OPINION:
When Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declared recently that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was running out of money, I noticed that President Biden did not correct him (“Millions in FEMA funds remain unused as Hurricane Milton looms,” web, Oct. 8).
Instead, Mr. Biden said Mr. Mayorkas’ message was being misconstrued — and then FEMA and the mainstream media pounced, too. All this denial made me think of an old saying: Where there is smoke, there is fire.
So there are human-caused disasters and natural disasters, huh? This sounds like an accounting gimmick. When I was homeless, there was a shell game called three-card monte that I used to hustle people. This administration’s actions remind me of it.
This is just the latest in a string of shortsighted policies from the Biden-Harris administration. The poor decision-making has spread throughout the federal agencies, with unintended consequences.
For example, due to the expansion of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program and the Shelter and Services Program, hurricane relief funds ar limited. FEMA can only offer flood victims $750 and a Small Business Administration loan — but it’s somehow able to put thousands of dollars on debit cards for illegal immigrants.
Worse, taxpayer funds have enabled the drug cartels to set up indentured servitude operations targeting illegal immigrants, which was ruled unlawful by the 13th Amendment.
Why is Mr. Biden asking for restored funding for the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program when Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari Jr.’s recent report stated that FEMA has $7 billion in unspent funds? Meanwhile, Ms. Harris is requesting more than $100 million for Lebanon.
This is not Monopoly money. As my parents used to say, “Before we give you more money, tell us what you did with the previous money.”
During the American Revolution, “taxation without representation” meant that the government taxed citizens without giving them any say in its policies. Since Congress refused to pass a funding request to Mr. Biden for open borders, he depleted FEMA funding to circumvent Congress. In my opinion, Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris never thought the hurricane season would be so costly as to expose their deceptive funding allocations.
Whenever I look at my paycheck and see the amount taken out in federal taxes, I’m reminded of the three-card monte hustle. Priority for taxpayers means Americans first.
GREG RALEIGH
Washington
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