Mesogen
09-04-2007, 09:04 AM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20551051/
The government are the ones who need to, for the most part, stay the hell out of the way. They've got it totally backwards.
But here's what would happen if they let regular people help disaster victims. The news and media would demonize them and make it seem as if they didn't do their jobs, which is of course to take care of everyone at all times. This is the impression people get when the media criticizes the government for not taking care of everyone everywhere at all times.
Perhaps if the government encouraged more volunteerism, then in the event of a disaster allowed people to do what they do best, and afterwards REWARD and publicly praise the heroes, the media might catch on that this is a better way.
Or are there more sinister motives at play here?
For reasons ranging from general safety to protection from lawsuits, construction and demolition companies want to see a disaster ID card program succeed.
Mike Taylor, executive director of the National Demolition Association, said his industry is talking with aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger about putting it in place in his state.
“If California goes ahead and does that, it will flow across the country. This is a really smart idea by someone in the Bush administration to be able to control access to the site and frankly, make sure there are no untrained people,” Taylor said. “If somebody goes running down to the site, you have to stop and ask them, wait, are they certified to do this work?”
The government are the ones who need to, for the most part, stay the hell out of the way. They've got it totally backwards.
But here's what would happen if they let regular people help disaster victims. The news and media would demonize them and make it seem as if they didn't do their jobs, which is of course to take care of everyone at all times. This is the impression people get when the media criticizes the government for not taking care of everyone everywhere at all times.
Perhaps if the government encouraged more volunteerism, then in the event of a disaster allowed people to do what they do best, and afterwards REWARD and publicly praise the heroes, the media might catch on that this is a better way.
Or are there more sinister motives at play here?
For reasons ranging from general safety to protection from lawsuits, construction and demolition companies want to see a disaster ID card program succeed.
Mike Taylor, executive director of the National Demolition Association, said his industry is talking with aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger about putting it in place in his state.
“If California goes ahead and does that, it will flow across the country. This is a really smart idea by someone in the Bush administration to be able to control access to the site and frankly, make sure there are no untrained people,” Taylor said. “If somebody goes running down to the site, you have to stop and ask them, wait, are they certified to do this work?”