The era of small government is over?

From the Center for a Better South's John Simpkins:

If there is ever one welcome casualty of Hurricane Katrina, it would be the death of the Grover Norquist notion that government should be small enough to “drown it in a bathtub.”

In his address to the nation (Thursday night), President Bush indicated that he might, finally, understand that. Recognizing the problem is but one step on the road to recovery, as he is most undoubtedly aware. Next is understanding that the effort to commit substantial government resources to rebuild New Orleans is only a part of the broader effort needed to welcome all of poor America, particularly the poor South table of plenty enjoyed by the few.

Then comes the realization that, instead of guaranteeing everyone a $300 tax refund, what people really need is government that works. That is, government that takes that money and devotes it to critical projects, projects that once were thought to be big-government extravagances, like fortifying the levees in New Orleans, then increasing security at the port of New Orleans, then doing the same thing for Jacksonville, Mobile, Wilmington, Miami, Charleston and Savannah.

Let us all hope that the end of stingy, short-sighted governments is nigh. Bring back our long-lost country of big ideas.