Hurricane Welfare?
When politicians argue about “welfare” some tell us that people that qualify for welfare need to learn to stand on their own two feet. Welfare mothers, for example, need to be forced to get training and get a job. Politicians claim that If we keep helping “welfare” families, we just contribute to the problem.
Some politicians have a “welfare” attitude concerning those unfortunate folks who have faced foreclosure in the recent home mortgage crises. Many of those who lost their homes lost thousands of dollars and all their equity. Several TV pundits have suggested that we not help the victims because they should learn from their mistakes.
Hurricane Fay recently threatened Florida. One weather reporter noted that Fay was approaching a locale that had suffered from hurricanes before. It seems that most years the coast of the US is hit by several tropical storms. Some of these storms become hurricanes that destroy enormous amounts of property. After the damage the governor of the state affected will ask the President of the United States to declare a national emergency (which releases federal funds to help the area recover). My question is when is this help being a good neighbor, and when is it denying people the opportunity to learn from their mistakes?
Thousands of people who sustained damage from hurricanes in the last few years have rebuilt, but the new storm season may destroy their property again. This problem also exists in areas that record a high threat of earthquakes. In areas that have recurring hurricanes or earthquakes, insurance companies will not sell hurricane or earthquake insurance. Why do so many people rebuild in a “disaster area”?
Florida, a hurricane area, is a pretty place with generally good weather and benefits. Areas with a lovely climate are very attractive as places to live. Are those that rebuild in an attractive “disaster area” contributing to their own problem? When do we apply the “lessons” of welfare to people who chose to live in areas prone to hurricanes and earthquakes?