Hiding in the Backwaters Just one more blog on the net.

Authority v. Responsibility

Very busy this week, trying to get all my ducks in a row before I leave for vacation, a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on the border between Minnestoa and Canada—away from all things electronic. Halleluja!!

Peggy Noonan, of the Wall Street Journal, has penned a great article in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita. Below are a few highlights. The whole thing is worth a read.

We live in the age of emergency, however, and in that age we hunger for someone to take responsibility. Not authority, but a sense of "I'll lead you out of this." On 9/11 the firemen took responsibility: I will go into the fire. So did the mayor: This is how we'll get through, this is how we'll triumph.

In New Orleans, by contrast, the mayor seemed panicked, the governor seemed medicated, and the airborne wasn't there until it was there and peace was restored. Until then no one took responsibility. There was a vacuum. But nature abhors a vacuum, so rumors and chaos came in to fill it. Which made things worse.

No one took charge. Thus the postgame commentary in which everyone blamed someone else: The mayor fumbled the ball, the governor didn't call the play, the president didn't have a ground game.

It is hard for governments to be responsible, and take responsibility. It takes real talent, and guts. But authority? That's easier. Pass the law and get the cuffs.

If government cannot distinguish between authority and responsibility, media have trouble distinguishing between the helpful reporting of facts and the whipping up of fear.

The latter not only does not help, it hurts. Here's one way: when you endlessly pound America with the idea that Armageddon is imminent, you're pushing Americans to conclude that only something big can save them, something huge, something omnipotent--like government.

Which is only too happy to take authority. And only too likely to dodge responsibility.