Functional Democracy

SUMMARY

Wildfires in California have become a serious threat to life and property because of the seasonal winds and dry air. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is responding by organizing disaster relief three days after the fires started. California is still organizing the fire-fighting resources it needs for this situation. Follow this link to view coverage of this story http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2132897520071023?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

COMMENTARY

The typical response to fires is a local issue. Only after the fire proves to be too severe and it spreads does it become a concern of the county. Finally, after failures at two levels of government, the state becomes the final victim until it shifts the burden to the federal government. All of this takes time and wastes the resources, which the agents of the government used in an initially futile effort. The government was derelict in its responsibilities to its citizens by not preparing for this likely problem. It had inadequate resources to respond effectively to the initial fires. The magnitude of this disaster was greater than it needed to be. A decisive response earlier in the life of these fires would have prevented their spread.

SOLUTIONS

A single national system of government eliminates the delay in responding to crises because there are no jurisdictions that are below the national level. It would eliminate the need to wait for city, county, and state responses to fail before acting.

A National Emergency Management Agency that responds to all disaster situations, even terrorist attacks, would have ended this situation immediately by responding with all of the available national resources to extinguish the fires as they erupted. Using the National Guard and Air National Guard as a source of equipment handlers and pilots would be reasonable. Developing a plan for this particular situation is a responsibility of this agency.

National land management agencies would have directed the maintenance and monitoring of land that is vulnerable to fire, floods, and other potentially devastating events in order to anticipate problems rather than wait in ignorant bliss for a disaster to occur.