September 15, 2005
Worst Support Argument Ever
I was watching FOX News earlier today. The topic under discussion was the role the federal government should play in the rebuilding of New Orleans. A conservative and a liberal were giving their viewpoints. Of course, the conservative believed that the federal government should play a limited role and most of the work should be done by private companies. When the liberal replied, she reasoned that the federal government should do most of the work, citing "when Pearl Harbor was destroyed, it was completely operational three years later [due to the role the federal government played]." There are few times when my brain screams in agony. This was one of them. No matter what your position on this subject may be, you have to see the obvious flaws in her argument:
- Pearl Harbor is federal property. Of course they were going to rebuild it.
- There was this little thing called World War II that required that Pearl Harbor be operational
Perhaps my political beliefs on the matter are clouding my judgement, but I cannot honestly see a valid argument in her reason. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
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Comments
Her example does seem off-base, while her sentiment isn't. However, I think the balance lies somewhere between these two talking heads.
The federal government, and city and state, need to ensure that the infrastructure is there -- roads, levees and the like. More importantly than setting and controling zoning and city ordinances, they're job is to entice private businesses and investments back into the areas. The only way to do that is by building a better levee and flood wall system. That's their responsibility.
As for rebuilding homes and the like, the bulk of it will fall to insurance companies and individuals -- in my opinion. I think her question ought to be: how much is the federal government responsible, given that they robbed the city of funds to repair the flood walls and levees? In other words, isn't this destruction, to a major degree, their (and thus everyone's) fault?
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