Soccer Mom: Unplugged

Blaming 'the victim' is always wrong , isn't it? 

According to an op-ed in todays LATimes, the fraudulent misuse of funds by Katrina victims represents a huge failure of FEMA's system of oversight. And yet, we needn't be too concerned.

The 16% of improper expenditures is indeed high for a federal aid program — food stamps and unemployment insurance, by comparison, had respective rates of 5.9% and 10.1% last fiscal year. But these are established programs, not on-the-fly responses that had to process a sudden rush of 2.6 million claims. Unlike a permanent safety net, disaster relief's top priority is to help as many people as fast as possible, which comes at the price of reduced efficiency.

But just because FEMA faced a daunting task does not mean it should be given a pass for its sloppy oversight. The GAO cited several quick fixes that should be put into effect immediately, most notably simple tests for misrepresentation when citizens register for federal disaster assistance. FEMA's response thus far — cutting expedited payments to $500 — misses the point and will undercut relief efforts in future catastrophes.

It's easy, and necessary, to criticize FEMA's across-the-board incompetence in responding to the largest displacement of Americans since the Civil War. But obsessing about the spending habits of refugees comes perilously close to blaming the victim.

You got that last bit didn't you?  "perilously close to blaming the victim"  So let me get this straight.  The people who were victimized by Mother Nature shouldn't be scrutinized for buying "Girls Gone Wild" dvds or getting sex change operations on the tax payer's dime.  Nuh-uh.  They're victims.  Just in case any of you are buying this load of manure, let's just put the record straight.  The minute you defraud the rest of your countrymen who are paying taxes to help you in your time of need, you cease to be a victim and become a perpetrator.  If a tightening of the purse strings is necessary to end the rash of bad behavior, then git 'er done, is all I have to say. 

This op-ed's excuse for logic is the culmination of liberal thought and amoral (and often antimoral) ideologies.  There are some liberal thinkers (and I use that word loosely- thinkers) who would have us believe that people are no more than animals, incapable of choosing decent and honest behavior over self-interest.  How incredibly elitist to hold such a low standard for the people of New Orleans.  In essence, the argument is, 'don't worry about the 16% of 6 billion you stole, we didn't expect much from you anyway...' Condescending doesn't even come close to describing the insulting notion of dismissing accountability for $960,000,000. 

By the Times standard, this misuse of our dollars is simply the byproduct of a 'clever and responsive policy'.  You see, the Times believes that people are bound to abuse the system and so we should just accept that fact, blame FEMA and increase oversight.  But then we taxpayers would be the victims, wouldn't we?  Where can we get our $2000 EFT cards?  The Times is right in that some people will abuse the system.  And if we ignore those abuses or blame FEMA for failing to keep victims honest, then we are encouraging more abuse in the future.  It is FEMA's responsibility to get emergency aid to folks, not to teach them moral values like integrity and honesty.  But heaven forbid, we lay any of the responsibility for this theft of our tax-dollars with the people who actually stole/misused the money,  that would come perilously close ... to reason.