Katy Reckdahl has another great story in the Times-Picayune, this time on the disparity between rebuilding of public and parochial schools in Lakeview. Private institutions are generally more nimble than government ones, but still the state-run Recovery School District and FEMA have taken a bad situation and allowed it to get worse. Sadder still is that hard-working, caring parents have been turned away from volunteering. Once again, local folks show their ability to lead, to imagine and to create, only to be stymied by politicians and bureaucrats. Hopefully new Superintendent Paul Vallas will do the right thing.
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In general, I oppose the outsourcing of public services to private organizations. But much as it pains me to say it, I actually like the avowed LOGIC behind Bush's faith-based initiative - that sometimes local organizations on the ground can more effectively provide goods and services than an anonymous and bureaucratic organization like the state.* Having lived in NOLA, I agree that the private schools are a tremendous example of this. Here's hoping Road Home recognizes that an educated public is an essential part of a viable infrastructure. (And that the rest of the country doesn't take the lesson that private schools are as-a-rule better than public ones.)
*Of course, I'm pretty sure that the disavowed logic and driving motive behind the initiative is to promote Christianity. An agenda I'm less fond of.
Public services are not necessarily creative, but neither are most large corporations for that matter. Enormous size tends to lead to bureaucratization and inertia. In both government and large corporations, then, you need strategies to challenge the status quo, break up logjams, and promote invention and creativitiy.
But what government can do that individual initiative will never match is bring to bear enormous resources on a problem. When 70% of a city gets destroyed, you need government to step in and provide funding. There's plenty of great people and great ideas in New Orleans, just not enough money.
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