Video: Rep. Ron Paul on why he'd do away with FEMA

soundoff (17 Responses)

1. Beverly
   

   Just more of Rep. Paul's refusal to live in the same world the rest of us do. According to him, we should all be self-sufficient to survive catastrophes. Yes, if we were all millionaires. I'm sick of hearing that it's my own fault my home got washed away by a 20ft. wall of water.

   August 31, 2011 at 7:54 pm |
2. Prakash Parikh
   

   Anderson did not ask tough questions of Ron Paul. It seemed that Ron Paul just walked all over Anderson. Ron Paul ignored Anderson's objections or copunterpoint, and continued to tell his side of the story. The Galvestone story is case in point. Nor was there another guest who would have counter arguments. What was the whole point of this interview if we do not get to learn point and counterpoints?

   August 31, 2011 at 3:49 pm |
3. Don Morrison
   

   Hi Anderson,

   Enjoyed your discussion last nite with Ron Paul re his comments related to Fema.

   I found myself agreeing with Ron Paul's comment that he believed Fema should not be offering insurance to people who want to build homes in areas that are likely to be inundated with water ie either in flood plains or in coastal areas that have a history of significant flooding.

   His main point is that since private insurance companies either won't offer insurance or it is prohibitively expensive that governments should not be filling the void with government backed cheap flood insurance. It seems to be very questionable that governments should be encouraging, buy offering insurance, to people who build homes in areas with a significant risk of flooding. I think just the opposite ... governments thru zoning and other laws should be restricting the building of homes in these areas.

   You might find it interesting that in a country such as Canada, that most Americans would consider more socialist in its government policies, does not offer government backed insurance to individuals wanting to build homes in areas with a significant risk of flooding.

   I live in Mississauga, Ontario, just west of Toronto, in a house backing onto a greenbelt which has a creek that occasional overflows its banks and can't get flood insurance at any cost thru private insurers and there certainly is no government offered flood insurance.

   August 31, 2011 at 3:34 pm |
4. Kenny
   

   I have had to deal with FEMA down here on the gulf coast several times. Ron Paul is right. They do nothing but get in the way and cause problems for the people who are trying to rebuild. They waste so much time and money it is pathetic. After Rita people in Beaumont were needing ice. FEMA had to much red tape to get through to get it to the people, so the truckers dumped three 18 wheeler loads of ice on the ground and left. In 100 degree weather it wasnt there for very long. They paid thousands of dollars to contractors to go around putting blue plastic on everyones roof. They were paying almost as much for the plastic roofs as it would cost to just replace the shingles. This kind of thing happened constantly while FEMA was in town. They would have been better off just giving the money to the property owners and let us fix everything ourselves. FEMA is a useless and pathetic organization. More people should listen to Ron Paul.

   August 31, 2011 at 3:24 pm |
5. Mavis Meyer
   

   FEMA came to help during flood at Minot ND this summer, and gets high marks. Their preformance at Katrina is outdated!

   August 31, 2011 at 3:07 pm |
6. Lucy Gunter
   

   I listened to Dr Paul, and having worked for FEMA, he is right. He is right about many issues, we need to stop lying to ourselves and listen to him.

   August 31, 2011 at 2:38 pm |
7. Ashley Roubik
   

   Can the zoo animals that need food and water be helped some how? Its just so saddd!!!

   August 31, 2011 at 11:56 am |
8. Eileen, Virginia
   

   This story just makes me sick. Do the Republicans understand the meaning of a national emergency? FEMA does a great job working with states to face emergencies way too big for state and local govt to handle alone.

   Wasn't it bad enough for Republicans to hold our struggling economy hostage and set off a world-wide economic crisis? Now Eric Cantor wants to hold flood and hurricane victims hostage for further budget cuts. It is a disgrace and Republicans should be ashamed of themselves!

   August 31, 2011 at 10:59 am |
9. Sean B
   

   Dear Anderson,

   Thank you for having Ron Paul on your show.

   It would seem that most reporters couch their interview in the format of a statements “You think we should do such and such.” Which further hints at a purposeful effort to paint him into a corner as a crackpot. It would be nice to hear Dr. Paul being asked “Questions” that attempt the same thing without the hostility “Some would say you think we should do such and such, is that correct?”. Fortunately Ron despite his consistently humble demeanor is no push over, and I and others thoroughly enjoy hearing him clarifying his positions in a way that clearly no other politician has done in decades.

