Romney wants to shut down FEMA?

[ejpint]

Nothing is more important than money.

[puppydoggie]

because americablog.com sounds very official and reliable.

[LoveTrains]

The thing that I find most interesting about Gov. Romney is that most people that I know that are from Mass (or lived in Mass when he was governor, including me) really do not like him. There is a reason that he was only gov for one term - he knew he would NEVER win a second term. The tide of public opinion turned against him after about one year in office.

[LoveTrains]

Oct 29, 2012 16:46:56 GMT -5 operagirl said:

This is from CNN: Romney wants each state to handle disasters, not FEMA.
Romney wants more responsibility for emergency management in states
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/29/romney-wants-more-responsibility-for-emergency-management-in-states/

So let's talk about that idea. Do people think it will work?

My state is bankrupt. How many other states are bankrupt? The thing about the federal government is that they can run a deficit and print their own money. States can't do that.

I don't trust the states to handle this.

[ejpint]

Oct 29, 2012 16:49:00 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oct 29, 2012 16:46:56 GMT -5 operagirl said:

This is from CNN: Romney wants each state to handle disasters, not FEMA.
Romney wants more responsibility for emergency management in states
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/29/romney-wants-more-responsibility-for-emergency-management-in-states/

So let's talk about that idea. Do people think it will work?

My state is bankrupt. How many other states are bankrupt? The thing about the federal government is that they can run a deficit and print their own money. States can't do that.

I don't trust the states to handle this.

I live in a state that was devastated by floods four years ago. The hardest hit cities are still barely recovering, and that's WITH FEMA assistance. I can't imagine our state having the capability to overcome a disaster of this magnitude without federal assistance.

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2012 16:49:00 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oct 29, 2012 16:46:56 GMT -5 operagirl said:

This is from CNN: Romney wants each state to handle disasters, not FEMA.
Romney wants more responsibility for emergency management in states
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/29/romney-wants-more-responsibility-for-emergency-management-in-states/

So let's talk about that idea. Do people think it will work?

My state is bankrupt. How many other states are bankrupt? The thing about the federal government is that they can run a deficit and print their own money. States can't do that.

I don't trust the states to handle this.

Obviously there are huge issues w/ the management of FEMA but I think that should be fixed, not that each emergency should be a state's responsibility.

I mean, if San Francisco was wiped off the map by earthquake and the rest of the United States, including the government just says "good luck, assholes!" then why the f are we even going to BE the Untied States of America? I can't imagine a more important time to get aid from the federal government.

[cjeanette]

Umm....no. I am often a fan of state control over fed, but this is a bit different. There are times when it is best to pool resources.

[flygirl22]

Question: Do people who think the federal government should be limited and most if not all public services be handed to the states vote for increases in state taxes? Or support tax increases to fund this type of thing? Where is this money from the states supposed to come from?

[Deleted]

Oct 29, 2012 17:02:35 GMT -5 flygirl22 said:

Where is this money from the states supposed to come from?

exactly. That is how Romney will reduce the national deficit and goverment spending. It's no longer his expense nor his problem. 8-D

[EmilieMadison]

Oct 29, 2012 17:02:35 GMT -5 flygirl22 said:

Question: Do people who think the federal government should be limited and most if not all public services be handed to the states vote for increases in state taxes? Or support tax increases to fund this type of thing? Where is this money from the states supposed to come from?

MAGIC!!

[pugz]

I pretty much don't trust states to handle anything....

[ssmjlm]

Fixing FEMA =/= making it a state responsibility.

There needs to be more Government accountability, esp those that are in high ranking offices that aren't politically appointed.

[flygirl22]

Oct 29, 2012 17:26:17 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Fixing FEMA =/= making it a state responsibility.

There needs to be more Government accountability, esp those that are in high ranking offices that aren't politically appointed.

Totally agree that fixing FEMA doesn't equal state responsibility. But Romney actually said that the states have better resources to handle this type of thing... and that the Federal Government can't afford it. That kind of implies that he wants them to handle it. Right?

[livinitup]

What the F Romney? Don't you believe in PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for disaster relief? Why do we need the "government" to interfer with our personal response to a disaster?

