Many states across America have been struggling with extreme weather conditions. Hundreds who live across the South and Midwest were faced with battered homes and heart-breaking casualties. The ferocity of the disaster was reminiscent of previous weather storms that have destroyed American landscapes in the past; Hurricane Katrina immediately comes to mind. Obviously, the government will have to be pro-active in how it handles the aftermath of such devastation. One natural reaction would be to ensure those affected are given appropriate aid and monetary support from the government to allow them to re-build their lives.
However, not all politicians share this same view. According to an article published by the National Journal yesterday, Ron Paul has a different take on federal aid. During his appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” he said federal money was nothing but funds stolen from states and individual citizens. Therefore, he concludes that people who live in “tornado alley” should have adequate insurance for when disaster strikes. Paul deems the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) incredibly inefficient for wasteful spending.
Where Paul states that insurance is advised, he does have a point. When a family lives in a zone prone to disaster, it would seem preferable to take precautionary measures. However, there are many individuals who simply can’t afford such insurance, and they shouldn’t be penalized for it. Obviously, Ron Paul’s reputation will be tainted by these remarks, especially at a time when many are still trying to salvage what’s left of their lives. His comment will alienate many voters as he continues his presidential bid. Perhaps if Paul had been more constructive with his remarks toward reform of FEMA, his point would have had more validity.
Of course, Paul’s comments prove consistent with his Libertarian views. Nevertheless, the sheer intensity of these disasters outweighs his narrow-minded approach to the issue at hand. Where this federal emergency aid comes from is important, but what’s much more crucial at this stage is the well-being of innocent citizens. Unfortunately, the American voting population is now aware that not every candidate considers this sentiment a top priority.
This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.
