Donna Vickodil – 8/26/07

This page was last updated on August 26, 2007.

Where’s help for us?; Donna Vickodil; Beaver County Times; August 26, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I heard on the news that President Bush is ready, willing and able to jump in and help Mexico after Hurricane Dean, which is great. I am sure they need a lot of help.

“But hello. What about the people in our own United States? The federal government wants to give loans to our local towns after creeks and stream have swollen and engulfed their properties.

“That is, if they qualify. Some of the people affected can’t afford loans. What about grants?

“The people in New Orleans got help, but it wasn’t enough and they still need help. And what about the people in Aliquippa, Millvale, Ohio and all the other small towns in the United States?”

[RWC] Why should taxpayers bail out any of these people? When they chose to live where they do, not to buy appropriate insurance, not to save for a rainy day, et cetera, they chose the potential of getting wiped out. It is not government’s responsibility to fix the bad choices we make.

Regarding the New Orleans comment, Ms. Vickodil is all wet. To date, far more federal taxpayer dollars have been set aside than have been used.

“I think the federal government has its priorities backwards.”

[RWC] No, Ms. Vickodil has the wrong opinion of the role of government.

Even if you believe government should bail people out, why should it be the federal government? What’s wrong with local and state governments?