With just a soupçon of irony, politicos who aspire to positions in government where they would administer programs funded by taxes, have been campaigning for "less government AND cutting taxes" for generations. Has an attractive ring to it, but we can be tricked into believing we don't need government...until we do. We need responsive government right now. We don't have it. Let's Mosey around the issue.

Hell AND High Water, The Baby and The Bath Water

We've all heard the saying, "Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater." And we've heard the qualifying descriptive "hell OR high water." Well, now we've experienced both hell AND high water in several American locales, and we're realizing that we've thrown out or neglected too much government to be responsive. The Trump "Administration" selected several inexperienced Cabinet members, chose not to fill key Cabinet staff positions, and has wound up with an incompetent, ineffective cadre who are proving incapable of coordinating, much less initiating, responsive government. And, what a shame to realize this situation in a time of considerable national challenge. It's been notable that so many military leaders are influencing this Administration. But, under the circumstances, thank goodness they are serving as the more thoughtful adults in the room.

Do We Want Less Government and Lower Taxes?

NO! That's too simplistic. We want responsive government and a fair and accountable tax system to fund programs in our common interest. The current challenge with multiple weather-related environmental and social catastrophes highlights the shortsightedness of placing political ideology over humanitarian needs. A responsive government should provide a safety net for exactly the circumstances we're now experiencing. And a fairly administered tax system will fund FEMA, EPA, HHS and other programs that serve our best interests. The Trump associates have either gutted these programs or staffed them inadequately to do their jobs. So they can't effectively coordinate inter-agency challenges when they can't even manage their separate operations. 

Monday Morning Quarterbacking the Puerto Rico Situation

This is being written on Day 10 of the Puerto Rican disaster. As I write this, very little has been done to EFFECTIVELY administer a large-scale relief effort on this island. Trump has trumpeted success while the locals report otherwise. Huge stockpiles of critical supplies lie idle on the docks due to lack of logistical coordination. Trump and FEMA officials blamed damaged airports, torn-up roads, and unavailable drivers and trucks to distribute supplies.

As an experienced corporate and governmental trouble-shooter, let me suggest how this response time might have been halved...critically important where food, medicine for the vulnerable, and water are concerned. Consider:

--The Puerto Rican storm was predicted many days in advance, coming after the real experience of Florida and Texas storms...

--Modern drones and helicopters could determine the scope of the Puerto Rican damage within a few daylight hours of the first day following the storm. If employed.

--With total power outage and critical island-wide infrastructure damage, only a major military logistics effort could address such a large scale setback. If authorized and mobilized.

--U.S. military logistics can assist utility repair, reclaim airport runways and repair ports quickly with a sizable contingent of troops.

--U.S. military air transports could provide troops and trucks to enable this reclamation in 2-3 days at most.

--Military troops would use locals to assist precise priority road identification and repair to speed strategic supply delivery.

--These large-scale military operations could also supply medical and security assistance as required to make sure hospitals were fully operable and community order maintained.

Immediate coordination of actions such as above would have cut the time of suffering and uncertainty in half. Nothing of this nature was initiated by the Trump Administration. They instead claimed credit for success and blamed the locals for failures.

Some Dramatic and Timely Lessons in Self-Government

It is unfortunate, but human and institutional nature, that we often have to have our faces, hearts and minds slapped before we pay attention. And too many folks have to suffer while we ponder and procrastinate. The tremendous weather disasters and the international saber-rattling remind us of our fallibility and vulnerability. We also see how our neglect of citizenship and governmental stewardship can turn against us in a hurry. It is a time of personal and national soul-searching. We know we're better than this. But, if we expect better, we've got to challenge our friend in the mirror to rise to our occasion. Let's do it. TOGETHER. LET'S MOSEY!