Friday, May 13, 2011

Keepin' Government Out

Last fall, our county Quorum Court decided to opt out of the National Flood Insurance Program, thus making it very difficult if not impossible to people living in flood plains to obtain flood insurance. Their reasoning (?) was "to keep government out of our lives". Morons.

Since then, they have been trying to come up with a new ordinance, which the Tea Partiers and various ignoramuses have been fighting tooth and nail. They keep coming up with ridiculous "what ifs" such as, and I quote, "What if we get back in the program and FEMA decides to redraw the flood plain map and some of us get caught up in the flood plain. What's that going to do to a weak economy when people are forced to buy flood insurance?" Never mind that FEMA hasn't revised their flood plain maps in decades.

No, the real reason they don't want to get back into the program is they just don't want people to be able to obtain flood insurance at lower rates, even though they, themselves, don't have to buy flood insurance. If you live in a flood plain, you are required to carry flood insurance, but if you don't live in a flood plain, you don't have to have it, apparently. Obviously, the people against the program are just plain mean spirited. So, they keep holding "public forums" attended by people who don't know which way is up and two or three member of the quorum court who have their own untra-conservative agendas, and there's no telling when they'll act on the new ordinance which would give citizens in flood plains some relief.

The old argument about keeping Government out of our lives is bogus, and here's why:

Fifty years ago, there was a terrible flood in our town, after which our citizens relied on Federal assistance in the form of FEMA. the Corps of Engineers and Urban Renewal just to name a few. Every since I moved here, I have heard about how Urban Renewal saved the town, and even improved it and consequently, filled the coffers of local businesses more than they could reasonably have expected in normal times.

Many of the people opposing federal assistance are presently enjoying Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and the Part D Prescription Plan. There is a long list of people cashing in on farm subsidies, many of whom don't actually own farms. I've seen the list. I know who they are.

And, now, we've had some more flooding, due to the extremely heavy rains in the last month. We have been designated a disaster area by the federal government, and will receive government funds, which we will grab with both hands. Our local mayor has decided that the city needs to hire a grant writer, so we can cash in on some of that "free" money that other towns in the area have been receiving for years. Nobody is fighting this idea, so far.

My suggestion to the Tea Party types, should anybody ask me, would be this: If you want to keep government out of your life, then you should personally opt out of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and all other entitlements that you currently enjoy. Then, just sit down and shut up and let the rest of the citizenry enjoy whatever funds help to make their lives more enjoyable.

What we really need to do is keep YOU out of our lives.

Stay tuned.

11 comments:

Margie's Musings said...

Betty, that is so true. Note that those adamantly against Federal interference are certainly accepting any Federal aid they can get.

How two faced!

Just recall what our grandparents and great grandparents did in their old age. They either saved all their lives for their waning years (and the poor could not do that) or they worked until they died. Most common people worked until they died. There was no social security.

expat@large said...

(Hope you don't if I drop across, via Savmarshmama)

As an Australian (down under) living in Singapore (little red dot at bottom of Malaysia), I find it stunning as I watch this Beggar-My-Neighbour short-term thinking of the Tea-Party supporters. It appears manifest itself in so many death-by-a-thousand-cuts pieces of stupid legislation (to pile on the metaphors) like this one.

To us (we?) outsiders, it looks like America is doing it damnest to go socially, economically and politically backwards as fast as it possibly can.

expat@large said...

senior moment - " hope you don't *mind*"

:-)

Darlene said...

That was a great last line, Betty. We do need to keep the half-wits out of our lives.

NitWit1 said...

From the last comment above I should refrain from comment as I had a NitWit.

Because of a late in life marriage and many medical programs we chose not to have children. We are thankful any children we might have had, will not be saddled with our contribution to the national debt because of the generous benefits we received as civilian and military retirees.

Otherwise I, maybe we, would be dead.

Countries on the European continent impose near 50% of income for these kinds of benefits. I believe this a part of the problem, but not all.

Betty said...

Margie: That was back in the good old days when people could afford to save something out of every paycheck.

expat@large: Welcome. Drop by any time! Outsiders aren't the only ones who think we are marching backward. Thanks for commenting.

Darlene: Yes, but they just keep on interfering, don't they?

NitWit1: I don't hear a lot of complaining from the European continent. But, then, those countries don't have to finance one silly war after another. Think what we could do if we just stopped trying to police the world.

Anonymous said...

I agree. These folks of the Tea Party variety want the government out of everything except the most private areas of one's life....marriage and birth choices.
Don't get me going........

Betty said...

Always: I won't get you going if you won't get me going! lol

Sister--Helen said...

I just love the people who are yelling...I don't want Government insurance, just leave my Medicare alone....Goof balls....

Betty said...

4th Sis: Funny, aren't they?

Anonymous said...

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid are not entitlements, they are FICA funds that are paid by employers rather than a Gov. hand out like welfare and the likes.

It appears that being nice is something that only people who hold opinions other than yours have to adheir to. From reading some or your blogs and the lack of reaction to other hateful replies directed towards people who hold another view than yours, it seems that you are as partisian as they come and about as shallow as some of the members of the "tea party" movement.

Tim
Sharpsburg, GA