Balancing Diversity and Efficiency in Emergency Responses A Critical Look at FEMA's DEI Initiative
Show Notes
Does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) belong in emergencies where every second can mean the difference between life and death? We tackle this provocative question head-on, taking a critical look at FEMA's push to embed DEI principles into their 2022-2026 program as Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc across the southeastern United States. Natural disasters don’t discriminate, and neither should our emergency response strategies. Our discussion centers on whether prioritizing diversity metrics might compromise the efficiency and effectiveness of life-saving operations, potentially hampering FEMA's ability to maintain a team of the most qualified individuals when they are needed the most.
00:00:02.084 --> 00:00:08.013 Ladies and gentlemen, when we're talking emergencies, does DEI really come into play?
00:00:08.013 --> 00:00:13.291 When you're talking about saving lives, does DEI really come into play?
00:00:13.291 --> 00:00:31.554 And when we're talking about victims of hurricanes, natural disasters, do you think that Mother Nature gives a crap about what your skin color is and your ethnicity, or does just Mother Nature rip like no one's business?
00:00:31.554 --> 00:00:32.740 Welcome back to the Rent and Rec Work.
00:00:32.740 --> 00:00:33.762 I am David Solomon.
00:00:33.762 --> 00:00:34.926 He is Stuart Frisgall.
00:00:35.387 --> 00:00:45.386 This is a podcast that is unedited, unfiltered and definitely uncensored, and we deal with a wide range of topics in all of these conversations and podcasts.
00:00:45.386 --> 00:00:58.526 For the last three and a half years, and going in on four, we've created this platform for you to express your opinions, to provide us with your thoughts, share with us your opinions, experiences and hear from us from a variety of different perspectives.
00:00:58.526 --> 00:01:11.944 We're two simple gentlemen who come from similar backgrounds, living in different countries, but what we do have in common is we do not spew out media crap.
00:01:11.944 --> 00:01:19.004 We're interested in challenging a lot of what you hear in the media and the thought process, and we do our bloody homework, unlike our friends at the real media.
00:01:19.004 --> 00:01:25.129 There is no agenda here, folks, because what we do is we dive into all this stuff on the news, pop culture, politics, so much more.
00:01:25.129 --> 00:01:30.221 It's all about absurdity of modern life, folks, and we are dealing in a crazy amount of absurd times.
00:01:30.221 --> 00:01:32.367 So this is all about deeper issues.
00:01:32.507 --> 00:02:00.784 And right now, today, folks, if you are living in the southeast of the United States, primarily in North Carolina, parts of Georgia and perhaps next week it may even be parts of northern Florida we don't know yet but if you've dealt with Hurricane Helene and you've seen the destruction and devastation that went through Georgia and North Carolina, mother Nature isn't looking for homes that were owned by African Americans and Hispanics versus white.
00:02:00.784 --> 00:02:07.254 Mother Nature didn't come in and slam the homes of only poor people.
00:02:07.254 --> 00:02:15.500 Mother Nature went in and ripped through communities, destroyed homes, businesses.
00:02:15.500 --> 00:02:19.931 It's incredible what has happened from Florida all the way to North Carolina.
00:02:19.931 --> 00:02:29.175 But FEMA wants to tell you that because of its hiring policies white people well, you're privileged.
00:02:29.175 --> 00:02:38.193 Therefore, we're going to treat you differently because our policy is diversity, equity and inclusion.
00:02:38.193 --> 00:02:43.746 Hmm, stuart, I find that a bit bizarre based on my intro.
00:02:43.746 --> 00:02:44.866 Stuart, I find that a bit bizarre based on my intro.
00:02:44.866 --> 00:02:50.033 What the heck is FEMA and DEI have to do with each other other than their alphabet letters?
00:02:50.555 --> 00:02:53.621 Okay, well, fema is for.
00:02:53.621 --> 00:02:53.881 Dei is three.
00:02:53.881 --> 00:03:04.649 The Federal Emergency Management Agency had a simple mission to help people before and after disaster Money allocated by Congress.
00:03:04.649 --> 00:03:14.153 That includes floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, forest fires whatever disaster leads the federal government response as a part of a team of responders.
00:03:14.153 --> 00:03:24.288 This department works at the discretion of the President of the United States, though emergencies can happen at any time.
00:03:24.288 --> 00:03:34.162 Schools can offer limited impact through efficiency mortgage programs as well by prevention, protection, mitigation and response and recovery.
00:03:34.162 --> 00:03:42.433 But that's not where the current head of the FEMA organization wants to take the administration.
00:03:42.433 --> 00:03:58.735 By altering its charter, deanne Criswell decided to embed DEI and equitable into its program for 2022 through 2026.
00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:19.595 Hopefully that won't be the case, but it is the case today, where there aren't enough people that fit the equitable and the DEI movement, whereby they're only operating at approximately 80 percent sorry, 10 to 20 percent of their total amount required.
00:04:19.595 --> 00:04:20.779 What do you mean?
