God and Gasoline

It's interesting to see how talk of God fades in the face of tragedy like the one in and around New Orleans. On 9-11, Americans were wronged, free to feel righteous. Today, though, no one can be blamed; there's no bad guy to make Americans feel like the good guys. I anticipate that eventually the God-talk will begin: that God saved this or that survivor, that God will support those who lost homes and loved ones. The logic here astonishes: wouldn't a benevolent God have held the levee strong? The devastation here is biblical: a city destroyed, its residents forced out or killed. But unless Bush is willing to call New Orleans Gomorrah, he'd better keep God out of his mouth.

And now Americans are whining on TV about paying $90 to fill up their SUVs. In Canada, Europe, and most of the developed world, $3 for a gallon of gas would be an incredible bargain. Now Bush is dipping into the strategic reserves to alleviate the gas pinch. (There's an ad on TV right now for a BMW SUV with 270 horsepower.) He might encourage conservation, even rationing, but no: he's giving the addict his fix. If Americans want this lifestyle, they need to be willing to pay for it.

Now go to Itunes and download Bright Eyes' "When the President Talks to God." It's free, and it's brilliant.