Today’s Paul Krugman’s column discusses a clear and damning truth. If anything, he underplays it. After 9/11 George W. Bush promised $20 billion to help rebuild New York — the one part of the United States to suffer widespread damage from the attacks. (The attack on the Pentagon was a grievous wound to national prestige and honor and there was a terrible loss of life – but the physical destruction at least was contained and there’s no reason to think there will be fall-out for the local economy.) That promise has now been broken. 
Instead of $20 billion, it’s now going to be a bit more than $10 billion with some vague promises about a few bucks in the future … maybe.
Of course, this ain’t quite as serious as saying you didn’t inhale when you did. But surely this sort of broken promise must count for something, right? Maybe the aid would have been more forthcoming if the attacks had centered on some ‘bama catfish farms rather than lower Manhattan?
Sound like I’m reverting to pre-9/11 form? Well, just trying to get with the program. Everybody’s doing it.
