http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110007201
This may have been diaried earlier. If it was, I'd appreciate the links. I found it while taking a quick look at the geeniuses on redstate.org, who, of course, called the column 'wonderful' or 'brilliant' or something like that.
The column raises a few points:
1.It is just the editorial of one person, but it certainly fits the mindset of Republicans, especially the crony capitalists that make up this administration. I don't agree with the conspiracy theorists who allege the Bush admin deliberately stayed out, but I certainly do wonder if some in the admin were thinking "who cares about FEMA, government can't do anything right anyway"
2.There may be a greater role for the private sector in emergency management, I really don't care one way or the other, but the point is: the money to pay for these people comes from taxes. The problem isn't private sector vs. public sector, the problem is tax cuts vs. providing for the common good.
3.The overall theme of that article is that the only incentive is money. It really does seem to me that conservatives and Republicans really don't think humans are motivated by anything other than that.