From the Fringe

We have witnessed perhaps the greatest tragedy we shall see in our lifetime. We have, for the purposes of our generation, lost one of our most beloved cities. I have heard, with utter astonishment, as people stated that the “hand of god” wiped out the sinners. I have heard fault cast at various levels of government. I have seen the utter failure of government to carry out its basic purpose, which is to protect our rights and property.

The aftermath will be, as witnessed on television, much worse than the actual event itself. This event happened to be a storm. However, the next event could be an earthquake or an attack by terrorists or another nation. This event is clear evidence that we, as a nation, are unprepared to respond to such an event. In fact, from my perspective, the government (at all levels) has been more the hindrance, than the savior. Any authority that we the people vest into bureaucracy will, in the end, be abused to enrich the greedy and empower the ruthless.

The politicians are lining up for “face” time on the talk circuit. The shrills from both the right and the left are deafening. They all blame each other, when in fact they are all to blame. How can we, as a people, ever trust our government to carry out basic functions again? There are many questions that need to be asked. There are too many givens and assumptions to cast upon the funeral pyre. For, if we are to learn anything from this tragedy, that lesson should be to rely on only yourself.

What can we see as some of the failures?

Some have stated that as the mayor did not “force” the evacuation, blame should be his to bear. Even though a mandatory evacuation was ordered, some residents chose to stay. ANY American, who would suggest that those citizens should be ousted out of their homes at the point of a gun, is not only deluded, but also dangerous to liberty. I will no longer entertain these people with reason, as they can not be reasoned with. They should be shunned from society, perhaps seeking to live in communist China where such actions are acceptable.

People are free to make their own decisions. They also must accept the responsibilities of those decisions. I for one would not have contemplated staying unless I was completely prepared for a long period without food and water. Others had no choice. Those without a choice, be it economical or professional should also be prepared for a long term period without basic necessities.

Some have stated that the Governor did not react to the needs of the people. This is both true, and false. Although she was overwhelmed, there was reason. By the government’s figures, there were less than three thousand National Guard troops to secure a vast area and to assist the citizens. Unfortunately for the Governor, over a third of her troops were overseas fighting in a conflict, which is not their responsibility. When additional troops were requested from other states, that request was ignored for at least 72 hours.

Some cast blame on the shoulders of the President. This is tempting, however I am not sure he is in charge to begin with. OK…. That was simply my attempt at humorous relief. What is the function of the Federal Government in circumstances such as these? Many believe that our would-be masters should care for us as if we were children. I disagree with this point of view. However, let it be understood that when government plunders the treasury for the specific purpose of disaster relief, then refuses to utilize the resources, which it (the government) has funded through theft, then what are we to conclude? Therefore, blame can clearly be cast onto FEMA and the Federal Government.

To compound the situation, there are many reports of FEMA agents impeding and sabotaging rescue and relief efforts. If these allegations prove to be true, those FEMA employees should be held accountable. I do not believe that manslaughter charges would be too extreme in these circumstances.

What can we consider to be a solutions to our dilemma?

Should we empower the local government to force people from their homes? The answer is absolutely not. Anyone who suggest any such draconian measure should be considered antithetical to liberty and shunned from our society. While efforts should be made to evacuate those who wish to leave, additional efforts should be made by the local authorities to deal with those who either choose to stay, or have no choice but to stay. It is not unreasonable to believe that local authorities can prepare for such a contingency. This, of course is a local matter and should be dealt with on the local level. The past week is stark evidence that each local community should be making preparations NOW.

Should the Governor be allowed to bring in National Guard troops from another state? Theoretically, that ability exists now. However, as we have seen, the federal government can hinder these efforts. Likewise, we see that having a system that can be abused by the federal government, by calling the local troops overseas, is not only highly controversial, but also constitutionally dubious at best. IF the governor had the ability to call up the militia instead of relying on the National Guard bureaucracy (cough – president) then the resources to control the situation would have been available. It may have not been utilized properly, but at least it would have been available. In my state, all citizens and residents between the age of 16 and 60 are considered members of the militia and can be called up by the governor. It is high time that we begin to enforce our militia laws and arm and train our citizens to care for themselves.

Should the Federal Government be involved? Constitutionally, there is no authority for said involvement. I would argue against such a measure. That is not to say that the federal government should not render “assistance” upon request, and judgement rendered for performance. However, the Federal military forces can never be utilized to “police” the population except in cases of insurrection or invasion. I realize that the talking heads on the television are already calling for changing the Constitution and requesting such federal authority, but they have nefarious motives. Let us not forget E Pluribus Unum. We are many sovereigns united for mutual protection. Many of the things that we identify as being wrong in our society today, can be identified as a result of meddling in local affairs by a centralized, all knowing, all growing federal state. The fight between Jefferson and Hamilton has not ended. It is alive and well today.

Watching the debacle on television play out, I am reminded that it is MY responsibility to insure that my family and my property are secure. That would include preparing for the unthinkable. The idea that you must have 72 hours of preparations on hand is laughable. It is time to start preparing to have at least a months supply of food and water on hand for any such disaster. Perhaps three or six months of provisions are a better level of preparedness. Anyone trying to remove me, or my family, from what I deem to be a secure situation, will be met with any necessary force to insure said security. The confiscation of firearms from law-abiding citizens can not stand. Any attempt to carry out such an act, without provocation, should be met with resistance. I for one would resist. I would hope that my fellow patriots would do the same.

I do not take these words lightly. In a day and age where our government has been co-opted by corpocracy, greed, avarice and gluttony, anything said against the powers-that-be can be construed as seditious. However, the Constitution IS the legal authority of this nation. Any official on the federal, state or local level who suggests otherwise, or promotes the subversion thereof is guilty of sedition BY DEFINITION (look it up in a dictionary).

We should all prepare for the worst and pray for the best. For in the end, we can only rely on ourselves. We are responsible only for our families and ourselves. However, we must not abrogate our duty to our community or our state, or even our Federal Government. Balancing those responsibilities as free individuals is the task we must face. Furthermore, we shall only be free, by allowing ourselves to be responsible. Decide for yourselves, will you be free or will you suckle the teat of the government?

Originally posted at on Sept 09, 2005.