Sandy A Case Study In Big Government Failure

As Amity Shlaes noted in the opening words in her fantastic book The Forgotten Man, floods change the course of history.

So do hurricanes.

Shlaes noted the effort of Herbert Hoover in the aftermath of the floods of 1927.  George Bush was excoriated for the efforts of the government in the aftermath of Hurricane Katina in New Orleans, we think unfairly.

This past week, our fellow citizens in the northeast have been hit with a hurricane for the ages in that neck of the woods. Millions of people have been effected by Hurricane Sandy, and there are areas that will never be the same.

President Obama joined New Jersey Governor Christ Christie to tour the hard hit areas, and while throwing in a few political jabs, pledged immediate and sustained help from the Federal Government. FEMA is on the ground.

These efforts have been a colossal failure. Unlike ignorant Kayne West and the progressive Democrats nationwide, we recognize that Obama is not going to go out with a shovel and is not responsible for the government failing to help those in need.

Tempers are flaring, and residents of the area are blasting the political leaders who have been eloquent in running their mouth but short on achievement levels. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, top of the list of the political elites who think government should and can run your life better than you can, got an earful.

There is a bigger issue at play here.

Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem. Obama and Bloomberg represent the big government entitlement crowd who seek a citizenry of dependency where they gain and expand their power. But even as the balance sheet of the agencies tasked with this work expand exponentially, the failing results are sadly the same.

CNBC's Larry Kudlow visited with Amity Sclaes, who wrote and outstanding column, for ironically enough, Bloomberg, noting that distasters create bigger, not better government. Take a listen:



In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the government relaxed or temporarily suspended  environmental regulations in an effort "cut the red tape" to speed up delivery of energy sources for the folks.  These are regulations that should not exist, and by the government taking this action they confirm these regulations hamper the market system from operating at optimal efficiency.

There is a place for limited government in this regard, but the local governments, churches, citizen groups, charities and the citizens of the community are best equipped to effectively deal with these types of disasters.  The federal government can be on stand by to assist if requested.

As the cameras roll out on Staten Island today, what we see once again is the failure of big government to handle the job, even with a bloated budget and slews of technocrat administrators.

As we approach election day, the words of Ronald Reagan ring loud.  Government is not the solution to the problem, government it the problem.  Check out the Rockaways on Staten Island  and Rockaway in Queens for proof.  Unfortunately, the situation continues to worsen.  Please keep thse folks in your prayers.

Limited government and free market principles have been and remain the best path to prosperity.