What's so objectionable about FEMA?

[Dem2TheCore]

Why is FEMA such a whipping boy for the Republicans? It seems like Republicans in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina would really appreciate having federal support considering the number of hurricanes and tornadoes that impact these red states.

So why do they get so exercised by FEMA?

[Pab Sungenis]

1. They do a job the Republicans want to pay Halliburton

a lot more money to do, for profit, more efficiently and much cheaper.

[valerief]

16. Ding ding ding ding!!!

[HereSince1628]

2. Setting aside its failings with Katrina...it's about money

FEMA spends money which means FEMA has money to spend.

The privateers are frightened that money could fall into the 'long loop'...meaning the money goes to individual taxpayers and their families.

The idea that money should take the circuitous route of the markets rather than directly into the hands of the elite is a threat to neofeudalism.

[Scootaloo]

3. The "Federal" part

For all their chanting, "USA! USA! USA!" they really, deeply despise the notion of this nation actually being a nation.

[freethought]

23. Also, Jimmy Carter created FEMA

For some cranks on the hard right that was reason enough.

[gcomeau]

4. It's the government, they don't need another reason.

Unless it's the military, the government is bad (when Democrats are in charge). They don't think about it, they just accept it as dogma ever since Reagan.

FEMA in particular however is one of the most prominent symbols of their total governmental incompetence during the Bush years so probably has special significance.

[Kber]

5. Philosophically the same thing that's wrong with Medicare and SS

and the same thing they fear with "Obamacare".

Fema provides evidence that the Federal Government works and is necessary.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

6. It's their camps. Totally lame.

Their arts and craft instructors suck, and the counselers aren't all that hot. Screw this, I'm going to HHS camp instead!

[markpkessinger]

7. It's just the whipping boy du jour....

... The fact is, the GOP (especially the extreme faction that is currently running the show) is ideologically opposed to virtually all spending by the federal government on domestic and social programs.

[geckosfeet]

8. Because they help everyone, not just the rich.

[LeftInTX]

9. cuz they're racist

[dawg]

10. Add two letters and it becomes FEMALE.

Therefore, it must be kept in its place.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

11. The two P's

Privatization and Profit.

[libdem4life]

15. and Plunder

[ProudProgressiveNow]

19. Good catch... the three P's it is....

[Aerows]

12. Because they have been known to help black people

in MS, AL, LA and TX. That's why. When they help white people, it's a natural disaster that needs federal aid. When it helps the masses of poor blacks in these areas, it's called "welfare, subsidizing and unneeded spending", even when they get hit by tornadoes.

If you've never taken a ride through northern MS, LA and AL, you really should. There are places in our country that are most certainly reduced to third world living conditions. The coast is entirely different, and wealthy.

[Arkansas Granny]

13. It's funded by tax dollars and they see it as redistribution of wealth.

[AsahinaKimi]

14. I really think they

Don't believe anyone should get a hand out, or be "entitled" to any thing free. They think it should be turned over to a corporation who will come in and write up a bill for goods and services.. If you can't pay...well, "damn it! Get a job!"

Edited to note, the Hurricane was an *Act of God..so why should they be responsible. If you want it cleaned up... pray.

[Initech]

17. Because the greedy CEOs can't profit off disaster.

[Still Sensible]

18. Two reasons, really quite simple

One, as Sandy is doing now and as Katrina did before, it is the embodiment of the most powerful example of why their ideology is misguided. Big problems require a big government response.

Second, the PTB on the conservative side simply can't stand the idea that when opportunities like this arise there should not be crafty, rich people making a great big profit off others' misfortunes. To them, that's the American way!

They want a health care system where the insurance companies are getting a 25% profit (adding 25% to the cost) and surely believe that there should be some enterprising Bain Disaster Relief Corp making a shit pot full of money off profit opportunities like Sandy.

[JHB]

20. Because FEMA means "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help"...

...are not the automatically scary words that Saint Ronnie liked to say they were.

Successful Federal programs take the wind out of their nice, orderly "starve the beast" ideology.

[HopeHoops]

21. It helps people - isn't that reason enough?

[liberal_at_heart]

22. People that want to run the country like a business

don't like to spend money on things they don't know will happen. My husband was a telcom engineer and ran into this at work all the time. People don't like to spend money planning for worst case scenario. We are a reactionary society. We don't like to properly plan for anything. We wait until disaster strikes and then throw money at it until it is fixed. And usually we end up spending more money doing it that way. It's not very efficient. I'm not sure why people who claim to want to be efficient want to run things like that unless they like the panic. It may provide cover for corrupt people who want to take some money off the top and claim they don't know where it is when it comes up missing.

[ibegurpard]

24. it insulates people from predatory capitalism