tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post112555112969703877..comments2024-03-28T12:12:45.202-05:00Comments on Independent Country: Wrong Troops, Wrong Gulf, Wrong TimeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11620822221586726516noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post-1125787506481292202005-09-03T17:45:00.000-05:002005-09-03T17:45:00.000-05:00Thanks for writing. I have responded in the separa...Thanks for writing. I have responded in the separate post<BR/><A HREF="http://independentcountry.blogspot.com/2005/09/libertarian-priorities-and-disaster.html" REL="nofollow">Libertarian Priorities and Disaster Relief</A>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11620822221586726516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post-1125694443442930632005-09-02T15:54:00.000-05:002005-09-02T15:54:00.000-05:00I agree wholeheartedly that the government did not...I agree wholeheartedly that the government did not plan well for this event, nor did it handle the fallout of the hurricane as well as it could have or should have. <BR/>The loss of life and distruction of property have been horrendous. Watching a part of our country go from the first world to the third world in a matter of days is horrible.<BR/>But I wonder what government could fully prepare for an event like we saw. I fear that a more Libertarian government would not want to get involved in the upgrading of the levies. There would be property rights issues involved let alone the “pork barrel” feel that the infrastructure improvement would have.<BR/>A government focused on war in the Persian Gulf and a “war on terror” moves resources away from infrastructure towards the aforementioned wars.<BR/>A more socialist government might do a better job at the infrastructure than any other type of government (Amsterdam comes to mind), but then other things are given up. Just as with the “war on terror” one must decide how much freedom is given up for security.<BR/>Furthermore, there are scientists out there predicting all sorts of catastrophes. When the catastrophes don't happen, we think the planning for them is a waste: pork barrel. When a catastrophe does happen, we look back and say, "We should have..." How much planning (and money) should we put into the possibility of an asteroid strike? How about a huge earthquake that destroys California? How about the bird flu? For every prediction that is fulfilled there are scores of ones that aren’t.<BR/>Last night I was flipping through the radio and came across someone (I don’t know who) comparing America to a rich kid. We have grown up with a silver spoon in our mouth, expecting to have things handed to us. When disaster does strike, we don’t know how to deal with it.<BR/>I honestly think this is much more the problem that we have than the government. People don’t want to waste their taxes on probabilities. We have gotten used to being in the first world and don’t know how to react to a third world event. I don’t have an answer. I just don’t think the question is quite that simple.<BR/><BR/>James, I do have another question for you. What is the Libertarian response to disaster relief? Is FEMA something that is important? Does the government have a responsibility to help its citizens when disaster strikes?Gavinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05577745025792490091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204289.post-1125586279806004272005-09-01T09:51:00.000-05:002005-09-01T09:51:00.000-05:00I'd never thought of it in those terms. You're abs...I'd never thought of it in those terms. You're absolutely right, though. Excellent post!Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17195785408018792847noreply@blogger.com