Government Barriers to Private Solutions
7th September 2017
Americans are witnessing the power of private individuals and businesses to solve pressing problems stemming from Hurricane Harvey. From the boaters and monster truck drivers engaged in search and rescue operations to local stores opening their facilities to displaced families, there’s no shortage of examples of private individuals and businesses stepping in to assist Houston in its recovery.
It’s a good thing the private sector didn’t wait for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to do all the work, because the government would have been unable to handle everything on its own. It’s true of many disasters. Recall the tremendous support during the Katrina disaster of 2005. The American people stood on their own as an example of endurance and generosity—even more remarkable than the federal, state and local governments’ responses.