Where Was Big Brother?

We have become a country of second-guessers, Monday morning quarterbacks and backseat drivers. It doesn’t matter what the event; the instant replay, blow by blow analysis and ceaseless dribble regarding who did what or who didn’t do what rolls out from the time the event begins until long after our interest ends.

The current classic example is the hearing when Former FEMA director Michael Brown appeared before a House Republican Committee hearing. He was slammed, ignored and rebuked for failure to perform tasks that were not his. Comments by Mr. Brown include:

"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional," two days before the storm hit, Brown said…

"I've overseen over 150 presidentially declared disasters. I know what I'm doing, and I think I do a pretty darn good job of it," he said…

"So I guess you want me to be the superhero, to step in there and take everyone out of New Orleans," Brown said…

"We put that money in our budget request and it was removed by the Department of Homeland Security" he said…

Brown in his opening statement cited "specific mistakes" in dealing with the storm, and listed just two.

One, he said, was not having more media briefings.

As to the other, he said: "I very strongly personally regret that I was unable to persuade Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin to sit down, get over their differences, and work together. I just couldn't pull that off." ..

Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., “pushed Brown on what he and his agency should have done to evacuate New Orleans, restore order and improve communication.”

"Those are not FEMA roles," Brown said. "FEMA doesn't evacuate communities. FEMA does not do law enforcement. FEMA does not do communications."

In spite of his statements, the committee unleashed undue criticism and blame. It sounded like each member was taking the opportunity to make pre-authored statements that would distance themselves from the mess rather than addressing the problems and Mr. Brown’s comments.

"I'm happy you left," said Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn. "That kind of look in the lights like a deer tells me you weren't capable of doing that job…"

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., told Brown: "The disconnect was, people thought there was some federal expertise out there. There wasn't. Not from you…"

Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas told Brown: "I don't know how you can sleep at night. You lost the battle…"

In a testy exchange, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn, compared Brown's performance unfavorably with that of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks…

The problems of Katrina are only being repeated with Rita.

I am terrified of the ‘where was Big Brother’ attitude that has been vented from these events. And the thing that upsets me the most is that the cry and hullabaloo is likely coming from only a few and amplified by the media. I have every faith and confidence that the majority of those that stayed or left shouldered the responsibility to care for and protect themselves

There are reports of people complaining that there is no power, water or sewage in many of the hard hit parishes in western Louisiana. Those who chose to stay should have done so with the understanding that they would be on their own. That means no help from the outside!!! What part of “Get out of Dodge” did they miss?

Reminds me of the note seen hanging on the wall of a car repair shop, “Lack of preparation on your part doesn’t necessarily constitute an emergency on my part.”

This country was built by people who had the courage and tenacity to do it themselves, with or without help from anyone else. But I see more and more, this independent attitude eroding away to a childlike dependency on a Big Brother, a Protector, an all powerful government.

It has been said so many times before, "Any government that has the power to supply you with everything you need, also has the power to take away everything you have.”