Shortly after 9/11 President Bush realized the necessary urge to better prepare the federal government in times of crises. Bush’s reaction was to enlarge the federal government by creating the Department of Homeland Security. From this Act also came the federalization of all airline employees, thus creating the largest increase in government in over 70 years. The result was bigger government, more federal employees and a federal agency in charge of all catastrophes, natural or manmade.
Four years after that dreaded day in September we have our first real look at how Bush’s big government will respond to such situations. Albeit a president who ran his campaign on the fact that he has made us safer and stronger.
Many times on the net I have read quite a bit about the role of the federal government and how it is only to assist states in such times of catastrophes. The media, too, has also not done its job in reporting what that role is either. Too many times the media has simply repeated falsehoods and politician’s bluffs when covering Katrina. It is a misconception and flatly wrong to assume that the federal government is merely an agent of the state waiting for a call of assistance.
The response of the federal government is not to assist states in such times, especially considering the new role of the Department of Homeland Security, but to actively take over.
According to the Department’s 2004 National Response Plan (a mandate by the Bush government), the federal government will assume a “proactive” response to catastrophic events. It goes on to define a catastrophic event as “any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions.” Concluding, “all catastrophic events are Incidents of National Significance” (pg. 43).
It is fair to assume that since New Orleans sits at the mouth of the largest river in North America consisting of a port which opens to the largest gulf in the world where some 25% of our oil is received into the country, that the city is also of grave strategic importance during any “catastrophic” event, including and not limited to terrorism. Homeland Security begins there at the waters edge.
In the Guiding Principals for Proactive Federal Response (in the DHS 2004 National Response Plan), which tell the government when, how and why to intervene, specifically states that no calls for assistance from the state level is needed when such a catastrophic event occurs: “Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances, suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of catastrophic magnitude” (pg. 43-44). Given the strategic importance of New Orleans and the magnitude of Katrina, this catastrophe clearly falls within such federal guidelines.
At that time, the Federal Response Plan also calls for the immediate deployment of all “identified federal response resources,” and to immediately begin “necessary operations as required to commence life-safety activities” (pg. 44).
Just from those two federal guidelines alone (and there are many more), many failures by the federal government are highlighted.
In sum: during times of catastrophic events it is not the role of the federal government to assist the states, it is federally mandated that it take charge. Nor does the federal government have to wait for SOS calls from the states either. The Department of Homeland Security (the federal government) assumes total control, immediately.
FEMA and Homeland Security had 3-4 days warning before the hurricane made landfall. The question then becomes what federal response resources were identified and put in place for this catastrophe?
Conservatives are quick to point out that the initial response belongs to state and local officials. I have no problems admitting that they failed also in their preparation for such an event. But the role of Bush’s big government, which tax payers fund, is to respond with or without state consent. It is the responsibility of government. Bush made it so. The role of Bush’s big government failed.
9.12.2005
Bush's Big Government and its Role
Posted by Chris at 1:26 PM
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10 comments:
Lets hope that the old saying, "we learn from our mistakes" is true and "history repeats itself" isn't. I pray all levels of govenment and the citizens will be more prepared when the next disaster (we know there will be one) strikes.
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
I have read that during the first day of the Hurricane, which mind you never really hit New Orleans, that the Bush Administration actually met all day to figure out what legal authority they had. It is sad that today you have to research your legal liabilities before sending help to those who need it.
I have also read that Bush had supplies, food, and people ready to help by 72 hours, which make it faster than any natural disaster to date.
Also, clear something up, isn't only airline security under government control? Cause if not, why are all the airlines bankrupt or striking?
Good research, I hate you for that you know.
I never had a doubt that in the case of this catastrophe it was the government’s job to response post haste.
Thanks for some accessibility to facts.
I am astounded how easy the media is led from disparaging the government to then saying, " oh wait maybe it wasn't really their fault".
To an average person looking at this on television and in the print media, the magnitude of it made it obvious it was the federal government’s job. They obviously don't want anyone to realize just how much it was their job, because basically they did not do their job, again. Just as they did it poorly when starting a war in Iraq; how much poor job performance must we stand for?
Thanks for the information.
I hope so too, Schantz. Thanks for reading.
Craig, I'm not sure why Bush had to meet all day to figure out his legal role considering that it was his administration that wrote the laws which guide the Department of Homeland Security. If he had to meet all day to figure out something that took me 15 minutes, then he is more oblivious than I originally thought.
So I guess the argument is now that Bush and his administration did respond correctly and quickly since you argue that his reaction is unprecedented. So why all the fuss by conservatives and the Bush administration about whose fault it is? I think you give Dems way too much credit in suggesting that they can control media and all political conversations in this country. If that were the case then we would have a majority. And I promise you Bush wouldn't be president.
I'm not even going to touch your suggesting that a hurricane didn't actually hit New Orleans. That's just insane.
Alice, I would have to say that you are correct in your comments. Had Bush not created Homeland Security, then I would agree with the people who say that the feds were limited in their power and scope. When one actually reads the federal guidelines it is clear that the feds role is plenary.
Thanks to all three for reading.
Excellent break-down of the federal role. I am going to link to this post on my blog if you do not mind.
All this from the party that wants to limit government. Given the size of the federal govt under Bush and their terrible response to Katrina, I'd hate to see what an anemic, stripped down govt (something (R's) always bitch about) would respond.
What I meant about the Hurrican not hitting New Orleans is that Gulfport MS actually was hit directly. They seemed to have gotten lost in all the events following the hurricane.
Those are some very interesting facts.
Thanks for the research as someone already said.
It would be nice if someone somewhere would bother to do a little research.
James, thank you. Link away my man. There is definite irony involved in all this.
Conservatives generally hate big government. Their favorite saying is the smaller the government the better. The compassionate conservative has done nothing more than the largest increase in federal government since the liberal FDR. Frankly, the reason why the federal government is responsible and does bear the burden of the "blame" is because George Bush made it so. Though I'm not sure how pointing out that Bush's government should abide by the law is considered passing blame, which is what the conservatives are screaming is happening now, but oh well. Politics is politics. Thanks for reading.
Craig, yes I agree, New Orleans was hit directly by a hurricane.
businessman, thank you. A little research never hurt anyone. But it is always easier to listen to the drug addicted Limbaugh and just believe what he says. Lazy people amaze me.
Thanks for reading.
I hear that Bush has excepted responsibility for some of the problems. Will anyone else step up?
God Bless America, God Save The Republic.
Oh I'm sure others will come forward and others will be forced to come forward as well David.
But remember, the failures did begin at the federal level, not vice versa. The federal government is in charge of ensuring that those at the local level are prepared as well. The failures begin at the top and work their way down. The feds are in charge of the local efforts and state efforts. Homeland Security assumes responsibility for all that. First responders fall well under the conrol of Homeland Security. So for Bush to accept some blame is right, then on to Homeland Security, FEMA and so forth. To begin at the local level and work backwards defies the reality that the feds are and were in charge long before Katrina ever hit. Does Bush deserve all the blame for failing? Of course not. But he is in charge. And his big government didn't work. It's time to do some rethinking of government's role.
Thanks for reading.
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