Question

Is the creation of the National Response Plan, the National Incident Management System, and the Department of Homeland Security the step in the right direction, or is the government responding to political forces to appear that they are making progress in the protection of its citizens?

What policy changes or solution would you recommend to address these issues?

Answer 1

The mentioned approaches are taken up to prevent, any type of terrorist activities, disasters of any form and save people of the USA. Though, these approaches are working in the right direction and are there to help people, but it can be said that formations of concerned institutions are the result of reactive approach and are majorly in response to the terrorist attack of 9-11. Further, these approaches are also reflective of the political commitment or promises made to the people during elections. Hence, there is a presence of intention to gain some political advantage and make a dig over the political rivals.

With these approaches or system already working, it is recommended that insinuations should be integrated in a way that data should be shared and coordinated action plan should be prepared. Here, the decentralization in decision making should also take place to facilitate fast action after the quick decision making process. The second recommendation is to make proactive approach to identify, segregate and prevent any type of terrorism, anti-criminal and disaster based activities in the future. Here, the team working on it, should be independent of any type of political pressure and work as Federal Reserve works in the USA as an independent federal agencies. The third recommendation is to spread awareness among people towards the necessary information required and it should not be treated as invasion of privacy. There should be clarity between what information can be gained and what information should not be collected, barring certain exceptions. It will also develop more trust upon these agencies.