   His message unlike those of the recent past is clear, concise and meaningful. He’s not a 30 sec sound bite guy, and it’s not an easy pill for the Media or the general population to de-program themselves from the Propaganda of both parties which favor the Centralization of both Financial and Political power, but it’s nice to see that on your show he was given some opportunity to expound on his principals.

   Thanks for doing what seemed to be obviously difficult for you.

   August 31, 2011 at 10:17 am |
10. Jeff
    

    Dr. Paul is right!

    If we don't make drastic changes very soon our country is going to collapse under debt, and arguing about FEMA is going to then seem really foolish.

    He is right, honest, and for the people!

    August 31, 2011 at 8:05 am |
11. Beth
    

    Ron Paul is the only one I know that has the courage to speak the truth.

    August 31, 2011 at 7:14 am |
12. Shane
    

    Ron Paul – the ONLY candidate with answers..

    August 31, 2011 at 4:25 am |
13. Gloria
    

    Anderson, please, please lets cut-to-the-chase on Rep. Ron Paul's perspective on FEMA. At this point, there is nothing right with anything that is remotely connected to the Obama admin. whether it was initiated by the President or not, solely because they do not want Barack Obama to be the President. People like Paul don't like FEMA (and most of the other federal aide programs) because it costs money to fund it, which indicates that they do not give a crap about the people who need help from FEMA. America is becoming the same kind of country as Libya, Syria, etc. because rich people don't care anymore about their less fortunate fellow citizens than the dictators in those countries. If rich people don't want to pay their fair share of taxes on (all) of their income, which would solve all of our revenue problems – the deficit, the debt ceiling and every thing else, then who in Hades is supposed to take care of people in need if the federal government is not going to do it.

    Next, what could any President do to stimulate the economy if corporations elect to "sit on" their hiring efforts (because they can afford to do so) just to make the President look bad. If President Obama looses the next election these corporations will hire everyone and their brother just to make the next (Republican President) look as if he/she is doing something for the economy. Hopefully, the American people are watching, listening and remembering what the Republican candidates, some news anchors and strategists are saying about issues facing them; who really have their best interests at heart and who do not. They should realize that Obama nor any other president cannot do anything if no one else cares enough about people to work with him to do what is right.

    What good is it doing to say that you are cutting programs in order to cut spending when this only results in putting more people out of work? Do conservatists not have any consciences at all? They never know when it will be their turn to need assistance of some sort. Do they not realize that misfortune can befall rich people, too? If we are really trying to keep them honest, lets keep it real, too. Conservatists do not care about anyone but themselves. Everyone else can rot before they agree to pay another cent of theirs (which they would not even miss) to help someone less fortunate.

    August 31, 2011 at 3:38 am |
14. Tyler
    

    btw, along with getting away FEMA, he'd get rid of the federal income tax.. so it's not like you'd still have your money taken from you, along with the service.. you'd get to keep your money, and invest in a program that would be much more beneficial in times of disaster.

    August 31, 2011 at 12:41 am |
15. deb
    

    I think mr, Paul should take a ride to Vermont and NJ before he bemoans rich people who stupidly build their homes where they don't belong. He is obviously not aware enough about some of the people he consistently attempts to lead.

    August 31, 2011 at 12:38 am |
16. Vincent Simmon
    

    Ron Paul threw everything at FEMA except a cogent way to improve it. The Katrina failure was due to Michael DeWayne Brown, appointed by GW Bush, and completely unquailified for the job, unless he was rescuing Arabian horses. Congressman Paul did touch on one areawhere improvement is needed, Flood Insurance, but failed to make any meaningful reform suggestions. Federal flood insurance was enacted because it was obvious that private insurance could not afford to take the risk (gulp, Congress knew ahead of time it was an insurance disaster), but wanted to help victims. All well in good. But victim once, help them out, victim twice, not so nice. After federal flood insurance pays for one disaster on a location (eg, a business or private home), it should not be available or permitted to be covered by the federal program ever again. Otherwise, it is an invitation for continued build, flood and rebuild.

    August 31, 2011 at 12:11 am |
17. CKenney
    

    Personal Responsibility is what Ron Paul is preaching. When did we become a country looking for a handout. If you house gets washed away in a flood and you don't have insurance because you can't afford it...then that is really sad and I am sorry BUT the government does not owe you a new house! Tragedy is a part of life. If you continue to build houses on the edge of the ocean, or a mountain or any other place that is potentially dangerous and you loose that house, the government does not owe you a new one. Remember we are the government. The money the government spends is our tax dollars. I do not want my tax dollars via FEMA rebuilding beach homes that get blowed away every year. There is a lot of truth to what Ron Paul is saying.

    August 30, 2011 at 11:29 pm |