Predictably, liberal commentators are bashing Mitt Romney for having once suggested that disaster relief should be left to states and private organizations. For example:
The Huffington Post has an absolutely essential piece noting that Mitt Romney opposes FEMA and believes disaster relief should be either left to the states or to private organizations. There is, in his world, apparently no role for the national government. We're not all in this together, apparently.
Romnery probably will backtrack in the fact of such criticism, but I'd live to see him take ownership of it. After all, in the wake of Katrina, I argued that we ought to outsource disaster relief:
This proposal will shock those who intuitively regard disaster relief as a core government function, but consider how many functions traditionally regarded as public sector responsibilities are already being outsourced to the private sector. Charter schools educate many of our children. Many more of our children are educated in public schools operated by for profit educational management companies. Many prisons are operated by for profit corporations. Even as basic a government function as war making has been partially outsourced, as illustrated by the military's extensive use of private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
If we can outsource war, why not disasters?
Do me a favor: Before leaving some comment about how heartless I am, at least go read the whole post. Okay?
