______________________

Gas for SUVs: Yeah -- we'll just sacrifice our coffee at Starbucks ...

Marc Fisher: Especially because the price of coffee is about to go sky high as a result of transportation problems stemming from Katrina.

_______________________

Bethesda again:: I agree with you Marc that there are definitely people in the Gulf states that just had no way out and I also know that there are plenty of places underwater right now that we never thought would flood. Who ever thought that some areas hundreds of miles inland in eastern N.C. would be under 20+ feet of water after Floyd? But I have read many times over quotes by the mayor of New Orleans that they begged people to leave the city and offered rides for those who could not leave on their own. So now the helicopters who are trying to save these people are now being shot at instead. It boggles my mind.

Marc Fisher: Anyone who can get inside the head of the wackos who are shooting at the rescue choppers gets today's prize.

_______________________

Gas Prices: To the person who's laughing at the SUV owners ... You will pay too through the price of your grocery items, clothing, heating, etc! We all should be concerned.

Marc Fisher: And we will all pay in our insurance costs as well, which has always struck me as wildly unfair. Everyone should be willing to shell out bucks to help those in need, but why should we have to pay for the unwise decisions of all those people who insist on living on coastlines that we know will flood?

_______________________

Re: Refugee: The press (CNN)and public need to get one thing straight. The people going through the tragedy in Gulf are not refugees. A refugee is a person who flees to a foreign country to escape danger or persecution. These folks aren't fleeing the country. These people are IDP's (internally displaced people). It's awful nonetheless but the media outlets should get this right.

Marc Fisher: You may be right that refugee is technically not the right term, but I can guarantee you that you will not be reading that alternative term in any news account, ever. "Internally displaced people" is about two words too long. Maybe they're the dislocated, or the lost.

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: I drive an H2, frequently and sometimes for no reason at all. I can afford gas that is a whole lot more expensive than this. Not worried in the slightest. To the poster from D.C., I'd just like to say this:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Marc Fisher: And there's the other side of the coin.

_______________________

Headed out of town: Hey Marc, do you expect the rising gas prices to keep people off the road this coming holiday weekend?

Marc Fisher: As the previous post should make clear, no.

_______________________

Baltimore, Md.: Two comments re: Katrina's aftermath. (A) You hit it on the head regarding the cost being paid by having National Guard troops, whose mandate is to serve as a domestic security force, serving in a foreign occupation. Another manifestation of Rummy's folly of cost-efficient "war on the cheap." Granted, lawlessness will always break out in such situations, but one cannot discount the fact that such a large number of "soldiers for domestic use" are not around. (B)I am shocked to see gas prices cheaper in D.C. than here in Baltimore, where I have seen two examples of the lastest gouging scheme: dealers sitting on their loads. Specifically, station owners are loading up at yesterday's prices, roping off their pumps, and waiting for the price to increase significantly before selling it.

Marc Fisher: Yikes, that's not very public spirited of them. Please email me with any specific locations where you see that roping off happening--thanks.

_______________________

Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: So, no way for the city's carless to get out in an emergency plus the federal government has failed to develop plans for the immediate aftermath of a major disaster in a major city? Well, I can't see any reason for D.C. residents to be upset by this ...

Isn't the fundamental job of government to protect its citizens? Don't tell me not to politicize this; I want to know what these clowns have been doing for the last four years. People are dying, and it's Bush's fault. Again.

Marc Fisher: As you can see above, I'm not exactly defending the administration's work on this. But I don't see what they could have done to get the carless out of the city in that narrow window of time between the evacuation order and the flood. Should there be lots more law enforcement and rescue folks on the scene now? Yes. But it's hard to imagine how the feds could have significantly reduced the number of people who stayed behind.

_______________________

Blame Game: The mess in L.A. is Bush's fault? Wha? Marc, that's a reach, my man, and I'm hardly a fan of Bush. How about the folks at FEMA and the state authorities who didn't have any kind of plan to deal with a potential levee break? And don't get me started on the Army Corp of Engineers. They have single-handedly ruined the Missouri and have done their damnedest to do the same to the Mississippi. There used to be all these barrier islands at the mouth of the Mississippi that did a good job of blunting strong storms. Since the Corps came in and began mucking with the Miss., all the silt that used to replenish those islands stopped flowing out to sea and they disappeared. You want to blame somebody, blame the Corps.

