"Fixing" FEMA

When my parents divorced in the early 1980's, the mother (who usually gained custody of the children) usually got screwed by the courts. At some point, because now-single mothers were struggling to survive, the pendulum swung hard in the other direction - men started getting excessively screwed financially in terms of alimony and support for their ex-wives.

In other words, change was necessary, but we're still not at an acceptable middle.

Something similar may be occurring at FEMA. After they got screwed by fraudulent claims last year, their defense is to make it difficult for individuals to file claims for money. Their system, however, may excessively delay funding, and they plan on giving less of it initially while claims are pending. Only time will tell on this.

In fairness to FEMA, it seems they have gotten a few things potentially right here.

- They clarified plans to help evacuate southern Louisiana.

- They clarified the method it would use to pay landlords for rent for displaced hurricane victims.

- They clarified to the states that they should no longer rely on the Army Corps of Engineers, and instead make their own arrangements for disaster relief.

Wait... that last part can't be right. We're all still paying taxes, right? I know my taxes didn't get cut. Now, the government says it will do LESS - actually, here, they're saying they will do nothing - for displaced Americans?

Wonderful. American Government - doing less with more since 2001.

-R.