Ridge's resignation brings total to seven

The White House lost yet another Cabinet member. Tom Ridge, Secretary of the Homeland Security Department, announced his resignation Nov. 30. He will continue his job until a successor is named or the inauguration is complete. America can be glad when Ridge is gone because our country was not much safer with him in office.

Ridge had one of the most difficult jobs, but was not able to effectively secure American soil. He coordinated homeland security in a nation that had not been attacked on its home soil since Pearl Harbor. The Homeland Security Department oversees immigration, customs, the coast guard, the Secret Service and the Transportation Security Administration, all of which have been especially careful during the years after the Sept. 11 attacks. Ridge's resignation brings a grim smile to many faces. He was not the best man for such a daunting and serious job.

Ridge left Homeland Security in a weak state. This was not entirely his fault; he was not given enough authority to be entirely effective in tightening up the links between different groups. The one well-known thing that Ridge did to effect citizens was create "disaster kits" to prepare against terrorist attacks. In a real disaster, these kits would serve only to comfort citizens, not to actually help them. His efforts supposedly helped to strengthen airport, port and border security, but citizens of Long Beach haven't seen any increased efforts to make their ports safer.

Ridge's resignation raises the number of Bush Administration members who have resigned in the month following President George W. Bush's re-election. Seven of the 15 Cabinet members resigned rather than stay for Bush's second term. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman, Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Attorney General John Ashcroft have all resigned in November. Former Presidents Clinton and Reagan experienced a similar turnover, losing seven Cabinet members at their second terms, according to CNN. Numerous resignations are supposedly typical when a president is re-elected, but this number seems like too many too soon. Ridge's resignation will hopefully help the nation move forward in security measures.