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Craftsman -> RE: What happened to FEMA? (3/10/2006 2:51:25 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JohnWarren
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ORIGINAL: Craftsman
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ORIGINAL: Chaingang
Oh good...that'll fix everything...
"Bush Orders DHS to Create Center for Faith-Based Aid"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/07/AR2006030702065_pf.html
Is there a problem with trying to remove barriers that stand between disaster relief funds and the people who need them?
If channelling relief through faith based as well as other mentioned social and relief organisations is not acceptable, what would you suggest is the proper approach?
Tax money that goes to those who discriminate can't be used by government agencies that doen't. This sort of thing will just weaken FEMA more.
The churches and such did a fine job without having access to non-believers' pockets. Let's say that Christian group that shows up at veteran's funerals to heckle the family decided to open a soup kitchen.
Frankly, I'm not even in favor of tax exemptions for churches. Look at the "wonderful" work Scientology has done... supported by not having to pay taxes
As it happens, I agree with you. We cannot allow any agency that is bound by law and duty to struggle against discrimination to channel aid through those who do discriminate. That is a pretty wide-cutting blade, however.
The American Red Cross, of which I am not only a supporter but a long-time volunteer, does get official recognition, at least, from the federal disaster relief agencies. I don't know how it is in this country, but in the San Salvadore earthquakes some years back, ARC was selling supplies, not giving them to those who needed them. Is this discrimination?
The courts often mandate participation in Alcoholics Anonymous or other treatment and self-help programs. Many of these have a religious and/or spiritual basis. Is this a tacit discrimination against the atheist, since AA is based on the concept of "turning our lives and our wills over to the care of God."?
I agree that FEMA was and is weakened. I also know I was with a medical team in a staging area, waiting to get assignment and clearance to enter the disaster area. We were kept in staging for over 12 days. We were kept there by people who did not have FEMA identification. We were kept there by people who identified as State and Local Law Enforcement. To keep a long comment short, those of us whoi were there tell a different story from those who were not there.
I don't know what the answers are. I doubt many do. I've heard it said that there are as many opinions on any given subject as there are anal sphincters. I personally wonder how it can be that in government in general and in the general population that the the number of horses is exceeded by a large amount by horses' hindquarters.
Bottom line of my thinking --- there is a level of corruption in both the public and the private sectors. The people, the victims, are the ones who pay the price, not the politicians or the CEOs. It would be nice to have answers, but I doubt they will be forthcoming from those who position themselves as leaders.
Sorry for the rant. I'm not attacking anyone, nor am I arguing. I certainly don't know much about much.
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