The Epitaph of Our Times

I recently saw George Will on TV say of the Bush Administration that "We didn't see it coming" would be its epitaph. I think, more accurately, it's the epitaph of our times. In the last five years I've heard politicians and public officials (basically) say ...

We didn't know the subways would flood in a huge downpour ... didn't see it coming.

We didn't know the levees in New Orleans would break ... didn't see it coming.

We had no idea that people would high jack planes and fly them into buildings ... didn't see it coming.

We had no idea that if we invaded an Arab country that there would be an insurgency ... didn't see it coming.

We had no idea that our veterans were being housed in terrible conditions at Walter Reade ... didn't see it coming.

We didn't realize that if we deregulated and had lax oversight of corporations that debacles like Enron and Wordcom would happen ... didn't see it coming.

"Didn't know, couldn't have guessed, didn't see it coming."

It's their job to see things like these coming! That's what we elect and pay them to do!

And just wait ... you'll hear something like that again soon from a public official. And I do see that coming.