Paul at Wizbang as an outstanding essay on the difference between ownership and government assistance. All I can say is go read it. He says it best.
From the WAPO:
John D. Podesta, former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and head of a leading Democratic think tank, says Democrats must start by casting Bush's brand of conservatism -- emphasizing an "ownership society" elevating individualism and private enterprise -- as fundamentally flawed and hostile to society's collective responsibility to help citizens, especially the neediest.
And Paul's answer:
OK Let's talk turkey... Who was most affected by this storm? NEWSFLASH: The business owners left town! I was in Memphis 24 hours before the storm hit.
WHO WHO WHO was the most effected? THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT THEIR WHOLE LIVES DEPENDING ON GOVERNMENT!
The whole welfare state should be on trial here. It was (overwhelmingly) the people who have been taught their whole lives that someone would "give them a check" who gathered like sheep in the Dome waiting for the government to solve their problems. Guess what? Government, predictably, failed them.
Who in their right mind would argue that the answer to these problems is to make people MORE dependent on government? That's insanity in its purest form.
The answer isn't to make poor people more dependent, the answer is to make the poor people more self sufficient! (Amazing I know)
The Democrats don't want an "ownership society." Well, guess what? Car ownership made the difference in how some people survived!
Go read the whole thing. Another outstanding example why Wizbang is at the top of the blogging food chain.
VW
Sad. Another conservative blaming the victims.
Government's first responsibility is to protect the governed. Libertarians argue that is the ONLY reason government should exist.
If it fails in that duty, why does it exist?
Posted by: Denny Hix | Monday, September 12, 2005 at 10:20
No one is blaming the victims. If anything, I'm blaming the government.
The government should be encouraging, as much as possible, an ownership society. When individuals are capable of owning things instead of receiving handouts, they will be better prepared to survive. Like the author said, "Those who owned a car or who had access to private transportation, survived."
It's a fact that in any given catastrophe, the government's ability to help you is worsened by the severity of the disaster. Government, for all its good intentions, is slow and unwieldy, even in the best of circumstances.
Knowing this, each individual should realize that in any given emergencey, it is up to the individual to be prepared in case circumstances warrant; to fend for himself in the immediate hours and days.
Many of the people were not evacuated because the local and state authorities' failed to follow their own plans.
Hundreds of school buses sat idle that could have been used to evacuate people before the storm. Afterwards, they sat in a huge mud puddle. Worthless.
We all want and hope the government will provide. If you are smart, you know they probably won't - at least at first.
If you want to wait for the government, fine. I'll see you at your funeral, pal. I'm getting me and my family out.
One last thing. The government's duty to protect is not necessarily on an individual basis. Each of us don't have our own personal policeman, paramedic and fireman that followus around 24/7.
Sometimes, if resources are stretched, we might have to wait. If someone breaks into my home and tries to hurt me or my family, If i can do something besides call 911, I will. if that means I shoot the bastard, and all that the cops have to do is bag the body when they get there, so be it.
Ownership doesn't just imply owning material goods. Ownership means you take responsibility for you and your family. You own the situation so take respoonsibility.
It's not about being a victim and waiting for help. It's about not being a victim and helping yourself. THAT is ownership.
Posted by: The Violence Worker | Monday, September 12, 2005 at 12:50