Friday, September 16, 2005
The President's Response to Katrina
President Bush sounded presidential last night as he spoke from New Orleans about the needs of people and the government response to devastation caused by Hurricaine Katrina. He described what government will do to relieve people suffering from the effects of the worst hurricaine in U.S. history, how government will rebuild the area in concert with the community and state, and what government will do to be prepared for future calamities if they happen. The message I am sure for most people was timely and comforting.
I sat and trembled. Like the terrorist attacks on 9/11 government will use this natural catastrophe to intervene more and gain greater control over American lives. In one breath the President described the greatest government dole in American history; he encouraged everyone in the area of devastation to register so they can get in on part of the action.
"The Department of Homeland Security is registering evacuees who are now in shelters, churches, or private homes – whether in the Gulf region or far away. I have signed an order providing immediate assistance to people from the disaster area. As of today, more than 500 thousand evacuee families have gotten emergency help to pay for food, clothing, and other essentials. Evacuees who have not yet registered should contact FEMA or the Red Cross. We need to know who you are, because many of you will also be eligible for broader assistance in the future."
In the next breath he told how the government would rebuild business with government incentives. Here he gives lip service to free enterprise while he describes even greater government intervention.
"Tonight I propose the creation of a Gulf Opportunity Zone, encompassing the region of the disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within this zone, we should provide immediate incentives for job-creating investment … tax relief for small businesses … incentives to companies that create jobs ... and loans and loan guarantees for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises, to get them up and running again. It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity … it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty … and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region."
The crowning moment, however, that was most frightening to me was his description of the government role in handling future national emergencies.
"The government of this nation will do its part as well. Our cities must have clear and up-to-date plans for responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or terrorist attack … for evacuating large numbers of people in an emergency … and for providing the food, water, and security they would need. In a time of terror threats and weapons of mass destruction, the danger to our citizens reaches much wider than a fault line or a flood plain. I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority. Therefore, I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to undertake an immediate review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America. "
For someone, whose goal is greater executive power, like 9/11, Hurricaine Katrina is a godsend. The president will extend the power of Homeland Security and the military into more facets of our lives.
"... the system, at every level of government, was not well coordinated, and was overwhelmed in the first few days. It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces – the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice. "
The cost of these initiatives will be staggering. How will government pay? Like it did in Iraq. These initiatives will be financed with greater government debt. Much of this debt is owed to foreign governments (including Red China). And administered by the IMF? Instead of encouraging individual self-reliance, the president is selling our "national soul" to external controls.
To see President Bush's complete speech go to http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/15/politics/main851262.shtml.
I sat and trembled. Like the terrorist attacks on 9/11 government will use this natural catastrophe to intervene more and gain greater control over American lives. In one breath the President described the greatest government dole in American history; he encouraged everyone in the area of devastation to register so they can get in on part of the action.
"The Department of Homeland Security is registering evacuees who are now in shelters, churches, or private homes – whether in the Gulf region or far away. I have signed an order providing immediate assistance to people from the disaster area. As of today, more than 500 thousand evacuee families have gotten emergency help to pay for food, clothing, and other essentials. Evacuees who have not yet registered should contact FEMA or the Red Cross. We need to know who you are, because many of you will also be eligible for broader assistance in the future."
In the next breath he told how the government would rebuild business with government incentives. Here he gives lip service to free enterprise while he describes even greater government intervention.
"Tonight I propose the creation of a Gulf Opportunity Zone, encompassing the region of the disaster in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within this zone, we should provide immediate incentives for job-creating investment … tax relief for small businesses … incentives to companies that create jobs ... and loans and loan guarantees for small businesses, including minority-owned enterprises, to get them up and running again. It is entrepreneurship that creates jobs and opportunity … it is entrepreneurship that helps break the cycle of poverty … and we will take the side of entrepreneurs as they lead the economic revival of the Gulf region."
The crowning moment, however, that was most frightening to me was his description of the government role in handling future national emergencies.
"The government of this nation will do its part as well. Our cities must have clear and up-to-date plans for responding to natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or terrorist attack … for evacuating large numbers of people in an emergency … and for providing the food, water, and security they would need. In a time of terror threats and weapons of mass destruction, the danger to our citizens reaches much wider than a fault line or a flood plain. I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority. Therefore, I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to undertake an immediate review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America. "
For someone, whose goal is greater executive power, like 9/11, Hurricaine Katrina is a godsend. The president will extend the power of Homeland Security and the military into more facets of our lives.
"... the system, at every level of government, was not well coordinated, and was overwhelmed in the first few days. It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces – the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice. "
The cost of these initiatives will be staggering. How will government pay? Like it did in Iraq. These initiatives will be financed with greater government debt. Much of this debt is owed to foreign governments (including Red China). And administered by the IMF? Instead of encouraging individual self-reliance, the president is selling our "national soul" to external controls.
To see President Bush's complete speech go to http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/15/politics/main851262.shtml.
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