At the risk of not writing about the Hurricane Katrina fiasco, I'd just like to mention that another fiasco has just occurred in California. Undoubtedly most of us here recognize that there is at least the possibility that the increase in intensity of the hurricane season is caused by global warming. And now, when we have a real chance to do something tangible to help the situation, we allowed it to fall apart . . . for no good reason. The Million Solar Roofs initiative is dead.California was just about to enact legislation to encourage the creation of 3000 MW (3000!) of solar energy production. This was being done with strong bipartisan support, as well as support from the governator, the business community, the general populace, and many, many organizations across the state. And it would have really made a difference. This single initiative could have multiplied U.S. clean energy production several times over ALL BY ITSELF.
Basically, the constituencies that traditionally make up the progressive community couldn't hold it together to pull this off. This is the kind of thing that drives me crazy. We all have to pull together, people, or we're all going to go down together.
{http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/envirocalifenergy.asp?id2=19045]
Some background on the reasons for the failure: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=35838