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Mises Economics Blog

What Happened to Katrina Aid?

March 3, 2006 7:35 AM by Mises.org Updates | Other posts by Mises.org Updates | Comments (7)

Manuel Lora looks at Katrina aid six months since the hurricane. There are folks out there having the time of their lives in posh hotel rooms watching the latest HBO series while FEMA, and ultimately all of us, pays for their fun. Then there are those who still want trailers and those who want trailers off their driveways.These absurd occurrences are the result of intervention in the market, of socialist "solutions" to government-created problems, and of bureaucratic management. FULL ARTICLE

Comments (7)

  • Daniel

  • From the article:

    The situation with financial help is no different. A US Government Accountability Office report has concluded that people are spending their FEMA money for non-emergency purchases. For example, many have used the funds for guns, alcohol, jewelry and gambling.
    Since when are guns non-emergency purchases?

  • Published: March 3, 2006 9:21 AM

  • Brad Dexter

  • Until the superstitious masses can be convinced that only through individual value judgements can freedom and justice prevail we will continue this mindless speeding toward collective financial ruin, unable to manage natural disasters along the way.

    And even if private giving were incorrect in its allocations, at least it wasn't preceded by theft.

  • Published: March 3, 2006 9:48 AM

  • Manuel Lora

  • Regarding guns, I guess that can be considered emergency, but not so much if you're buying them out of town where things were not as chaotic.

  • Published: March 3, 2006 10:22 AM

  • JD

  • "Let the market restore order."

    And let the market rebuild the city below sea level.

  • Published: March 3, 2006 12:49 PM

  • Manuel Lora
  • And let the market rebuild the city below sea level.

    A good part of the problems New Orleans has had goess beyond socialized water control systems.

    Don't forget that the state has been offering subsidized housing and insurance for decades. The result? Those who are dependent on those subsidies ended up living in places that would otherwise, in a totally free environment, have been very expensive to insure.

    If people want to live in a dangerous area (under sea level, close to a lake, close to a river, close to swamps, in hurricane territory), they should be free to do so but not at the expense of the tax payer who foots the bill for their insurance (subsidies).

    If we privatized the levees, lifted all restrictions on insurance companies, zoning and ended subsidies, New Orleans would probably be different. People who do not want risk should not be living there, but the government masks this risk by enabling people to live there thinking that everything is ok.

  • Published: March 3, 2006 1:18 PM

  • Angelo

  • Good article, Manuel.

  • Published: March 3, 2006 5:16 PM

  • granny

  • Mr. Lora. Good expose'. Makes me wonder how we old timers who withstood ravaging 150plus mph in the late 30 and 40s in south Florda made it. That is, without guvment intervention.
    We had bridges washed out, deep flooding with canal systems also becoming rivers, houses under water, roofs blown away, walls collapsed, vehicles overturned,etc. One great difference exists.
    Every man, woman and child got off their rear ends, helped their own then their neighbors.
    The media was not "in your face" playing up the rare whiny individual. Guvment,except for the garbage man pretty much stayed clear. It was boot strap time, no shirkers allowed.
    Finally, guess what? We ordinary folk got things cleaned up and orderly lives restored quite quickly, thank you. Good memories, good living, grateful neighbors. I'll take that any day....Granny

  • Published: March 8, 2006 2:51 PM

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