R.I.P. GOP

The GOP is dead...And it is all due to Roe v. Wade.

Whether Bush nominates a conservative replacement for O'Connor or not, the Roe v. Wade issue is dead as a Republican wedge.I think that Roe v. Wade is the single issue that lead to the resurgence of the Republican party, and is the glue that holds the current 51% lean toward the party. Those incensed by the decision had to go somewhere, and the Republicans evolved to handle them. Had the court in 1973 not decided that way, I do not think we would have such a conservative government.

Many single issue voters hold their nose and vote republican solely because of this one issue. While there are single issue voters on the other side, there are not as many who lacking the abortion issue would vote republican. But now the Republicans have had their chance. They control Congress, the presidency, and have a swing vote to fill. The stars are aligned, and it is time for action. If they fail to capitalize on the opportunity and kill Roe v. Wade, they will no longer be supported by the single issue voters, who will feel betrayed and probably vote third party. If they do manage to kill Roe v. Wade, the issue will no longer exist, and the single issue voters will align with the party closer to their economic interest.

It has been a good run, but it is over. Bush needs to make sure what he gets done counts, because he is handing the reins over to the democratic party when he is done.

What a shame that the party had to end so soon.

Democratic Accounting Difficulties Explained

The Democrats are still 9,000 bodies in the hole. They must have thought that since they use the dead to vote all the time, they could easily count the living as part of the body count too. Maybe if they purge their voting list they will find the 10,000 dead they predicted in New Orleans.

When the Lights Go Out.

Now that we have had the time to fully appreciate the disaster in the Gulf States, I think we should each consider how well prepared we are individually to respond to disaster. It is apparent that we can not reasonably rely on instant response from any level of government, though realistically we should have all known that when millions of people are effected by a disaster, it will take time for substantive aid to arrive for all.

As a simple method of determining your own preparedness, consider the last time you experienced a power failure in your home, which we have all experienced. Did you have to stumple around looking for flashlights? Did they work if you found them? Did you have a method to prepare food? Did you have canned food to last a few days? Did you have a system for family members to contact each other? Did you do anything different when the power came back?

In a large disaster, do you have the training and supplies to help your family members if they are injured and need first aid? Are you part of an organization that will help organize the response, or are you expecting others to help you?

Giving money in the aftermath is important and great, but it is as important that we all try and make sure that if we are in the disaster, we are assets, not simply victims, when the lights go out.

FRGMA

I think it is time for a new Government Agency: The Federal Remedial Government Management Agency.

Its job will be to identify failed corporate governments like New Orleans and Louisiana, and take over the basic care and feeding of the people there before and after disaster strikes.

New Jersey has used a model like this for years to take over schools, so there is even a precedent.

Then, when local and state governments fail, the Federal Government will be to blame.

Anatomy of a Disaster

I think that the blame game should be broken out by time.

Every family in America has a responsibility to have three days of water, food, and medicine in a disaster kit. Expecting aid within 72 hours of a disaster is not reasonable. Adults should also have basic first aid training and supplies. Additionally, those who could leave but chose to ignore the evacuation order are not only responsible for themselves, but for hindering the aid to those (elderly, homeless, infirm) who could not leave.

The next level of responsibility goes to the local government, who has the most direct knowledge of community needs and should have the assets available for another 2 or 3 days of water and food available and onsite. When a disaster hits like this against many communities at once, the failure of a community to prepare should not make them eligible to be at the front of the line for aid.

The State Government with more assets and a wider area to draw them and store them should be the next layer to move in. Again, 2-3 days of supplies should be available.

After a week, people should expect direct support from outside the state, and from the federal government. Anybody who has ever worked in logistics knows that this is an icredibly short timeline to send out and distribute such vast amounts of stuff. Expecting more than that is what leads people to fail to plan and provide for themselves.

How many readers have the emergency kit ready in the house, and a smaller one in the car, so that they will not be part of the problem should disaster strike? Probably wouldn't hurt to have some metal in the kit too...Steel and Lead, so the bozos who don't prepare don't come and get your stuff.