Stealing a line from local radio host, Jan Mikelson, "it is easy to stand on principle when you are on high ground." He was refering to the flooding Iowa experienced this Spring.
You won't find an enumerated power in the United States Constitution that grants the Federal government the power to provide disaster relief. However, I will argue that in the most serious cases, the Federal government does have a role. The more devistating and overwhelming the circumstances the easier it is to make the argument that "promote the general Welfare" applies here.
While the Federal government may have a role, it is not one of a first responder waving a blank checkbook (or a stack of debit cards). In all cases, disaster preparedness, response, and relief should begin at the most local level. If my first reaction to a situation is to wait for the government (at any level) to respond, I am misguided. If my house is on fire, I am not waiting for the fire department to get my family to safety. If there is an intruder in the house, I am not waiting for the police to show up to protect my children. Assistance and relief should come first from surrounding neighbors, towns, counties and states.
You give me some good food for thought. I'll have to let what you said about promoting the general welfare simmer for awhile. And I agree with you that the person in need should do everything in their power to help themselves first. But I don't think the local fire department compares to the issue of a mandate for the federal government. The fire department is an insurance policy already paid for by the recipients of the service recieved in a time of need. When the Feds decide to practice benevolence, they have to take money from the taxpayers first, or print it.
The "Fire Department" example was simply intended to illustrate the foolishness of feeling entitled to be rescued (even if you pre-paid for the service) vs being self reliant. I was not trying to create equivalence between the role of the local fire department and that of any Federal agency or program.
In fact, in the event of a disaster, local services are exactly from where the first rescue and support efforts should originate.
3 comments:
Here is some red meat for you:
Stealing a line from local radio host, Jan Mikelson, "it is easy to stand on principle when you are on high ground." He was refering to the flooding Iowa experienced this Spring.
You won't find an enumerated power in the United States Constitution that grants the Federal government the power to provide disaster relief. However, I will argue that in the most serious cases, the Federal government does have a role. The more devistating and overwhelming the circumstances the easier it is to make the argument that "promote the general Welfare" applies here.
While the Federal government may have a role, it is not one of a first responder waving a blank checkbook (or a stack of debit cards). In all cases, disaster preparedness, response, and relief should begin at the most local level. If my first reaction to a situation is to wait for the government (at any level) to respond, I am misguided. If my house is on fire, I am not waiting for the fire department to get my family to safety. If there is an intruder in the house, I am not waiting for the police to show up to protect my children. Assistance and relief should come first from surrounding neighbors, towns, counties and states.
You give me some good food for thought. I'll have to let what you said about promoting the general welfare simmer for awhile. And I agree with you that the person in need should do everything in their power to help themselves first. But I don't think the local fire department compares to the issue of a mandate for the federal government. The fire department is an insurance policy already paid for by the recipients of the service recieved in a time of need. When the Feds decide to practice benevolence, they have to take money from the taxpayers first, or print it.
The "Fire Department" example was simply intended to illustrate the foolishness of feeling entitled to be rescued (even if you pre-paid for the service) vs being self reliant. I was not trying to create equivalence between the role of the local fire department and that of any Federal agency or program.
In fact, in the event of a disaster, local services are exactly from where the first rescue and support efforts should originate.
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