Okay…

…we're undoubtedly in the midst of a national emergency, and it's arguably just the kind of national emergency that Congress had in mind when they drafted the Davis-Bacon Act. So, while it's hard to imagine how this administration will fail to abuse the situation to the benefit of their corporate underwriters, this is probably the right thing to do in a more perfect world...

President Bush issued an executive order Thursday allowing federal contractors rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to pay below the prevailing wage.

In a notice to Congress, Bush said the hurricane had caused "a national emergency" that permits him to take such action under the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act in ravaged areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

I can imagine scenarios, a couple brigades of displaced workers, for instance, organized along the lines of the old CCC (something the creators of Davis-Bacon would likely endorse) working for room, board and a subsistence wage while beginning the extensive manual cleanup that will be required across the Gulf Coast, where prevailing wage rates (this is not a suspension of minimum wage protections, minimal as they may be, regardless of what you've heard) might be impractical, or even irresponsible in terms of stewardship of public monies.

I can imagine. As I say, I can't imagine Bushco™ and their sundry subsidiaries passing on the opportunity to exploit the situation for irresponsible profit.

We need a counter-proposal from the Congressional D's, a corresponding cap on the profits that corporations can glean from the tragedy on the Gulf Coast.

Workers are being asked to roll up their sleeves and give a bit more for a bit less. No less should be expected of the bosses.