If you vote, you are responsible for the disaster in New Orleans.

Your government has the monopoly for maintaining the levee system and masked the reality that it was unwise and unsafe to build on a flood plain.

Your government uses your money to keep New Orleans' inner-city denizens in perpetual dependency with no sense of responsibility and property.

Your government herded some citizens into the Superdome and convention center without food or water and prohibited 25,000 others from returning to their own homes to deal with damage and looters.

Only private entities like Wal-Mart, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities USA, State Farm Insurance and your direct donations effectively and immediately improved the calamity. Only private insurers have the incentive to analyze risks and benefits of building in high-risk areas.

The question is: How long will you continue to mindlessly trust federal and state employees with your money, life and liberty?