Tuesday, September 27, 2005
“Feed Me, FEMA!”
Katrina and Rita have “victimized” a lot of people. They are without shelter, food, gas, and all the “stuff” of their lives. The media is doing its part to show them on camera screaming for help from FEMA. And FEMA is ready to help. Sounds good, but…
Are the people hit by these stormy “sisters” really victims? Can someone be a victim who chooses to place him/herself in harm’s way? I’m talking strictly about the regular residents, not the owners and employees of oil, natural gas, and chemical plants. They have to go where the oil and gas are, and where the EPA and local building restrictions allow.
Thanks in large part to FEMA, founded in 1979 by Jimmy “I’m a Peanut Farmer” Carter, almost 50% of the U.S. population lives on our coasts, per a report on CNBC Monday 26 September 2005. People can now live in harm’s way because FEMA will be there to
“lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters with a vision of ‘A Nation Prepared.’” (from http://www.fema.gov/about/history.shtm)
Of course, you may have noticed, as I have, the key phrase above “lead America.” To me, and maybe to you, too, this means that I still have responsibility for myself, that FEMA is my backup plan, not my only plan. To all those folks who chose to live in a city that sits 12 feet below sea level, or build a million dollar beach house 100-150’ from the water’s edge, or that flock to the shore for whatever reason, I have only this to say:
Pay for your own decisions. FEMA is funded by tax dollars, paid for by you, me, your neighbors, my neighbors, and everyone else in this country who works hard and gets a paycheck. We are all tired of paying for your irresponsibility and poorly-thought-out choices.
In addition, the existence of FEMA seems to be a call for local and state officials to eschew their first-line-of-defense duties. Certainly, Gov. “Blank Stare” Blanco of Louisiana and Mayor “Nuttin’ Head” Nagin heeded that call.
Right now, Michael Brown, former head of FEMA, is facing a Congressional hearing and being asked assinine questions. Clearly, he is the latest scapegoat for a situation caused by the failure of others. Once FEMA was called in is another matter. How well he acted then is a legitimate matter to look into.
Bottom line: FEMA does not replace common sense. You still have to consider carefully where you build your house or business. You have to accept the consequences if that decision ends up being a poor one. We (the taxpayers of America) are tired of being your deep pocket.
Copyright © 2005 A.C. Cargill
I also believe it's time to make the thousands of welfare-dependent folks work for what they get! If LA and N.O. were not such highly welfare areas, there would not have been as large a problem. For them to sit back and wait for the nation to give them everything yet again is insane! Make them work for it. It's time to STOP the Welfare State! It's time to stop this generationally explosive growth of welfare and make those who are able WORK for their benefits. Hard working Americans should not have to pay for those people who are just too lazy to work!
And I also agree with you inre: Michael Brown. Leave him alone. "Nuttin' Head" Nagin and Blanco (what an appropriate name) are so responsible and they're making Brown suffer for their idiocy! That's a liberal society for you!
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