Random thoughts from a cluttered mind

I keep hearing about this wonderful thing called government that promises to be there for us in our time of need and I can't quite square that with what I see happening on Staten Island with residents begging for food and help that is slow in coming. Lines for gasoline miles long. Empty store shelves. Hospitals being evacuated because there is no power and their generators failed. Millions without power or heat. Transportation shut down.

It seems like the collectivists among us are constantly attempting to portray their opposition's position as one of leaving others to fend for themselves, a "you are own your own" mentality. And yet, when I look at the news that is coming out of this area, it seems that the government which they tout as the cure for this condition has indeed left many to fend for themselves, left them "on their own" as they struggle to find food and shelter in the wake of this disaster.

I do not see reports coming in from West Virginia with people decrying the lack of government response, I don't see them begging for government to come to their rescue and save them from their predicament. Are our most populous cities too populous? Have they, like our federal government and our largest banks and industries, become too big to fail without disastrous consequence for all concerned?

You see exactly what you choose to see. Considering the magnitude of the crisis, government efforts have been quite remarkable. But then self righteous objectivists are of course opposed to any efforts to help those in need.
For example:

Federal urban search and rescue teams continue to support state and local efforts for combined searches of more than 3,300 structures in Queens and 870 structures in Staten Island, and rapid reconnaissance of 9,500 structures in Nassau County, NY, said FEMA. As of the night of Oct. 31, more than 258 shelters across 16 states supporting over 13,000 residents had opened.

FEMA and the Department of Defense established Incident Support Bases in Westover, MA, and Lakehurst, NJ, to pre-position supplies including water, meals, blankets and other resources closer to potentially impacted areas, should they be needed and requested by states. As of Nov. 1, more than 596,000 liters of water and more than 199,000 meals in staging at from those bases had been transferred to states to supplement their existing inventory, said FEMA. The Incident Support Bases continue to be restocked in anticipation of additional requests for assistance from affected states, said FEMA adding that in addition to the ISBs, five Federal Staging Areas are operating in New York.

he Army Corp deployed the 249th Engineer Battalion Technical Assistance personnel and other technical experts to support emergency temporary power. The USACE also deployed technical assistance, senior leadership oversight, and are working to identify and deploy additional pumps as priorities are established in coordination with the states.

FEMA said that as of Nov. 1, more than 58,000 in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey had registered for disaster assistance, and more than $5.9 million has been approved.

The agency said it had more than 2,300 personnel working to support response operations, including search and rescue, situational awareness, communications and logistical support in states affected by the storm. It said its community relations teams were going door-to-door in the hardest hit areas to inform disaster survivors about available services and resources and to gather situational awareness.

The National Guard currently has more than 11,800 National Guard forces on duty supporting the governors of New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maryland. The forces are assisting local first responders and FEMA with help at evacuation shelters, route clearance, search and rescue and delivery of essential equipment and supplies.

Got to clear those streets for the New York Marathon on Sunday.

When infrastructure failures of this magnitude are involved we are indeed on our own. No matter what the government may say and regardless of party affiliation this type of disaster is overwhelming. Yes, there is help in the form of National Guard, etc., but these are finite resources for such a large, wide-spread disaster.

I do fault the collectivist mindset for this: It seems to me that over the years those that lean toward that type of mindset have managed to lull the majority of the population into the belief that this type of failure cannot happen and so the people (little "p") need not worry about it. They pat us all on the head and say "now, now, don't be a chicken little" when those of us who tend to be more realistic about the limits of government point out the shortcomings of their beliefs. We are alarmists and pessimists and worse. In the meantime our population has, by and large, become "fat, dumb and happy" as my mom would say - I say "sheeple".

The best remedy for this IMO is self-sufficiency and knowing one's community and neighbors, and then be there for one another!

I see an effort being made Dog, but what I see despite that effort is people left to fend for themselves until the government which is supposed to provide for everyone's individual welfare can reach them. How many days after disaster strikes an area should people expect to wait for their government to provide for their individual welfare as promised? 3 days? 5? One week? Two? A month? Some people are receiving help immediately and others are required to wait for help to reach them. Is that "fair"? Isn't every citizen equally deserving of the help that their taxes are appropriated from them to provide? West Virginia is also without power, it's roads are blocked by downed power lines, fallen trees and other debris. Are the citizens of West Virginia not as important as the citizens of NYC? Why aren't they receiving the same attention as Manhattan is from the federal government? Are they not as deserving of the disaster aid? Are the million of lives in Manhattan somehow more valuable than the thousands of lives in West Virginia are?