Marc Fisher: I think we're pretty much on the same page here--yes, the Corp has played a large role in mucking up the controls in the Delta, but in part that has come about from cuts and delays imposed by administration officials atop the corp's chain of command.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: I think the jump in gas prices, especially if sustained, may actually have some effect this time. Remember the mid-seventies gas shortage? It actually led to smaller cars...for a while.

What gets me is that people who wouldn't defer maintenance on their cars or houses are happy to wait until the whole public system breaks, THEN maybe fix it with a few pennies.

We are idiots.

Marc Fisher: Probably depends heavily on how sustained the higher prices and impending shortages turn out to be. The carmakers can't turn around on a dime and start building more efficient cars again this year. Of course the automakers can make cars vastly more efficient than what they now produce, but they believe consumers don't want that. If consumer tastes change, it could be two to five years before we see a significant shift in what's available on the market.

_______________________

We're on our own: Wrongo, bunky. Nearly everyone has offered aid, including Russia, most of Europe, and that "evil Dictator" (though he was freely elected) El Chimpizente wanted to overthrow, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. The idiots in the admin haven't taken them up on their offers, excepting Canada.

Then the Canadian specialist team was blocked by the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Marc Fisher: Yes, there have been a few offers, but best I can tell from a quick glance at the wires, nothing of much substance.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: They're seeking refuge, aren't they? Hence, refugees.

Marc Fisher: Makes sense to me.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Will this "energy crisis" do anything to further the possible extension of daylight saving time?

Marc Fisher: We can only hope so. But don't set your clock by it.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: To the Hummer H2 driver who likes to drive his obscene vehicle for "no reason at all": Thanks for helping to destroying our climate (and almost certainly increasing the liklihood of having storms like Katrina). Thanks for pouring money into the coffers of the Saudis, who support the schools that encourage hatred against the West. Thanks for being such a great citizen, you selfish jerk. Hope your H2 breaks down today!

Marc Fisher: Another side heard from.

_______________________

Anonymous: How dare you say that sacrifice is called for? Bush won an election based on the premise than we can spend $5-6 billion a month in Iraq, cut taxes and still have economic growth (deficits are so amorphous, anyway). Things are working smoothly. I watch Fox News, so I know.

Marc Fisher: Nice to see the irony muscles working so early in the day.

_______________________

Lexington Park, Md.: A big Nay out to the German official who decided that right after the hurricane wiped out part of the U.S., that he should state that it's our emissions causing "global warming" that created this storm. No sense in listening to real experts that say we're right around a natural peak. Good to see our allies think so highly of us.

Marc Fisher: Yes, even though global warming is a genuine phenomenon and the interesting story is that even critics of the concept seem to be coming around to that belief, it's also true that hurricanes run in cycles and the weather watchers tend to believe that the extra heavy run of canes over the past few years is more a factor of standard climate variance than of global warming.

_______________________

Derwood, Md.: Saw an interview with a looter, who said they were only stealing the 'necessities'. At the same time, you could see somebody else carting away a 52" widescreen TV.

Being a guy, wouldn't you agree that a 52" widescreen IS a necessity?

Marc Fisher: I can see your point. On the other hand, even the big screen is less than fully satisfying in a city with no electrical power and no prospect of any in the foreseeable future. While I think the cops should lay off those who are ransacking stores for food and water, I do think extreme measures are justifiable against those who feel the need to carry Sonys on their back as they wade home.

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: I just made the switch to commuting on Metro/Metrobus yesterday, and finally bought a SmarTrip card. My conscience has been nagging me to do that for a long time, even though I drive a car that gets decent gas mileage. I only regret that it took such devastation to get me to make the switch. The biggest bonus: I get to relax and read now (granted, on the route I take I can always find a seat) instead of gripping the wheel and cursing other drivers. I'm probably saving on health care costs too, by cutting down on stress.

Marc Fisher: Hooray for you. You may find yourself back here in a few weeks griping about delays and trains that are too short, but the great majority of the time you'll be a happier camper.

_______________________

Springfield, Va.: Hi Marc. The devastation that Katrina brought to that area of the country is horrible. Yet everytime I watch CNN all they show is footage of looters and criminal activity going on. I think there a lot of Americans who are reluctant to send money based on these types of images.

