Transcript
John Stossel: Tonight, we explode a few myths about elections and natural disasters. Here’s the first: I’m told that Hurricane Sandy is proof that we need a powerful federal government, namely FEMA, which provides emergency management. This just makes sense to people: we have a big disaster across state lines, who but the feds can help. Just like New York Times declared, week, “A big storm requires big government”. Very few politicians are skeptical about that, so it’s a relief to turn to former presidential candidate, Ron Paul. Dr. Paul, you say it’s a myth that we need FEMA?
Ron Paul: I certainly think so, because it causes more harm than good. We’ve handled floods and disasters for 204 years before we had FEMA, and the states and the volunteers and the local communities did quite well. I’ve taken this position for a long time, it’s not just recently. I’ve taken it since I was first in office, and I kept getting re-elected, because people in my district got tired of FEMA. All they had was headaches, they got locked into their insurance and it’s a bureaucracy and I’ve tried to help them get through the bureaucracy. But they just come in and take over.
John Stossel: But it’s a big problem, it crosses state lines, the Feds have to have some role?
Ron Paul: No, they don’t have to. What we should have is a real insurance. The problem is, the insurance program causes many of the problems, because they say, “Well, you have to have insurance”. The market won’t sell insurance to you, and that’s telling you that it’s too dangerous. So rich people get insurance subsidized by poor people, and they go and build on beaches and they have a good time and their houses get washed away and the poor people pay to rebuild their houses.
John Stossel: It was interesting that this week, before the storm hit, the President held a press conference, not at FEMA’s offices, but at the Red Cross. Here’s a clip:
Barack Obama: The reason we’re here is because the Red Cross knows what it’s doing when it comes to emergency responses.
John Stossel: So what’s he saying there, the Red Cross, not FEMA, knows what it’s doing, and FEMA doesn’t? Sounds like he’s admitting it.
Ron Paul: Yea, that was good politics, but, unfortunately, from my experience here in my district, the Red Cross and others were inhabited by FEMA. They would come in and stop it. Think of the difference between how evacuation occurred in New York after 9/11, all the volunteers shipped boats and things, thousands of people there were evacuated. And the opposite happened in Katrina, because FEMA got in and had control. But this giving up on individuals helping neighbors and local government doing things is a serious problem and it’s one of the reasons why we’re totally bankrupt. Because all this money that’s going to go out here in the next few months because of this storm … there is no money in the bank and there’s really no money in FEMA, the insurance is broke. So they’re going to just borrow it and print it and make our problems worse. They’ll take and centralize the power, the power will be in Washington DC, and it’s bureaucratic and it’s very inefficient.
John Stossel: Well, thank you, Dr. Paul, and thank you for all you’ve done to wake people up.
Ron Paul: Thank you, John.
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Sorry u gonna compare 911 when two towers collapsed to Hurricane katrina when a WHOLE damn CITY was wiped away!? Of course it was EASIER to evacuate during 911 (Most people didnt evacuate New York or DC when 911 happened).
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Did Ron Paul say that Fema was the problem with Hurrican Katrina in New Orleans? I thought the problem was that thanks to George W Bush Fema didn’t turn up at all and that’s what caused the real problems no aid or assitance. I love the way Ron Paul starts by saying 200 years ago we didn’t have fema, yeah and 200 years ago we didn’t have global warming either ha ha
»crosslinked«
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Justice Needed.
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They built FEMA camps well in advance to prepare to imprison victims of disasters (martial law)… but they didnt ready gasoline, backup sources of electrical power for homes, construction and rebuilding teams, or other supplies to help communities and individuals return their lives to normal. You think whether a democrat or a republican president can make a difference then you are the one who should wake up.
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That’s because a stupid fucking republican was president. Look at how much it’s helping people now. You should wake up.
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You think that FEMA is any helpful? Ask any Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans if the poor response from FEMA was any help to them, they will tell you otherwise. The people there suffered and died regardless, even with FEMAs intervention.
