After the 71st case and 5th death from the skeeter-borne West Nile Virus, Governor Foster of Louisiana is for Federal assistance (money).
My initail reaction was “why is the Governor asking for federal money for such a non-emergency?”
Louisiana, a state with the population 4.50 million, asking the cash-strapped government of the US for financial aid to battle an epidemic that has affected .0015% of its population would be like 5,500 local fire department thoughout the country asking for $3.60 million in grant money for new equipment. Oh, wait a minute, that happened already last month.
I hold the more callous, politically unpopular, belief that the US government should not be in the business of collecting and then doling out funds everytime someone yells, "Emergency!"
The bloated Federal Emergency System’s largesse has resulted in state and locality imprudence and their inability to handle or pay for such minor problems as mosquito contol.
Perhaps it’s time FEMA be used for what it was intended for;
Providing assistance to localities for catastrophic events
NOT
A bloated swine who acts as mother to her piglet Governor offspring who fight for their spot in line for a suckle off her generous, swollen teet.