Standing on my soapbox

Via the Clamor blog and a few dozen other blogs.

AP does not seem to have an ombudsman, but they do have an association of managing editors. If you are inclined, it's where you can call AP out on their racially biased language by sending a few letters and e-mails here.

And there's more: Here are two articles on how government policies have made a bad situation worse in New Orleans.

From Molly Ivins: About 35 percent of Louisiana's National Guard is now serving in Iraq, where four out of every 10 soldiers are guardsmen. Recruiting for the Guard is also down significantly because people are afraid of being sent to Iraq if they join, leaving the Guard even more short-handed.

From the Trib: Despite continuous warnings that a catastrophic hurricane could hit New Orleans, the Bush administration and Congress in recent years have repeatedly denied full funding for hurricane preparation and flood control.

That has delayed construction of levees around the city and stymied an ambitious project to improve drainage in New Orleans' neighborhoods.

Finger pointing? Nope. It's about accountability.

[/end soapbox rant]