bounty44
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Joined: 11/1/2014
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more "ridiculous shit" from the heritage foundation:
http://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/report/learning-disaster-the-role-federalism-and-the-importance-grassroots
quote:
In the aftermath of the widespread devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the unsteady response to conditions in New Orleans, some argued to give the federal government a much more intrusive role in meeting future catastrophic emergencies. [1] While improvements in the federal response are necessary, turning responsibility for everything over to Washington is a terrible idea. [ridiculous shit!]
The right response to domestic emergencies requires effective action from state and local governments, private-sector and voluntary associations, and communities and individuals, as well as support from federal officials. The best way to ensure cooperation and to meet shared responsibilities is not to put big government in charge. [ridiculous shit!]
Federalism has long been the guiding principle for allocating responsibilities to meet the needs of citizens after disasters. Remaining committed to a federalist approach is not just being a slave to tradition. It is a precedent based on practicality and experience. Both scientific research on disaster response and an analysis of recent emergencies argue that it is still the right approach. Many of the best efforts to save lives and safeguard property highlight the vital role that nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private-sector initiatives, and individual civic deeds play during extreme emergencies. In fact, they argue that rather than being supplanted by federal oversight, grassroots responses should be the cornerstone of the national effort. [ridiculous shit!]
The Constitution and Governance
Embodied in the U.S. Constitution, the principles of limited government and federalism give citizens and local communities the greatest role in shaping their lives. The 10th Amendment states that "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." In matters relating to their communities, local jurisdictions have the preponderance of authority and autonomy. This just makes sense: The people closest to the problem are the ones best equipped to find the best solution. [ridiculous shit!]
America's system for disaster response reflects these principles. The core assumption is that incidents are typically managed best at the lowest possible geographic, organizational, and jurisdictional levels. Several reasons justify this approach.
• Every community is unique. Preparedness planning must account for local conditions of culture, geography, language, infrastructure, politics, and numerous other factors.
• Local communities have the resources. Since local communities are responsible for public safety, they already have the preponderance of assets that are usually required to deal with problems. Of the millions of emergency responders in the United States-including fire, police, emergency services, utility workers, medical personnel, and volunteer groups-the vast majority work either for or with local communities.
• Time matters. In most disasters, the first few hours are critical. Most life-threatening injuries require immediate attention. Since local responders are already in the jurisdiction, they are likely the only personnel that can reach the disaster scene in time to make a difference. [what?? I thought the federal government could mobilize faster??]
• Priorities matter. Large-scale disasters will require states and the federal government to prioritize the allocation of additional resources to help affected communities throughout a region. The more robust the local response, the more aid can be focused on the areas most greatly affected by the disaster.
• It encourages preparedness. If local communities are not primarily responsible for disaster response, they will be less likely to invest in the resources and assets needed to safeguard their citizens. [yeah but self reliance is "ridiculous shit!"]
A federalist approach to disaster response for a nation like the United States, with its vast population, wide geographical area, diverse regional conditions, and traditions of strong state and local governments and volunteerism, is the only practical choice. [ridiculous shit!]...
The role of these national organizations, like the role of the federal government, is supporting-not taking over-local communities
Grassroots Response
Washington's plans offer a framework for providing national assistance to local communities in times of need, both through state and local governments and through national-level NGOs. They are necessary but not sufficient. They are designed to supplement, not supplant, grassroots responses- and with good reason. Current research on disaster preparedness argues that community-centered disaster preparations are far more effective than Washington-centric planning.
More Effective Planning. A study by the Center for the Advancement of Collaborative Strategies in Health examined how communities would react to two kinds of terrorist attacks: a smallpox outbreak and a dirty bomb explosion. The study found that most extant response plans will not work. Surveys suggested that most individuals would not follow instructions such as reporting to vaccination sites or sheltering-in-place when required.
The study found that most people have common-sense reasons for noncompliance. People have little faith in plans that affect their personal safety and that were developed without their direct involvement. The public has little confidence that the planning of professionals necessarily offers the best course of action to protect themselves and their families. This is especially true when plans ask them to do things that are counterintuitive, such as not going to school to pick up their children during an emergency. On the other hand, the study found that disaster planning that included input from the community resulted not only in higher quality plans, but also in far higher levels of community approval and confidence in the plans.[9]
More Meaningful Response.Not only does community-centered planning offer better prospects for developing better plans and obtaining greater public support, but grassroots efforts make for more resilient responses in the event of disaster. Indeed, community-centered actions, in which citizens take care of themselves and their neighbors, are more effective and have therapeutic mental health effects. One disaster research study found that when community ties "are strong, supportive, and responsive to the individual's physical and emotional needs, the capacity to withstand and overcome stress is heightened."[10] Citizens feel more secure and better cared for when they are looked after by members of their own community.
More Versatile Response. Another reason why grassroots responses are essential is that as the scale of the disaster increases, so does the likelihood of confusion and ambiguity. Under these conditions, improvisation and adaptation are crucial to eliciting an effective response, particularly in the first hours and days of a catastrophe before organized responders can reach the scene. Research has found that the communities themselves are the best source of innovation and ingenuity, and the stronger the community, the more resourceful and robust is the nature of its adaptive qualities.[11]
"The best job," argued Representative Jim McCrery (R-LA), was done by "ordinary people who came out of their homes [whaaaaaaaaaat??] and bought diapers and pillows and blankets and food and stayed at the high school gymnasium or wherever, the civic center in some small town and cooked for the people who were there, who gave them rides to the Social Security office to make sure they got their checks."[12] Additionally, local faith-based organizations responded quickly and effectively by providing facilities and resources and by mobilizing volunteers. Louisiana residents affected by these two storms generally rated the assistance provided by private sources such as nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations substantially higher than assistance from federal, state, and local governments and national organizations like the Red Cross.[13]
Such views are not exceptional. Traditionally, local churches provide immediate assistance to a stricken area, the American Red Cross takes the lead in providing emergency relief a few days later, and other charities (many from the affected community itself) then focus on long-run recovery.
In the aftermath of Katrina, the grassroots response proved especially important. Overwhelmed American Red Cross personnel required an exceptionally long time to service many of the smaller, often rural Gulf Coast communities and declined to operate in some locations when they feared for the safety of their volunteers and the victims (e.g., because of fear of strong winds or unsanitary conditions).[14] Government agencies also found it difficult to provide timely assistance to all residents of the many devastated areas. Private civic efforts (often local churches) filled many of these gaps through countless, if often unrecorded, acts of generosity. In cooperation with neighbors, friends, and fellow sufferers, victims also organized to help themselves-a step that mental health professionals consider essential to overcoming feelings of powerlessness and trauma.[15]...
Conclusion
Preparedness and response programs run by Washington bureaucrats that diminish the role and responsibilities of state and local governments will not make Americans safer. Instead, they will waste tax dollars and divert the DHS from tasks that would make a difference.
Federal, state, and local governments need to work together to encourage, not supplant, community-centered programs. As with many other homeland security missions, applying-rather than trying to circumvent-the principles of federalism usually produces the best results.
"ridiculous shit!"
< Message edited by bounty44 -- 8/26/2017 6:44:59 AM >
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