Hand outs and Katrina

If you think those two things are wholly separated, you are mistaken. It had become quite obvious to me that the two are not as unrelated as it would seem in the aftermath of the hurricane Katrina. How do they relate? Look at the blame being placed on the government for the thousands of people waiting for their help.

The issue that I ponder is that as the government has doled out handouts, or public aid, for virtually 80% of the American public, it has lend itself out as fix all solution to all. The government will bail us out of trouble has become the mantra for such a huge portion of our society, especially for our poor, but not wholly isolated there.

With FEMA, Social Security, Welfare, and other government projects, we have become weak. We simply wait for someone else to bail us out of trouble. It was told to me today that days before leading up to Katrina, citizens in Mississippi were offered a free bus ride out of town to escape the impending carnage. Only a small fraction took up the offer. The government will get up out of trouble.

In New Orleans, people remained at home, some who could not leave at all. But a vast majority refused to leave, again relying on the government to make it better. This spoiled parental relationship has proved disastrous. Hundreds, possibly thousands could be dead. Horrific destruction. And no end in sight. And to make it worse, finally on the fifth day, supplies have gotten there.

This is the problem I have with a entitlement society. It makes it's citizens reliant on a fragile system. As shown this week, one kink in the supply leaves confusion down the line. Should FEMA been more prepared? Yes. Should the government, federal, state and local, been more prepared? Yes. Should the citizens been more prepared. Yes. And all were not.

I am sick and tired of hearing blame on all except the citizens that live in these trodden areas. Why weren't they more prepared? If all new that the levees were weak, why not be more prepared? Because when you depend on someone else for everything, i.e. the government, you simply don't know how to take care of yourself.