Yo, Dude, I Have A Question For You: Why Do We Need Federal Government?

Saturday, October 12, 2013

I just listened to a story on NPR about the massive cyclone (named Phailin) that slammed into India today.  According to a separate article it's the strongest cyclone ever recorded in the Indian Ocean.  It has been acknowledged that the Indian government learned from the high death toll caused by another major cyclone in 1999 and was more prepared for the arrival of Phailin.  That is certainly a win not just for the Indian people but also for the field of emergency preparedness.

This current storm reminds me of major storms that have hit the United States including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy from last October.  These types of events also remind me of why having a federal government to provide certain resources and assistance is a wise idea.  And it therefore casts an even harsher light on the recent idiocy in Washington, DC as the partial federal government shutdown dragged through a second week.  It still intrigues and disappoints me that people such as those of the Tea Party contingent can be so short-sighted as to believe that shrinking the federal government to the point that you can metaphorically 'drown it in a bathtub' is actually a good idea.

The broader question on display (as evidenced by fighting over Obamacare, the debt ceiling, etc) is what is the appropriate role of government in the lives of people who live in a democratic society as we (supposedly) do here in this country.  I state 'supposedly' because it does indeed appear that the will of a   minority has successfully subverted the democratic process in this nation to such a degree that the federal government has been brought to its proverbial knees.  The GOP has been accused of taking the U.S. economy hostage in submissive agreement to the bizarre vision of the Tea Party.  And the use of such metaphor to describe the dysfunction in DC is very apt in my opinion.  Not only is the United States economy being unduly risked but the entire interconnected global economy is also being put at risk.  But such risk is apparently of minimal consequence in the weird world of Tea Party thinking.

I can't help but think how fortunate this nation is to not be facing a storm the scale of Katrina or Phailin at this exact moment.  Were a storm of such ferocity to be bearing down on the United States Gulf Coast you can be quite sure the din of voices demanding the government shutdown end immediately would be quite loud.  I find it especially ironic that some of the Gulf Coast states that would be most at risk from such a storm happen to be home to a large portion of those who support the Tea Party ideology.  It has happened more than once that members of our own Congress have voted against providing relief to districts severely harmed by such storms when these constituents live in other states.  And yet suddenly the federal government becomes a very good friend when the disaster strikes your own neighborhood!  I cite the example of catastrophic natural disasters as but one affirmative answer to the question: "Dude, why do we need federal government?"

Though I do not savor the idea of wading into the realm of issues related to the military and the Department of Defense I will do so here to offer yet another example of the need for a federal government.  Let me ask you this question to stimulate reflection on the matter: What do you think it would be like if states were left with 100% financial responsibility for the care of veterans returning from conflicts such as those we have been directly involved with in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last decade?  Do you think states should be forced to bear such costs for residents who have served in the military and suffered grave injury abroad?  Can you imagine what kind of budgetary nightmare that could prove to be?  Not only that but you would also be wise to consider the significant differences in the quality of hospital care that a veteran might receive depending on what state is home.  In this sense a federal system (Veterans Administration) can ideally level the playing field such that veterans will more likely get equal care regardless of state of origin.  Anyone who would believe there are not significant differences in the resources states avail their citizens need only look at the diverse responses of states to expand their Medicaid programs (something states later were able to opt out of despite the Affordable Care Act) to realize just how different are the circumstances citizens find across the nation.

Another fun topic is transportation safety.  Imagine if there were nothing like the National Transportation Safety Board.  Imagine if we did not have an efficient and comprehensive mechanism to recall vehicles, keep roads safe and investigate accidents.  Again, how do you think this would all play out if such an important issue were left to the fifty states?  Would you feel as comfortable flying in airplanes or driving in bad weather if your own state had complete responsibility over this issue?  In some states I can imagine it might be easy to feel safe.  But what about the poorest states?

Here is a fourth and final issue that touches each of us every single day.  How would you feel if you knew your food was not being thoroughly inspected prior to your purchase of it?  The current government shutdown is affecting Americans in this way as well.  You can read more about it here.

Here is a related question: Do you have sufficient free time in your own life that you could literally take over the duties customarily left to the FDA inspectors to ensure your comfort with your own food supply?  How many of us have that kind of time?

When I sit and attempt to imagine the mindset of the Tea Party I find myself immediately wondering what type of cultural, economic and social milieu has been an indispensable part of the life experience common to its membership.  I wonder what percentage of them may have had bad experiences of local, state or federal government.  I wonder how much of their opposition to a competent and strong (which does not necessarily mean overreaching/abusive/authoritarian) federal government is driven purely by blind ideology completely unmoored from reason and openness.

Despite my past work experience within the federal government (NOAA) I am by no means an expert on the functioning of the federal government or on government theory.  Nonetheless, given my diverse educational background and life experience I feel I can offer astute observations and questions regarding the place of government in our lives.  And I must admit I am quite appalled when I hear those who would dismantle most everything that helps make our country an educated, safe and good place to live.

And so you may be asking what does this have to do with PTSD?  I speak of these issues to draw attention yet again to the benefits that supposedly derive from being a citizen of a representative democracy in which said citizenship is understood to confer upon those who hold it certain rights and responsibilities.  Do you believe you can lead a healthy and economically secure life in a nation where your national parks are closed, the quality of your food is not assessed and verified by a competent entity, your veterans cannot realistically expect to receive the benefits due to them by virtue of their service and your representatives cannot negotiate agreements that are fundamentally vital to the functioning of said nation?  I find it difficult to feel good about being an American today.  And it is this feeling of unease that makes my own journey of healing more complex and demanding.