[RC] Fwd: Why (Strong) Government is Needed

[David R. Block]

The blog based venture is called porkbusters, and features support from
Glenn Reynolds (www.instapundit.com) and N. Z. Bear
(http://truthlaidbear.com/porkbusters.php). I don't really think that
turning $250 Billion over to the Louisiana Kleptocracy is the answer to
Katrina. They didn't spend their levee money on levees before, so to punish
them for that, we give them more money!! 
 
Huh? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on ME. 
 
I don't think so. Not without an army of auditors attached. 
 
But the government (state and local) should have done more in the way of
evacuation. There were over 200 flooded school buses available before the
storm hit. Bush sending in Marines to force evacuation would only exacerbate
the screaming and the Hitler comparisons. 
 
In fact, you already have Cindy "Moonbat" Sheehan complaining about
"occupied New Orleans." First, Bush couldn't get help there fast enough, now
the military is staying too long. 
 
David 
 
"Your money does not cause my poverty. Refusal to believe this is at the
bottom of most bad economic thinking."--P. J. O'Rourke

-----Original Message-----
From: Centroids-bounces at radicalcentrism.com
[mailto:Centroids-bounces at radicalcentrism.com] On Behalf Of Dr. Ernie
Prabhakar
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 2:32 PM
To: Radical Centrist Discussions
Subject: [RC] Fwd: Why (Strong) Government is Needed


A surprisingly thoughtful piece (below) on the case for
activist/interventionist government.  Surprising, in that it was part of a
'mass' email from someone who reads my (theology) blog. 

It is fantasy to think that voluntary or private organizations will be able
to meet all needs; the charities themselves will tell you the necessity of
government involvement.

I know that some libertarians will defend their position of supporting
government *intervention* to "protect lives and property."  But, that seems
to dodge the question of whether the government also had a prior
-responsibility- to both pre-emptively evacuate, and pro-actively avoid
these problems through better zoning, construction, and enforcement.

On the other extreme, I have heard a rational(ist) argument that people who
'opt out' of a mandatory evacuation should be allowed to stay, as long as
they sign a contract or something to indicate that they must *not* be
rescued if the flood happens.  But, even ignoring the risk they present as
looters, do they really think that is something empathic human beings could
and must enforce against people, even if they later change their minds?

I've noticed many Libertarians pointing to Rita as a spectacle of government
incompetence, which is absolutely correct.  However, the only lesson I can
see from this is that we need *smarter* government, not (merely) less.  And
by continuing to mock and emasculate government, I feel that they are
actually exacerbating the problem.

--  Ernie P.

P.S.  I do, however, support principled, constructive responses like Our Own
Eric's, in asking local government officials to give up pork to help offset
the cost of Katrina's reconstruction, and set an example of discipline and
sacrifice.  Assuming I've read it correctly:

Katrina Relief and Pork Busting
http://www.ericsgrumbles.net/archives/122258.php
 

Begin forwarded message:



CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ONLINE TODAY
 
  <http://www.csmonitor.com/images/s.gif>
<http://www.csmonitor.com/images/s.gif> 
 <http://www.csmonitor.com/commentary/index.html> Commentary >
<http://www.csmonitor.com/commentary/letters.html> Letters to the Editor 
from the September 28, 2005 edition 




Letters

Government necessary for addressing natural disasters 

Regarding the Sept. 20 article, "Government failure, private success": The
needs of the people affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita are enormous and
cannot be served by voluntary, or private, help alone - regardless of how
efficient that help has been thus far. Government help is vital.

The reason why the spectacle of government's ineptitude was so disturbing
was because there is no private system that will automatically respond if
the key first responder system breaks down. It is fantasy to think that
voluntary or private organizations will be able to meet all needs; the
charities themselves will tell you the necessity of government involvement.

Even now, there is no system set up for large-scale delivery of healthcare
services. Are we to expect Wal-Mart, as laudable as its actions have been,
to provide this service to all the victims of Katrina? Government is a
necessity and insinuating otherwise is simplistic. The issue is making sure
that professionals are appointed to key positions in agencies like FEMA and
that sufficient funding and attention is devoted to helping make government
work properly.
Walter Sweet
Former program officer, September 11th Fund
New York



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