[Myrrhine]

Maybe he saw that X-files movie.

[AAM2012]

Oct 29, 2012 17:19:34 GMT -5 operagirl said:

Being in Louisiana, home of corruption: 7 years after Katrina, streets have not been repaired, street lights are sparse in many places, some houses are still the way they were the day after. Some things are too big for the states. FEMA didn't exactly "give" me anything because their aid was netted off my flood insurance proceeds, but some people couldn't afford immediate housing and needed their help.

But, I'm generally for a strong federal government.

I would not want the state of Louisiana to handle ANYthing. That state is sooooo corrupt.

So if the states now take over FEMA does that mean those who have proper flood and homeowner's insurance would still have to pay more if we run out of money? It works out best to spread risk as much as possible; I can only image what hurricane (or wildfire) prone states would end up paying. No thanks!

[cowboyjoe]

How would states who regularly have disasters ever begin to recover on their own? This makes no sense.

[hannamaren]

Wouldnt it just end up being like when a poor country has a hurricane/earthwuake/tsunami and the big rich countries give money?
The poor or bad luck states would have a storm and then the lucky/richer states would give money?

[curbsideprophet]

Sounds like a bad idea to me. I also where the money for this would come from.

[thatgirl]

FEMA is a HOT mess! Everyone who works as part of managing the agency is very efficient in making certain they are well compensated in both salary and benefit/retirement packages BUT when it comes to getting resources to tax-payers they walk in circles!!!

I am not sure what the best solution is, but FEMA has PROVEN its self as ineffective if you look at the budget and year-end expenses and spending.

What I can not figure out is WHERE do people THINK ANY OF THIS MONEY COMES FROM!?!??!? tip: if you work look in your paycheck that $$ is going to keep shrinking.

[pamela]

Oct 29, 2012 16:49:00 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Oct 29, 2012 16:46:56 GMT -5 operagirl said:

This is from CNN: Romney wants each state to handle disasters, not FEMA.
Romney wants more responsibility for emergency management in states
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/29/romney-wants-more-responsibility-for-emergency-management-in-states/

So let's talk about that idea. Do people think it will work?

My state is bankrupt. How many other states are bankrupt? The thing about the federal government is that they can run a deficit and print their own money. States can't do that.
I don't trust the states to handle this.

Yes, because the bolded sounds like a brilliant way to run a country.

[sunny]

he also suggested privatizing it. yes, that sounds just peachy to me!

[kellbell191]

Oct 29, 2012 16:43:49 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

The thing that I find most interesting about Gov. Romney is that most people that I know that are from Mass (or lived in Mass when he was governor, including me) really do not like him. There is a reason that he was only gov for one term - he knew he would NEVER win a second term. The tide of public opinion turned against him after about one year in office.

This. I only lived in Boston for four years but everyone seemed to have some negative story about how out of touch with reality and condescending he is to normal people. Like his disbelief that the price of the T had gone over 50 cents. Or the way he treated the staff at the restaurant where I worked.

[80sjunkie]

Oct 30, 2012 9:31:45 GMT -5 sunny said:

he also suggested privatizing it. yes, that sounds just peachy to me!

Yeah because the private sector wouldn't care about low salaries for top management.

[flygirl22]

Oct 30, 2012 8:59:10 GMT -5 thatgirl said:

FEMA is a HOT mess! Everyone who works as part of managing the agency is very efficient in making certain they are well compensated in both salary and benefit/retirement packages BUT when it comes to getting resources to tax-payers they walk in circles!!!

I am not sure what the best solution is, but FEMA has PROVEN its self as ineffective if you look at the budget and year-end expenses and spending.

What I can not figure out is WHERE do people THINK ANY OF THIS MONEY COMES FROM!?!??!? tip: if you work look in your paycheck that $$ is going to keep shrinking.

This doesn't even make any sense.. no one was asking where this money is coming from now. They were asking where it was going to come from if the States took it over. You think your state currently has enough budget to cover a major natural disaster?

[Deleted]

Anyone who thinks natural disasters should be in the hands of the state, do you have any experience living in an area where there is a major natural disaster?