Spring is in the air... and so is FEMA

Please tell me why. I'll preface this by saying what I am talking about is not likely to be popular. But please tell me why people continue to live in areas that are so vulnerable to extreme weather disasters?  And while you are at it, please tell me why the people that choose to live in those areas are entitled to continued government aid from those of us who have made better choices as to where to live. Now before you stop reading and send me a note that this is a symptom of the liberal mindset, a few facts. FEMA was started in 1979 by Executive Order under Democratic President Carter.  But the roots of government aid in the face of national disasters go all the way back to the 1930's under Republican President Hoover.  Programs were expanded, contracted, improved, or let to languish under administrations of both parties.  Additionally, congressional leaders of both parties have been critics and boosters of this type government aid, depending on whether or not their citizens, or better said, political constituents were affected.  In short, the history of federal aid to states, localities, and individual citizens, in the face of tragedy has been truly bipartisan. There is no other way to honestly characterize this reality, so let's not go there.  Instead, let's ask some tough questions. For hundreds of years the mighty Mississippi has flooded, sending waves of water into cities and homes up and down the banks of this important river.  And for years, government has been paying to help rebuild peoples homes, renovate farms, and bail out businesses that have chosen to live in a place where almost annually, the river floods. New Orleans is a city sitting on a powder keg, or rather, under that powder keg given its below sea level status.  Due to the risk of flooding, dikes and sea walls are maintained at a huge cost to tax payers so that people can live in an area of almost constant risk. Across the midwest, people live in what is called Tornado Alley, so named because almost every year, tornados rip into this area like what we have seen in the last few weeks. Recently, President Obama and Governor Chris Christie celebrated the continued rebuilding of the Jersey Shore, devastated by Hurricane Sandy, largely on the dime of the federal government.  Soon you can bet that our President will be standing beside Governor Brown in California pledging support for people whose homes were lost in yet another forest fire raging in that state. Year after year, time after time, people in places like Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, California and Missouri swamp the government with requests for aid, help and relief from their poor decisions to live in areas of risk.  It is as if we have forgotten the old real estate maxim of caveat emptor, or buyer beware. I am not against government giving immediate aid and relief to people who have been devasted by things like Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, intense flooding like what we saw recently in San Antonio and the recent spate of tornados that have moved across our great country.  When people are in immediate peril, our governments, state, local and national should spring to action to help those get to safety.  Our goal should be to do all we can to save lives and get people out of harms way. What I am against is the constant paying for, in some cases time and time again, the rebuilding of homes and businesses in known disaster prone areas.  You want to live in a forest or or on the coast?  You cannot imagine giving up your view of the Oklahoma Plain?  Fine, but you should accept the risk and the consequences of your decision, because disaster in those areas is fairly common and predictable. Why should someone like me, who lives in a relatively safe state, but pays for that with extreme summer heat, have to effectively subsidize those who choose to live on the Jersey Shore, Gulf Coast or the mountains above Los Angeles? You want to live there?  Fine with me.  You want to rebuild your home below sea level in New Orleans?  By all means, feel free to do so.  But beyond life saving emergency aid, you should not expect your government to be your rebuilding partner.  Get yourself some insurance.  Save your money for a rainy day. Tap your relatives, but don't expect me to pay to rebuild your patio overlooking a hurricane plagued seashore or a tornado prone great plain. As President Obama has repeatedly said, we, the people of the United States, are here to help when there is a need. What we should not be here to do is repeatedly rescue people from the poor decisions they have made to live in harms way. You want to live there?  Go right ahead.  It's your right.  But if you are living in an area that has a history of repeated disaster, you should not expect me. the federal, or any other level of government to rescue your from your bad judgment or continued stubbornness. What say you?

The Mission Top Five

Here it is and this week we have another pretender to the Top Five throne. Let's face it. The top four teams are virtually inseperable so everyone else in the country is fighting for the number five slot. Today that honor falls to West Virginia, who will probably lose this week. Gordon, I am sure that if Oregon wins their big Game Day battle against Cal in a couple of weeks, they just might finally crack the top five. The bigger question will come when one of the big four loses. Will pollsters drop them or will they acknowledge that even with a loss, these four are head and shoulders above the rest of the college football fraternity. 1. LSU (4-0) – LSU replaces USC at number one in part because of another strong performance against a ranked team and in part because of Ball St hanging 600 yards and 40 points on Nebraska making USC’s win last week a little less impressive. 2. USC (3-0) – Remember that the top 2 play for the title. There is little difference between numbers one and two. USC will get a stiff test on the road against Washington this week. 3. Oklahoma (4-0) – Another week, another 50 points. The streak may end against a stout Colorado defense this weekend, but an easy win will still be there for the taking. 4. Florida (4-0) – The defending national champs get their shot at revenge this week. Struggling Auburn is the opponent and my guess is that it will take some offensive touchdowns to pull the upset this year. 5. West Virginia (4-0) – This is the week for West Virginia. During this great run over the past few seasons, they still haven’t knocked off a highly ranked foe on the road. The win won’t be coming this week because the defense still hasn’t been tested and will fail this week.

The Mission Top Five

Here you go folks. I told you last week that I didn't think Wisconsin belonged in the Top Five and lo and behold, Shadow Sports dropped them a little. Gordon, Oregon is getting close in the complete poll, [Number 10] but they are still not Top Five material. Actually, here is where I am at in all of this. The top four teams in the country are USC, LSU, Oklahoma, and Florida. No question about it. They could all lose a game and in my opinion, they'd still be the best 4 teams in the country. So that leaves one place for the rest of the college football fraternity to fight over and this weeks winner seems to be...Penn State. With the worst helmets in football. Finally, I told you either Michigan or Notre Dame would win last week. The question now becomes whether or not Our Mother of South Bend can even score a touchdown on offense. Rankings (W-L, Last Week in Parenthesis) 1. USC (2-0, 1) – USC looked impressive enough in a tough road game to keep the top ranking. Things get a little easier this week (Washington St. at home). For anyone on the west coast, avoid the ABC Saturday night slaughter and watch the SEC showdown on ESPN. 2. LSU (3-0, 2) – We now know the difference between LSU and Louisville: defense. LSU shutout Middle Tennessee St. while the offense rolled. Louisville gave up 42 points while the offense rolled. 3. Oklahoma (3-0, 3) – Oklahoma has been flat out dominant so far, but against sub par competition (the Miami defense might be good, but when the offense can’t get a first down, you get tired fast). This week could be a spot of minor trouble (ask BYU about Tulsa). 4. Florida (3-0, 6) – After destroying Tennessee, it is valid to ask the question: Is Tennessee being overvalued since the defense has looked awful, or another question: Is Florida-Cal going to be the title game? 5. Penn St. (3-0, 7) – Penn St. slept through last week’s game against Buffalo. They won’t be able to do that this week with a revitalized Michigan on deck. (you know the drill...take all you want, just give us a link. preferably hot!)