Comments on: 2008 Wish List: Part II http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/03/11/2008-wish-list-part-ii/ News and analysis of critical issues in homeland security today. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:25:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Christopher Tingus http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/03/11/2008-wish-list-part-ii/#comment-98735 Christopher Tingus Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:39:42 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/03/11/2008-wish-list-part-ii/#comment-98735 Thank you William Cumming and while not knowing anything about you other than reading your perspective and very enlightening contributions, as a citizen I really hope that DHS and other government personnel who are truly interested in the security of our people read your every word and utilize your input for serious consideration during subject discussions... Again, thank you for caring for the citizenry as your comments offer us a real sense of security with hopes that many of your comments will be implemented into policy! Christopher Tingus Harwich, MA Thank you William Cumming and while not knowing anything about you other than reading your perspective and very enlightening contributions, as a citizen I really hope that DHS and other government personnel who are truly interested in the security of our people read your every word and utilize your input for serious consideration during subject discussions…

Again, thank you for caring for the citizenry as your comments offer us a real sense of security with hopes that many of your comments will be implemented into policy!

Christopher Tingus
Harwich, MA

]]> By: William R. Cumming http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/03/11/2008-wish-list-part-ii/#comment-98286 William R. Cumming Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:44:50 +0000 http://www.hlswatch.com/2008/03/11/2008-wish-list-part-ii/#comment-98286 One of the key roadblocks in adminstering DHS programs is the translation of the federal functional approach to administration by political subdivisions. This critical junction has been repeatedly examined in Public Administration circles. I argue that the time has come for the States to become grownups and perhaps eliminate some political subdivisions that are hindering government services and the safety and security of all citizens right now. We don't need 90,000 political subdivisions dealing with national issues. This prevents standards from being set and adopted and implemented. In reality, the FEDS should fund programs based in part on state involvement but also calculated using SMSA data and metropolitian area statistical data that make sense of lines drawn in the last two centuries or even earlier. And why not consider subdividing a few of the largest states. Politically, the small state great compromise may result in chaos not protection for the small states. And the largest states, the California, Texas, Florida entourage does not make sense as administrative units either. Unless the nation is willing to look at fundamentals we will be inviting chaos in many concieveable crisis situtations. The police and fire in the 500 largest cities should be made subject to common standards and training and subject to coordinated leadership should there be a WMD incident/event. As population density increases relocation is not administratively feasible much less politically feasible. Thus, the basic EM/HS tool of evacuation must be rexamined and probably rejected except in certain scenarios. If the States don't reform their nightmarish subdivisions the feds could assist by only funding those jurisdictions that levy taxes, have sue and be sued authority, and full time professional HS and EM staff that are capable of leveraging assets and assisting in mutual support operations. Oh, and it is time for the feds to bite the bullet and automatically fund EMAC humanitarian operations when EMAC is triggered. This will not drain the federal fisc but help maintain it. One of the key roadblocks in adminstering DHS programs is the translation of the federal functional approach to administration by political subdivisions. This critical junction has been repeatedly examined in Public Administration circles. I argue that the time has come for the States to become grownups and perhaps eliminate some political subdivisions that are hindering government services and the safety and security of all citizens right now. We don’t need 90,000 political subdivisions dealing with national issues. This prevents standards from being set and adopted and implemented. In reality, the FEDS should fund programs based in part on state involvement but also calculated using SMSA data and metropolitian area statistical data that make sense of lines drawn in the last two centuries or even earlier. And why not consider subdividing a few of the largest states. Politically, the small state great compromise may result in chaos not protection for the small states. And the largest states, the California, Texas, Florida entourage does not make sense as administrative units either. Unless the nation is willing to look at fundamentals we will be inviting chaos in many concieveable crisis situtations. The police and fire in the 500 largest cities should be made subject to common standards and training and subject to coordinated leadership should there be a WMD incident/event. As population density increases relocation is not administratively feasible much less politically feasible. Thus, the basic EM/HS tool of evacuation must be rexamined and probably rejected except in certain scenarios. If the States don’t reform their nightmarish subdivisions the feds could assist by only funding those jurisdictions that levy taxes, have sue and be sued authority, and full time professional HS and EM staff that are capable of leveraging assets and assisting in mutual support operations. Oh, and it is time for the feds to bite the bullet and automatically fund EMAC humanitarian operations when EMAC is triggered. This will not drain the federal fisc but help maintain it.

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