To the editor:

Is anyone that voted for Bush starting to get the picture of what he’s been doing to us the last four-plus years and what they did by allowing it to continue? New Orleans has been page one on the New Zealand news this past week. First it was the large storm approaching, but most of the coverage after it hit has been on the lack of preparedness and failure in response.

There was a story Sunday about a New Zealander visiting New Orleans who was just rescued by an Australian news team with the implied question being why hadn’t the Americans rescued her days before? Local Louisiana officials speaking on “Meet the Press” indicated that FEMA was not only incompetent but actually sabotaged relief efforts (not to mention the National Guard being in Iraq instead of where it belongs).

All in all, it makes the United States look like some bumbling Third World country unable to take care of itself. The images of Bush on vacation, going to fundraisers, playing golf, and flying overhead instead of getting his feet wet, and Condoleezza Rice shopping for $1,000-a-pair Ferragamos in New York City while the poor in New Orleans die seems like classic “let them eat cake.” I finally agree with the Journal-World editor on something. This was a national disgrace.

Gil Zemansky,

Lawrence,

now in Taupo, New Zealand