It’s fun for politicians and the public to play “pin the tail on the donkey” when it comes to taking responsibility. Finger-pointing and trying to blame someone else for poor performance is one of the most popular activities in politics.

This certainly has been the case in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Who didn’t measure up in their responsibilities before the terrible storm and who didn’t measure up in the aftermath of Katrina?

At first, it was the fault of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, then the Department of Homeland Security. Then President Bush was said to have been asleep at the switch. Some pointed to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco as being incapable of handling the job, and still others said New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was derelict in carrying out his duties.

Communication among all parties was bad – in some cases, totally absent. Some refused to talk with others. Egos and other factors resulted in poor planning ahead of the storm and a poor response after the storm.

Hearings and investigations to try to prove who was guilty are likely to continue. It is hoped such hearings focus far more on what can be learned for the future from the Katrina case than on trying to make someone look worse than someone else.

All officials engaged in the matter were guilty to varying degrees of not being on top of the potential damage the hurricane could cause and not being aware of the true flood control capabilities in New Orleans. Questions remain about why the levees had not been maintained properly and why there wasn’t a quicker, better response immediately after the hurricane slammed into the city and the rest of the Gulf Coast.

It is hoped all the appropriate offices and individuals have learned something from this catastrophic storm, although the “cost” in terms of lives, dollars and destruction was huge.