Yesterday it was reported that Jeb Bush, the former Governor of Florida found 'unforgivable' the acceptance of Federal stimulus funds by current Governor Charlie Crist. The amount of the awards to the state of Florida have totaled, $9 Billion dollars.
The hypocrisy factor is quite apparent when you consider Florida received $5.6 Billion in Federal Disaster Aid in 2004 alone due to the plethora of hurricanes striking the Sunshine State. Hurricane Ivan brought $1.5 Billion in aid. The Governor at the time? Jeb Bush.
If I understand the basic philosophy about states rights and the concept of not sharing the wealth of other states, the whole idea of Federal Aid for any reason is an anathema to the Republic Party, yet the all beg for aid when their own resources and unwillingness to plan for their own disasters falls short.
The failures of states to live within their means and to properly prepare for potential disasters along with the knowledge that the Feds will bail them out makes this an unending cycle.
The stimulus package was designed to avert a crisis looming that was going to bring us all down, not a natural disaster but a man made one. Everyone is guilty of indifference and greed. Be it the Wall Street moguls or the folks who took on loans they knew they could not afford, we are all guilty. The system is the problem.
Governor Crist is the Governor for ALL Floridians, not Republic or Democratic ones or Independents. The stimulus funding is for ALL Floridians, not just the few. Take a look at Recovery.gov to see where your money is being spent, right down to the zip code.
Next time you criticize the current Governor, just take a look at your own hands for begging for disaster relief from the Feds. I suppose it did not hurt matters that your brother was President at the time.
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