While We're Assigning Blame...
Let's Blame the Lack of Civics Education in America
From everything I've read and observed, the fact is that much of the failure to respond appropriately to Hurricane Katrina comes from the failure of Local and State officials to understand their rights and obligations when it comes to invoking disaster situations. Failing to understand what they needed to do to invoke federal, and other aid. And I understand that. While trying to keep unemployment down, deal with billions of dollars in tax revenue, millage rates, and dog catching ordanances, its easy to not pay attention to seemingly silly laws from the early 18th-19th century. But its those laws that determine how our country is organized, and the rights and powers of each level of government.
My fear is that federalism will take the blame. They'll treat law and tradition as uncaring bureaucracy. But its not the same thing. The fact that the Posse Comitatius Act prevents the military from domestic law and order is not the same thing as NOT being able or willing to respond.
They cry will go out to change these hundred plus year old laws, that have kept our country from military dictatorship, and police state, which have kept the power in the hands of local governments. That's a mistake and must be prevented.
The solution is not to change the rules, it is to teach people what they are, and how they apply, and how to utilize them.
I've got $20 that says you can't find 10 kids from the local high school who can tell me what the Posse Comitatus Act even is.
(for the record, In high school I would have been able to tell you, without looking it up.)
In times of disaster, its easy to want to by-pass the rules. Its easy to say "the law doesn't matter compared to human life." But the fact is that it does. Because the world is full of people with Reichstags to burn.
From everything I've read and observed, the fact is that much of the failure to respond appropriately to Hurricane Katrina comes from the failure of Local and State officials to understand their rights and obligations when it comes to invoking disaster situations. Failing to understand what they needed to do to invoke federal, and other aid. And I understand that. While trying to keep unemployment down, deal with billions of dollars in tax revenue, millage rates, and dog catching ordanances, its easy to not pay attention to seemingly silly laws from the early 18th-19th century. But its those laws that determine how our country is organized, and the rights and powers of each level of government.
My fear is that federalism will take the blame. They'll treat law and tradition as uncaring bureaucracy. But its not the same thing. The fact that the Posse Comitatius Act prevents the military from domestic law and order is not the same thing as NOT being able or willing to respond.
They cry will go out to change these hundred plus year old laws, that have kept our country from military dictatorship, and police state, which have kept the power in the hands of local governments. That's a mistake and must be prevented.
The solution is not to change the rules, it is to teach people what they are, and how they apply, and how to utilize them.
I've got $20 that says you can't find 10 kids from the local high school who can tell me what the Posse Comitatus Act even is.
(for the record, In high school I would have been able to tell you, without looking it up.)
In times of disaster, its easy to want to by-pass the rules. Its easy to say "the law doesn't matter compared to human life." But the fact is that it does. Because the world is full of people with Reichstags to burn.
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