Posted on 01/21/2008 9:27:38 AM PST by ddtorquee
A resilient society depends on active, engaged citizens. The way for Washington to encourage resilience is not to throw more money at problems or to place new burdens on business. Government should harness the inherent strength of the American people and the private sector in order to build a society that may bend--but not break--if catastrophe does strike.
The American people are ready, willing and able to take a more active role in our civil defense. As the White House's own Lessons Learned report on the federal response to Hurricane Katrina notes, faith-based organizations and community groups successfully provided support to the victims of the hurricane "in spite of, not because of, the government." Within 72 hours of Katrina's hitting the Gulf Coast, for instance, a faith-based nonprofit organization--Helping Americans Needing Disaster Support, or Hands--formed to speed delivery of supplies to victims. Just a week after being created, Hands was sending 75 truckloads of supplies for every one FEMA truckload.
We can help strengthen citizen resilience, though, particularly through Community Emergency Response Teams--organized groups of trained and equipped citizens that can perform lifesaving activities before public-safety first responders arrive and also support those first responders once they're on the scene. And when people provide assistance in good faith after a disaster, we should shield them from lawsuits. After Katrina, concerns about liability protection prevented hundreds of churches from helping the evacuation effort. The Good Samaritan shouldn't have to retain a lawyer.
Further, we must set clear standards, based on proven practices, so that local leaders can build resilience across the country, making clear to citizens, businesses, and charitable organizations what their roles will be when disaster strikes.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
A resilient society also depends on armed citizens, Rudy. And since you are pathologically opposed to that, I'd say you have no idea what you are talking about.
A RINOS in campaign mode.
good point.
and the difference is?
Why? To introduce government interference where it's not needed? Absolutely contrary to what's needed. The rest of the article makes a good case for liberty and self-sufficiency. Trying to paint over his statist stripes, and missed a spot.
good catch
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