Look to neighbors, not government

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for October 6, 2024)

My sympathy goes out to everyone affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath. It's easy for those of us who live far from the ocean, or any water whatsoever, to feel smug for living where hurricanes don't reach. If this is how you feel, remember it's a false sense of security.

Every area has its own problems and potential disasters. Tornadoes, wildfires, blizzards, riots, or earthquakes... and sometimes a smorgasbord of all the above. Figure out your region's most likely disaster and prepare for it. And the others as well. Even preparing for the trouble a hurricane can cause in an area like this, where hurricanes are as likely as elephant stampedes, will carry over to other problems you may experience. So many precautions are the same no matter the emergency.

The worst mistake is to fail to prepare because you believe government will ride in like a hero to kiss your scrapes and bruises and make your boo-boos all better. If they show up at all, they may make things worse.

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency-- the one agency you might believe would have, as their top priority, helping people recover from disasters-- has said equity is their "Goal 1". Not disaster response, rescue, or recovery, but the antisocial communist ideology of equity. That's disgusting and an utter failure on their part.

Even before FEMA got infected with this mind virus, they were less helpful than locals could be. Neighbors helping neighbors is the foundation of society. Don't try to replace society with government. It won't work.

Government was never going to save you. You’ve always been on your own. If you’ve been planning on government help, make other plans. Government is your enemy, not your savior. Grow up and accept your responsibility.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't accept help from government, or anyone else, should it be offered. Go ahead. Don't be counting on it, though. Don't wait for help which isn't coming.

Instead, help your neighbors when they need it, even in minor troubles. Ask for help when you need it. Build community. We have each other, and relying on government erodes community. Government needs us, we don't need it. If we think we don't need to lift a finger because that's government's job, we are missing a great opportunity and empowering something harmful.

There's a better way, and now you know what it is. But you already knew, didn't you?

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