By Ray Cardello for November 19, 2024, Season 30 / Post 1

The weaponization of the government has probably been an issue for decades, but it rose to the surface with the Obama administration and the IRS. How can we forget Lois Lerner trying in vain to convince anyone who would listen that she was innocent of targeting any Right-wing group she could with investigations and unreasonable fines to cripple their efforts to aid Republican candidates. Over 32,000 emails were recovered during the investigation, with over 400 groups targeted. The government paid $3.5 million to over 100 groups as a settlement for their actions. Lois Lerner resigned from her position with the IRS, leaving Washington with a fat wallet. She was given a $129,000 bonus, and reports say her full pension is $100,000 a year. It’s a nice payday for someone who should have done jail time.

Under Joe Biden, the weaponization of government towards the opposition has risen to a new high. This opposition includes politicians and everyday Americans. For example, the DOJ and FBI were mobilized to investigate and disrupt the lives of people who protested at school board meetings or identified as practicing Roman Catholics. The DOJ labeled these people as Domestic Terrorists and Christian Radicals respectfully. These people broke no laws, and their only misdeeds, according to the Right, were to hold opinions offset from those of the Left. The actions by the DOJ and FBI directly violated the First Amendment. There was no one held accountable.

The newest tool for the Democrats, and possibly the cruelest of them all, is FEMA. An employee of FEMA came forward and disclosed a departmental policy that agents investigating areas of the country devastated by natural or man-made disasters should avoid properties owned by people of wealth or openly supporters of Trump. This obscene and unjust policy came to light after Hurricane Helene tore through the states of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina in September. The damaged areas were hit with a second wave of devastation a week later when Hurricane Milton followed a similar path. Between wind and tidal surge, entire properties were washed away, leaving debris and empty lots.

In comes FEMA, and people who have lost everything in these storms see some hope, that is, as long as they are not too wealthy or didn’t have the wind blow the Trump signs off the house or lawn. The other negative with FEMA was taking the fix or tear-down decisions away from property owners. If the repair estimate was 50% or more of the value, the red paint came out, and the Big X was painted on the building.

My partner has owned a property on the Gulf Coast in Sunset Beach for the last 40 years. She was at her condo during Helene, the first hurricane she experienced firsthand. She was able to walk around the island after the storm, which is a tiny area, and familiar buildings were gone or heavily damaged. She saw the Big Red X on buildings, waiting for the bulldozers to wipe them away. She saw favorite shops and restaurants heavily damaged, with many months of reconstruction ahead. She actually sent me the picture above before it appeared on the national news. Her complex was spared significant damage, but it will still take a year or more before all repairs are completed. It is beyond sinful if owners were overlooked or slighted by FEMA agents under directions from above. There will be hearings and investigations, but heads must roll like the 15’ surge through this beautiful piece of paradise, which has been bruised but will be back.