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Yeah but lets think logical……Cut 5 billion dollars and then loose 400 billion in revenue from tax cuts. Logical? I think not…….I agree we need to cut allot and most liberals like me want to cut the defense and many other things but really cutting small programs that do nothing but help?
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That was a weird ending to the clip. Hah
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Maybe not everything, but America is at fault for a lot since the Cold War era. The USSR could be blamed for much of the current $#%& too, but they’re not around anymore.
The US bargained with & coerced other countries to use our dollar as a parallel currency, and it became the reserve currency of the world. We started printing magic money, & sent it around the globe to support rebels, tyrants, terrorist, etc.
At least Ron Paul is critical of the current system. We need to ask these things.
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yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s what he said…
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They spent thier money on Bullets, coffins and prisons and fat salarys for people who refuse to get their feet dirty during a disaster. Disgraceful!
Just think we can all live in FEMA shelters one day where we will be fed, clothed and taken good care of we will work for free, we will not need to own possessions money or any items not required to live all we require will be provided by our local fema camp. We will be controlled till death upon which we will be provided a fema funeral coffin
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Hello my american friends can you tell me what is this fema,,,,,,,i live in the uk {wales}thank you.
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Fox Business you say? Yeah, I’m sure this is credible information.
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Ron Paul… lets just let people suffer and die. What a nice guy. Ron Paul can go fuck himself.
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Always love a host with a sarcastic tone. I’m saying this in a sarcastic tone.
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but still the dems will win again… reps won the popular vote once in 24 yrs. My parents used to vote for the republicans but since bush the voted for obama…
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but still the dems will win again… reps won the popular vote once in 24 yrs. My parents used to vote for the republicans but since bush the voted for obama…
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but still the dems will win again… reps won the popular vote once in 24 yrs. My parents used to vote for the republicans but since bush the voted for obama…
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but still the dems will win again… reps won the popular vote once in 24 yrs. My parents used to vote for the republicans but since bush the voted for obama…
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I didn’t vote for Romney… Ron was the best candidate
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I didn’t vote for Romney… Ron was the best candidate
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I didn’t vote for Romney… Ron was the best candidate
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I didn’t vote for Romney… Ron was the best candidate
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I can’t stand this senile man blaming America for every cause around the world. What about Europe? Those loons with their Kings and Queens have cause more destruction than we could ever imagine!!!
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Back in the 50s blacks and jews were getting lynched
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Yeah, I can imagine 12 years of MoRon Paul alright. The USA would become the Islamic Republic of the USA!
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I don’t forget about those people, the ones that assist the Red Cross by donating their time and money, my hat is off to those people. Very few are actually employed by the RC, The Red Cross can do some good things, but just imagine what they could do with at least 50% of that 60%. Administrative costs should not be 60% of every dollar, 10% I could see.
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Presidents can’t get elected a third time……..thank God
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GOD BLESS U DR PAUL!~
rest in peace 2pac~
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Clearly you sold your brain years ago.
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Don’t overlook all the volunteers who donate their time and effort as a part of the Red Cross to help out the community around them at a local level, like donating blood or arriving on a scene of a house fire.
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The two party system is destroying America. The Democratic Party represents the Democratic Party. The Republican Party represents the Republican Party. The American people are represented by neither party. The parties only care for their individual party’s goals and agendas. Wake up America. The next 4 years will be the same as the previous 4 years. Can anyone say Lame duck?
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Goodness, you’re a moron. But hey, I’m talking to an Obama supporter so I’ll meet you half way…
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Enjoy your wars. Fool.
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Oh and Obama isnt?! They are both Liars bought and paid for by the same people. I cast mine for Romney, cause atleast he has a background i can see and thats tangable. Obama is a fucking Ghost. too many unknowns. Better to take the Devil you know, than the one you dont know dick shit about cause he’s sealed his damned records. Transparency my ass. Romney Stole the Primary from Paul, Obama stole the big one from him. Maybe Obama will start the Tyrranny even faster and make dumbass fools wake up.
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