I can't recommend strongly enough The Perfect Storm and the Feral City - By Tom Engelhardt. It explores in-depth the essence of the how the Bush Administration , since 2001, has gradually and effectively stripped away much of the basic social support structure of the U.S., glaringly revealed by the wholly inadequate federal response to hurricane Katrina. It's about a 20 minute read, and it will take your breath away with its incisive observations and conclusions.