Terror, Disaster and Federal vs. States Rights

Submitted by John Randall Peacher (United States), Sep 1, 2005 at 19:30

As I write this armed citizens, or thugs, are firing at military helicopters trying to rescue people caught up in the massive disaster in New Orleans. At the start of the disaster it seems that local and state governments were in charge. As the situation deteriorated and citizens were not being rescued, as looting and mayhem ensued, and people had no where to go but to higher ground the Federal government and military started taking control. It is an issue of State vs. Federal rights. Local politicians, ward council members, police fire departments were calling the shots. This issue is as old as our republic. A civil war was fought over it. Many southern states regained control of their own affairs and enacted Jim Crow laws and segregation. It took over 100 years for the Civil Rights Act. The current Republican politicians, southern congressional delegations, and ward bosses, some with no more character than Afghan war lords, still call the shots; even in an emergency. This must change. The survival of our nation depends upon it. We need a strong, central voice of authority and this can only come from the Federal Government, yes, in Washington, D.C. If we were not prepared for a hurricane we knew was coming for three days, how can we say we are prepared for another terrorist attack?

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