Marc Fisher: I would never base a political or personal decision on the images I see on TV news. They are only going to show you the most dramatic images they can find, whether that's people on rooftops or thugs looting stores. I'm biased, of course, but I think you'll find a more balanced and fuller picture of what's happening by ranging around, checking out firsthand accounts from reporters on the scene (naturally, I think our paper is doing fine work, but also check out the heroic work by reporters from the New Orleans paper at www.nola.com) and by citizens who are posting about their own experiences on blogs.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Attacking the federal government's response to the New Orleans flood is fine, but it should be pointed out that there is no indication that anyone in the New Orleans city government (Democratic), the Louisiana legislature (Democratic), or the Louisiana governor's office (alternating in recent years) appears to have undertaken any preparations for a disaster of this nature. Governments at those levels are better able to develop preparedness and evacuation plans, since they know the neighborhooods, the local populations, and the roads better. Certainly, there would have to be coordination with, and funding from, the federal government, but there's no indication that anyone at the city or state level even tried to get ready for an awful day they all knew would come eventually.

Marc Fisher: Right, but I think you need to spread the blame more liberally. There is indeed a plan for strengthening the Louisiana coastline, but it sits unfunded--and the blame for that falls on both parties, because it's an expensive plan and both parties are so deep into promising lower taxes that they can't address any major problems in an honest way.

_______________________

Downtown, D.C.: The Discovery show Myth Busters tested two identical cars each with one gallon of gas on a racetrack out in California. One with the AC on and windows up and the other with the AC off and the windows down. The car with the AC off and windows down was able to do many more laps around the track before it ran out of gas. They probably have it on their Web site if someone cares to look.

Marc Fisher: That's good to hear. Thanks.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: Hi Marc, While I agree with most of what Mr. Jordan says I really am puzzled how he seems to think that this country is so focused on health care. If he had said Social Security I would have bought it but health care? The NIH is pushing their best and brightest out the door with their new overly strict policies on collaboration and the FDA just lost another one of their policy makers because of deliberate misaction. If anything we don't spend enough time and effort on healthcare either with obesity skyrocketing and cancer the number one killer in the U.S. Paying some extra money for gas sure beats dying a slow and painful death from cancer.

Marc Fisher: You're right, but so is James Jordan (the guy in today's column): Even though the health care system seems designed to drive out the best and brightest, the medical fields continue to attract a great many smart and dedicated people because they're folks who love that work. So Jordan's concern about civil engineering not being sexy enough to grab enough of our smart young folks is a legitimate one.

_______________________

Buzzard Point, Washington, D.C.: Marc,

Speaking of treating people like schoolchildren, aren't you doing the same thing.

Yes, the president has a duty to galvanize the country and set national priorities. Yes, it is fair to argue that he dropped the ball by not asking for real sacrifice.

BUT -- we citizens shouldn't need to be told to sacrifice, we should DO IT OURSELVES. (This seems to be a lost concept in this country.)

To get away from the negative, how about three cheers for the Coast Guard folks who have been flying non-stop rescuing thousands of folks from rooftops.

Last random thought -- to the holier than thous communting solo in their hybrids: my Canondale gets better mileage than your Prius.

Marc Fisher: Yes, you're right, we should do it ourselves, and the enormous volunteer response shows that we are. But that's not enough. We have federal and state governments for a reason--there are certain expertises and equipment needs and functions that the lay volunteer cannot provide, and we pay taxes so that we as a society are prepared to help in cases like this. When it turns out that our readiness is insufficient, and people are living on rooftops for days on end because there aren't enough choppers and rescue teams to get to them, then it's fair to ask why that is.

_______________________

Re: "Our Tsunami" comment: Did you find the "This is our Tsunami" comment a little inappropriate? While they are both horrible natural disasters, the tsunami victims had virtually no warning of what was coming, not to mention the loss of life. I'm not saying it is wrong to say it -- seems like most TV talking heads make similar comparisons during tragic events -- but I guess what I am saying is that no two disasters are the same, so why even say it? Is it to help people grasp the magnitude, donate money, etc?

Marc Fisher: It's not the best of comparisons, but it doesn't offend me. The idea, as you suggest, is to try to communicate the magnitude of the devastation, and while some folks will stretch similes too far, it's worth the try.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Everything New Orleans

_______________________

College Park, Md.: Marc, this chat is really bothering me. You seemingly want to revel in the fact people's income's are getting stretched thin because they choose to pay less to live in the suburbs rather than the city. The fact is most of us have to drive because driving is cheaper than the overpriced, inept run Metro system we have. Gas prices could be $4 a gallon, and it is still cheaper and more cost effective than Metro.

