Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Let Wal-Mart take over Emergency Management: Replace FEMA with WEMA
Tallahassee Democrat ^ | 9/22/2005 | John Tierney

Posted on 09/22/2005 10:06:05 AM PDT by SirLinksalot

Let Wal-Mart take over emergency management

By John Tierney

NEW YORK TIMES

SLIDELL, La. - I don't think Washington needs any more czars. But if President Bush feels compelled to put someone in charge of rebuilding the Gulf Coast, let me suggest a name: Lee Scott.

Scott is the chief executive of Wal-Mart, one of the few institutions to improve its image here after Katrina sent a 15-foot wave across the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. If you mention the Red Cross or FEMA to people in Slidell, you hear rants about help that didn't arrive and phone lines that are always busy. If you mention state or national politicians, you hear obscenities.

But if you visit the Wal-Mart and the Sam's Club stores here, you hear shoppers who have been without power for weeks marveling that there are still generators in stock (and priced at $304.04). You hear about the trucks that rolled in right after the hurricane and the stuff the stores gave away: chain saws and boots for rescue workers, sheets and clothes for shelters, water and ice for the public.

"This was the only place we could find water those first days," said Rashan Smith, who was shopping with her three children at Wal-Mart on Saturday. "I still haven't managed to get through to FEMA. It's hard to say, but you get more justice at Wal-Mart."

That's the same assessment you hear from public officials in Louisiana, and there's even been talk of letting Wal-Mart take over FEMA's job. The company already has its own emergency operations center, where dozens of people began preparing for the hurricane the week before it hit by moving supplies and trucks into position.

I realize that Scott would not be a popular choice with Democrats. They concede that Wal-Mart and other private companies were far better prepared for Katrina than FEMA was, but they say FEMA would work fine if it were under the control of a virtuous, compassionate public servant - someone, as Bill Clinton suggested, like himself.

SNIP SNIP SNIP

In 1997, Congress gave FEMA $500,000 and ordered it to develop a comprehensive plan to evacuate New Orleans. The agency passed on the money to Louisiana, which used it instead to study building a new bridge. As Rita Beamish of The Associated Press reported on Sunday, FEMA didn't bother making sure a plan was drawn up - an aide to Witt said its job had just been to pass on the money.

How often do you suppose someone at Wal-Mart headquarters dispenses $500,000 and doesn't bother keeping track of it? It's legendary for tracking every transaction and pinching every penny.

When Scott, the chief executive officer, travels with the chief financial officer, they cut costs by sharing a hotel room.

That's the kind of leader we need to oversee the tens of billions that Washington will be spending on the Gulf Coast. Scott could cut costs while still leaving the area as well prepared for the next disaster as Wal-Mart was for Katrina.

David Vitter, the Republican senator from Louisiana, was so impressed with the rapid response of Wal-Mart and other companies that he promised to introduce a bill to abolish FEMA and contract its job out to the private sector. I'm afraid the Wal-Mart Emergency Management Agency will be a tough sell on Capitol Hill. But I'd vote for WEMA.

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alreadyposted; doasearch; fema; katrina; stopduplicateposts; walmart
Private initiative trumps government bureacracy anytime.
1 posted on 09/22/2005 10:06:10 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SirLinksalot
Wal-Mart or Halliburton?

Which do Libs hate more?

2 posted on 09/22/2005 10:08:22 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam Factoid:After forcing young girls to watch his men execute their fathers, Muhammad raped them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
I'm hardly a Wal-mart fan, but as a conservative I have to admire truth and efficiency. So I guess I have to second the motion!!! (gasping - :^)
3 posted on 09/22/2005 10:12:06 AM PDT by investigateworld ( Abortion stops a beating heart.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

How about a 50/50 thing and call it Waliburton or Hallimart? :D


4 posted on 09/22/2005 10:12:40 AM PDT by Unkosified (Patiently waiting for Ted Kennedy's manslaughter trial for 36 years now.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SirLinksalot

Heh Heh - that ought to get the anti-WalMart juices flowing. :)


5 posted on 09/22/2005 10:18:19 AM PDT by meyer (The DNC prefers advancing the party at the expense of human lives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SirLinksalot

Great post. Ya gotta love Wally-world!


6 posted on 09/22/2005 10:21:12 AM PDT by NCSteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SirLinksalot
Some of the comments I read really put FEMA down. But I would challenge anyone to try to figure what to do when you had three idiots, the Mayor, Governor and Senator of LA, hollering they had it under control in your ear. The coordination was lost because of the utter incompetent of these three and the concept that they had it under control. The lack of communication and the normal stand down by the Feds, with at least 24 to 48 to get to the area, was primarily the reason for most the problems. In spite, when the Feds were begged for, the reaction was fast. And the MSM didn't help at all with their uniformed responses.
7 posted on 09/22/2005 11:02:01 AM PDT by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SirLinksalot

The link indicates this story originated from the New York Times. Was this actually printed in their physical newspaper? I'd be shocked.


8 posted on 09/22/2005 11:04:01 AM PDT by MarineBrat (When it rains, New Orleans makes its own gravy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SirLinksalot

This is all way too Adam Smith and the "Invisible Hand" of self interest for the socialists in the government bureaucracy to understand or even allow. In the future, private sector companies will be forbidden by law to provide any assistance in a natural or man-made disaster. If congress doesn't see to it, the lawyers will.


9 posted on 09/22/2005 11:10:38 AM PDT by elbucko
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson