Pass the buck: Debacle in Atlanta showcases new breed of politician

The mayor of Atlanta says he did not know that there was a major winter storm coming that would paralyze his city.

And besides, he says, the highways and access roads aren't the city's responsibility. There is nothing he could have done to make them more passable or to get people home safer.

So -- conclusion: It's not his fault thousands of cars are stranded on highways and children were stuck in their schools.

How laughable.

The new breed of politician is quite simply someone who is unprepared for the rigors of the job and who has plenty of excuses for his or her incompetence. And the nation's cities and states -- and its federal government -- are paying the price.

If the city of Atlanta does not hold its mayor accountable for the unbelievably poor planning and does not refuse to accept his claim that the forecasts let him down, and if the governor is not held to the same standard, shame on them.

But in the meantime, we can learn a lesson.

We can let our leaders know that they would not get away with this kind of gross incompetence here, that it will not be simply explained away.

We can let them know we expect them to have it together and will vote them out if they don't.

It won't prevent all potential problems, but it will be a step in the right direction.

Published in Editorials on January 30, 2014 1:25 PM