Marc Fisher: I thought you were going to argue that many people simply cannot afford to live where Metro goes, and that's a good and legitimate argument that I would have embraced. But I can't buy the idea that driving is cheaper than Metro, especially now, because it just isn't. I have been lured away from Metro at various points by the incredibly cheap parking available in downtown D.C. but even then, if I were to sit down and add up the costs of owning and maintaining a car, Metro comes out as quite the bargain.

Yes, there are other reasons to choose the car over the train--time, convenience, privacy. But cost is not one of them.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: To all the HAHAHAHAers out there ... you're both part of the problem! And it makes me sick. You should both be ashamed. Too many people in this country care too much about themselves and not enough about anyone else. Get over yourselves and work towards a solution ... a country that is less dependent on oil (not just in reference to cars/SUVs) and more able to respond to crises as they arise!

Marc Fisher: Thanks for the rant. Back to more on Katrina, but first a few token posts on other issues:

_______________________

Bowie, Md.: What did you think about Douglas Duncan's response to the gang violence by taking a boondoggle trip to El Salvador? Wouldn't he have been better off visiting L.A. and meeting with their gang units/experts? In the meantime, Jack Johnson has been missing in action as MS-13 crime has increased in Langley Park, and HSA passing rates have decreased and are 1/2 the rate of other local counties.

Marc Fisher: No, our gang problem is very different from L.A.'s and that's a great opportunity for us; politicians and educators have a chance to attack the gang problem before it hardens into the kind of saturating, life-encompassing existence that gangs make up in California.

_______________________

Anonymous: So, how to treat the "Freedom Walk"? It's a local as well as national story for Washington. The Defense Department says that the walk is a non-partisan effort to honor the dead of 9/11 and support the overall war on terror, not to support specific policies and the war in Iraq. But Clint Black will reportedly sing "I Raq and Roll," with lyrics focusing on Saddam Hussein, not the Islamic radicals who actually attacked America on 9/11.

Marc Fisher: It would have been easy to stage a nonpartisan, support the troops demonstration. The administration chose not to.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Forty percent of the delegates at the Virginia AFL-CIO convention in Tysons last month walked out when Jim Moran started to speak.

They were mad about Moran's support for CAFTA. Would the AFL-CIO be powerful enough to oust Moran from office if it wanted to?

Marc Fisher: No. The AFL-CIO is a shadow of its former self. If all of Moran's misbehaviors haven't produced a credible opponent, union activism won't either.

_______________________

Vienna Virginia: Isn't it interesting that not a single Fairfax County Supervisor has offered congratulations to the Town of Vienna on being titled by Money Magazine as the 4th best small town to live in in the United States? One would think this award would be a source of tremendous pride to our County leaders.

Of course, perhaps such recognition would give more leverage to the Town in connection with ongoing discussions for redeveloping Tysons, which has the potential to forever change Vienna.

I'd like to know what your readers think about how decision-making for Tysons should include both general public input and the input of critically affected municipalities like the Town of Vienna.

Marc Fisher: Fairfax's relations with its towns are not always the best, and the standoff with Vienna over development at the Vienna Metro station has exacerbated the situation. Vienna officials are trying to protect their community against denser development, but that's not a battle they can win. They will eventually realize that and work instead on ways to manage growth to protect what makes Vienna such an attractive place to live.

_______________________

Great Falls, Va.: It seems the Dranesville, Providence and Hunter Mill supervisors appoint the same people to the major task forces that are replanning for higher density (i.e., Tysons Corner and Hunter Mill).

The homeowners who will have to endure the impacts from these high density projects are left out of the decision making process. They have no voice/place at the table.

What can the average citizen do to stop this managed process?

Go to Fairgrowth Network and read citizen feedback about what is happening.

Marc Fisher: Good issue--please write again and let's get into this on a week when there's not an overwhelming news story.

_______________________

McLean, Va.: From Montgomery County to Fairfax, we are seeing abuses of zoning laws and regulations. The developer-supported politicians seem to turn a blind eye toward violations until the Post spotlights them. Do you think your paper could (or should) devote more coverage to these issues and how they affect our lives in little ways (e.g., overburdened public facilities such as parks) and big ways (e.g., the gradual destruction of the Chesapeake Bay or the transportation crisis)?

Marc Fisher: We report quite often and extensively on development issues and the Clarksburg scandal has played out largely in our pages, thanks to the reporting of Tim Craig in our Rockville bureau. But you're right--there's always a need for more aggressive reporting and we will try to keep on it.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: To those whining that other countries aren't sending aid to the RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH -- India refused foreign aid during the tsunami because they had sufficient resources of their own to help, and knew that other nations needed help more. Are you saying that we're either worse off financially, or more selfish, than India? The latter may be so. The former, I doubt.

