Natural Disasters and the Case for Big Government
The New York Times declares "a big storm requires big government," and my liberal neighbors agree.
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Yes, it is. My house eventually washed away, and you paid. That's wrong.
Federal emergency management fails, too. After Hurricane Hugo, Sen. Ernest Hollins called FEMA "bureaucratic jackasses that should just get the hell out of the way."
So politicians promised they'd improve FEMA. But three years later, after Hurricane Andrew, Sen. Barbara Mikulski said, "Government's response to Andrew was seen by many hurricane victims as a disaster itself."
Again, the bureaucrats said they'd fix it. Then came Katrina. Almost 2,000 people died.
FEMA even got in the way of rescue efforts. Wal-Mart offered flood victims three trailer trucks filled with water. FEMA turned them away. It prevented the Coast Guard from delivering fuel. It shipped 91,000 tons of ice for Louisiana hurricane victims to Maine and Arizona.
FEMA got better reviews this month, but the jury is still out. Let's see what reporters reveal in the coming weeks. Even brilliant government bureaucracies become incompetent over time, because everyone must follow the mind-numbing rules.
Economist Steven Horwitz researched prior disasters and says, "Firms like Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Marriott and McDonald's were major forces for good in getting resources to people in very desperate times, (but) FEMA was an absolute disaster. FEMA did not get into New Orleans in some cases for a week or 10 days."
No one says Wal-Mart should replace local police and firefighters. But local assistance is better. And each Wal-Mart store manager knows his neighborhood's needs. "FEMA is situated in Washington," said Horwitz. "It does not understand as well the needs of local communities."
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I wonder how the people of New York and New Jersey are feeling about FEMA right now?
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Mixed feelings, as always. Some people are thinking, "Thank God for FEMA!" Others are thinking, "Those useless FEMA bastards."
The best answer to people who are horrified by the idea of doing away with FEMA is something I probably read right here: Do you think FEMA magics up wealth out of nowhere? No, they get it by taking it away from taxpayers or other programs. Do you think FEMA magics up brainpower and know-how out of nowhere? No, they employ people who would be doing much the same thing anywhere else.
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FEMA does not rescue people, it mostly hands out checks. You might get some help from local cops or firefighters but in situations where you need rescue you better be prepared to do it yourself or have some helpful relatives or neighbors.
And don’t expect the military to do it, they are not really set up for it.
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Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to government.
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All roads lead to big government.
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But reducing the scope of FEMA's responsibility is just like rounding people up and putting them into death camps!
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But isn't FEMA run by Top Men?
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Yes, but not the right Top Men.
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First, I think you should certainly know that though FEMA is relatively new, Federal help in disasters is not. See FEMA in Wikipedia.
Second, the worst FEMA activity was of course in Katrina. But this was under an administration which was both inept and disdainful of government. So it dysfunction what a surprise. But of course we can match it's dysfunctionality with BP.
And what about the behavior of the insurance companies which refused to honor their policies.
I am afraid you confuse Libertarianism with Ayn Rand capitalism. Tome Libertarianism needs a highly developed sense of personable responsibility. I doubt that your ultimate boss Mr.Murdoch fits that category. -
I know this first-hand. I built a beach house because government encouraged me to take the risk.
You just couldn't help it. That evil government forced you to take money from taxpayers who are poorer than you. Seriously? That's your argument?
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When someone offers you another person's money, no strings attached, you're a fool if you turn it down.
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Whenever I hear FEMA I automatically think of that big bone in my leg.