> Yes, there are ways the government could have mitigated or prevented both of these disasters (funding upgrades to the New Orleans levee system

The upgrades were funded. The money was spent and the upgrades supposedly happened. The levees were inspected.

And the good people of New Orleans re-elected the govt that did this.

> a better job at regulating the finance industry,

Banking and insurance are the most regulated parts of the finance industry. AIG was regulated as both, in multiple countries.

> not encouraging homeownership

Talk to Barney Frank - he's back at it.

How many times does something have to fail before you give up on it?