Marc Fisher: Right, we can't possibly argue that we need money from less wealthy nations. But we can look at the lukewarm response from abroad and question whether our standing in the world is what we'd like it to be.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: The government is at fault. There is absolutely no reason that armed people are roaming the streets looting and threatening medical people and shooting cops. Why is a CEO of an ambulance service begging the federal government to send the military in now? Three days later after we have all seen crime growing out of control with each passing hour. As big as this disaster the country and its military and police forces from other jurisdictions are large enough to have coped with this disaster in terms of preventing hospitals from being robbed and protecting the injured and everyone else for that matter to get out of the city.

This is not the first time that a disaster has triggered crime the government had warning of a hurricane and had ample time to prepare to have at least Military units close by for immediately afterwards

Marc Fisher: Your hindsight is too crystalline. If the government was listening to its own Hurricane Center and other forecasters, it would have heard that the storm was moving slightly away from New Orleans and that a direct hit was averted, so those troops you would have had massing outside the city would have been redeployed elsewhere. Yes, there's a legitimate question to be asked about whether we'd have more law enforcement capability if we didn't have so many Guard units overseas. But I don't think it's fair to say the troops should have been there even before we knew the flooding would happen.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Just to spread the blame around a bit, I blame the folks long ago who thought it was a good idea to expand the city of New Orleans out from the high ground it was started on and to build levees to hold everything back. When are we going to learn not to mess with Mama Nature, who always gets the upper hand when we build houses in forests that regularly catch fire (whether part of a natural process or a human-induced process), and build (and rebuild) homes on rivers that flood and on coasts that are regularly hit by hurricanes?

Marc Fisher: Ok, but a certain degree of messing with Mother Nature is part of creating livable space in much of the country, whether it's through levees, artificially replenished barrier islands, dams and other controls. The trick is not to live in a state of pure nature, but to manage the controls in a smart way and to keep investing in them rather than leaving them to rot.

_______________________

Re: Mythbusters: The Mythbusters guys had serious flaws in that experiment. Not only did they have two different people driving two different cars, they drove the one with the windows down slower for safety reasons. Well, if you drive slower there is less wind resistance on the car, thus, better gas mileage. Ask Jimmy Carter about it.

Marc Fisher: I have no firsthand knowledge on this debate--check it out for yourselves, folks.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Once, when I had to walk to an appointment on the other side of downtown during the afternoon rush hour, I decided to occupy myself by determining what percentage of cars were occupied by a single person. Of the first 100 cars I observed, 75 contained only a driver. This, in a city with terrific public transportation and horrific traffic problems. What an enormous waste of resources, money, time, and mental health.

Although I own a car, I don't commute with it, and I go almost everywhere on my feet or on a train. It's healthier for people, cities, and societies.

Marc Fisher: True, but we're far better in that department than most cities, thanks to Metro and our homegrown ridesharing phenomenon, the slug lines.

_______________________

There have been a few offers: Grrrrrr. I'll try again. That's ... because ... no... one ...has ... followed ... up.

In the international arena you have to accept an offer, and then sit down and see what they can provide and you can use. Amazingly no one is just going to load up a plane and fly it into U.S. airspace all on their own. No more than we would. remember when we made a sincere offer to help the Russians with their sunken sub, and Putin simply ignored the offer because it would have made him look weak and ineffective?

Same deal here.

Marc Fisher: A bunch more posts on this topic are sitting in the queue, but we're way over our alloted hour, so I'll have to end it here for this outing. Let's hope we have better news from down south to mull over next time. Thanks for coming along and have a stellar holiday. I'm staying home.

_______________________

Laurel, Md.: Some people are saying that New Orleans, because of its reputation for decadence, drinking and other scenes of revelry, deserved what they got. That it was a sign from God to punish the city. Have you heard this today?

Marc Fisher: I have, but I've tried to turn the other cheek.

Oh, before I go, (really, I am going this time), this just in from Lyndsey Layton, our crack Metro reporter, with the latest on whether the spike in gas prices has caused any surge in Metro ridership:

"i've been asking that question and they tell me no discernible spike. it's hard to tell because august is typically a lower ridership month with vacations and stuff. metro says the august dip hasn't been as low as it normally is. they'll have a better sense after labor day."

Thanks, Lyndsey!

_______________________

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.