You and I both are aware that it is an allocation of resources, right? The help is going to where more people will be served first and the areas with fewer people impacted are lower on the priority list. Now please explain to me, given this reality, why anyone should expect anything different regarding other federal efforts. There is only so much that can be done with the resources that are available whether one is talking about disaster relief or health care. Priorities must be set and followed so that the available resources reach the greatest number of people and yet the collectivists want us to believe something entirely different.

I know that in the event of a once in a lifetime blizzard that Denver will be more of a priority for the federal and State governments than Bailey is. I know that the local and State governments will focus their efforts in this area on clearing 285, 43/47 and 72 before they worry about clearing the road that I live on. I know that despite the promises that the government makes that I am, when the chips are down, indeed on my own and that my welfare is more dependent upon what I do than what the government does and that this reality is something that I may face for days or weeks after the blizzard ends.

Why is this not something that the citizens of Staten Island recognize as well? Why is it that they expect the government to rescue them from their predicament so soon after the disaster? Did their government not warn them that they should leave and that their failure to evacuate could leave them in this circumstance? Of course it did, we all heard those warnings even out here in Colorado. So why all the wailing and gnashing of teeth? Why do these citizens expect the government to be more prepared to take care of them in the wake of the disaster than they were prepared to take care of themselves?

FEMA said that as of Nov. 1, more than 58,000 in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey had registered for disaster assistance, and more than $5.9 million has been approved.

The way my math comes out- there will be $101.72 available to each person who has requested assistance. That's almost 102 bucks each! I'm sure each of those people will be thrilled that all of them have been approved.

The national guard and Army Corp are doing what they can- and I'm not saying that these groups should be eliminated, but depending on government will prove once again to be not worth much. The national guard will be there mostly for security, because people are fighting and looting.

We can do far better ourselves. The collectivist logic is flawed- not just in the case of a nasty rain storm- but in every other way that today's collectivist thinks that government is the answer to our problems. This is how our health care will turn out, a few helped- and many others "left behind". This is how our retirement will turn out- with little to rely on.

The best way to help the most people- is to abandon the collectivist idology, and promote individual responsibility in every aspect of our lives- depend less on government - and more on our own abilities. And the more of us who conduct ourselves this way- the more we are able to help others when the time comes.

Liberals call this greed - or selfishness- or "everyone on their own"- but in reality it's the most effective way to achieve the best results for the largest percentage of our citizens.

wow..Seriously..I cant imagine anyone caring about what just about any of you think about anything

Do you just like to hear yourselves talk?

What is this?

Big long incredibly boring posts written by boring people on boring subjects of no interest whatsoever..Thats my opinion..Who do you guys think you are with these Nurotic ramblings?

"I think this, and I think that".....Nobody cares what you think pS, and what in the world makes you think they do? Get real man..The arogance is comical and you have ZERO social skills...Blah blah blah blah blah

Big long incredibly boring posts written by boring people on boring subjects of no interest whatsoever..Thats my opinion..Who do you guys think you are..? Nurotic ramblings

The fact that you don't see any value in this topic- shows how little you care- so why do you even bother to pester us?

Go back to your sports game gambling- do somthing you think is important.

BearMtnHIB wrote:

Big long incredibly boring posts written by boring people on boring subjects of no interest whatsoever..Thats my opinion..Who do you guys think you are..? Nurotic ramblings

The fact that you don't see any value in this topic- shows how little you care- so why do you even bother to pester us?

Go back to your gambling game- do somthing you think is important.

Dial the opinions back a little...We don't need to read every thought that comes through your minds..Its like correcting your kids every minute, they eventually just tune you out..My mother told me something when I was 3 years old..."Only talk when you got something to say"

BearMtnHIB wrote:
The best way to help the most people- is to abandon the collectivist idology, and promote individual responsibility in every aspect of our lives- depend less on government - and more on our own abilities. And the more of us who conduct ourselves this way- the more we are able to help others when the time comes.

You'd be dead in a week and your wife would be getting screwed by the local warlords..

We were cavemen once you know- It wasnt so great, I prefer a modern civilised society. The law of the jungle wouldnt be so good for weaklings and dummies like you anyways...I think i'd do ok though

Big talker