00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:22.120 They don't have the people.
00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.882 There's umpteen million people looking for jobs.
00:04:24.882 --> 00:04:25.963 What do you mean?
00:04:25.963 --> 00:04:26.564 They don't have the people.
00:04:26.564 --> 00:04:28.466 There's umpteen million people looking for jobs, but no, they have to fit a DEI.
00:04:28.466 --> 00:04:41.035 They have to be so many blacks, so many Muslims, so many Asians, so many transgenders, so many gay or LGBTQIA to be a part of this movement.
00:04:41.074 --> 00:04:45.257 Now, you know, I was joking with David and he was trying to pick him back at me.
00:04:45.257 --> 00:04:53.204 You know, when we talk about schools, dei and equitable, we'll get more to equitable in a moment.
00:04:53.204 --> 00:04:59.242 Do you want the best surgeon you can find in your neighborhood, or do you want the one that was equitably given a chance?
00:04:59.242 --> 00:05:03.389 Do you want the one that fit the DEI bucket?
00:05:03.389 --> 00:05:05.052 No, you want the best.
00:05:05.052 --> 00:05:14.038 If you're in university, do you want the university to take the best of the best, or maybe just the ones that sort of you know program?
00:05:14.038 --> 00:05:26.170 We learned that Harvard got eviscerated because of these types of things, but there are still schools out there that still do this Now, when you're picking the best person to do something for you.
00:05:26.170 --> 00:05:33.110 Your best friend may not be the best choice, and your best friend may be a part of the DEI movement.
00:05:33.110 --> 00:05:39.483 So do you risk offending your friend to get the best person or do you just hire your friend?
00:05:39.483 --> 00:05:44.567 Well, it depends how important the decision right.
00:05:44.567 --> 00:05:47.151 It's all important what decision you want to make.
00:05:47.612 --> 00:05:49.601 Let me just try and refocus here for a second.
00:05:49.601 --> 00:06:08.713 Today you have people that are literally out in the street between Florida and North Carolina stating unequivocally that FEMA hasn't done, and they're giving $750 for people's lives that are wiped out, totally gone.
00:06:08.713 --> 00:06:20.422 We're giving billions of dollars to third world countries outside of the war efforts which I believe are in our best interest, by the way, david, and I think we should continue to do so.
00:06:20.422 --> 00:06:28.101 We're giving money outside of our war efforts to people that hate us, and why are they a priority?
00:06:28.101 --> 00:06:37.644 You know FEMA doled out billions and trillions of dollars for the immigration crisis caused by the current government.
00:06:37.644 --> 00:06:39.910 We have veterans on the street.
00:06:39.910 --> 00:06:50.524 You have homeless, mental health issues for our own citizens, but DEI and equitable is more important for these newcomers Now.
00:06:51.146 --> 00:06:55.500 I am a firm believer that you have to earn your spot to come into United States.
00:06:55.500 --> 00:07:00.872 I think if you go and get yourself a college degree, you open up a door.
00:07:00.872 --> 00:07:05.848 I think if you come here following the system, you get to come in.
00:07:05.848 --> 00:07:17.845 There's a legal method that's there and the word illegal immigration is a valid statement because they're illegals in this country, not just not documented.
00:07:17.845 --> 00:07:23.786 You see, the word not documented is kind of like the same as casino chips versus cash.
00:07:23.786 --> 00:07:31.432 The casino wants to take your cash and give you chips, changes the mental thought process of what value to your hand.
00:07:31.432 --> 00:07:33.600 No, I'm not, david, I'm on topic.
00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:34.521 I know you have that.
00:07:34.521 --> 00:07:42.915 Look, because they're trying to change the word non-documented or undocumented from illegal alien.
00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:48.432 This is all a part of this DEI fund equitable movement.
00:07:48.432 --> 00:07:58.295 Flood the country with people that are in need, drain the system and punish the people that are the citizens that pay to support it.
00:07:58.295 --> 00:08:06.990 And if you continue to support this complete anarchy, you're forcing the destruction of the greatest country on the planet.
00:08:06.990 --> 00:08:12.428 And you know what the Republicans and Democrats have flip-flopped since 1960.
00:08:12.428 --> 00:08:13.951 I don't know how they did this.
00:08:13.951 --> 00:08:15.380 I don't know how it happened.
00:08:15.380 --> 00:08:19.043 The party of the people are now the Republican Party.
00:08:19.043 --> 00:08:26.752 The Democrats don't want to be questioned, david, and if you question a Democrat, you're the enemy and that's just the fact.
00:08:26.752 --> 00:08:33.801 Just like if you don't support DEI and you use the word woke, you're a racist, you're a bigot.
00:08:33.801 --> 00:08:35.969 But you can say from the river to the sea.
00:08:35.969 --> 00:08:40.833 I'm talking to a bunch of topics.
00:08:40.833 --> 00:08:42.302 I know, david, you're getting frustrated.
00:08:42.302 --> 00:08:43.664 I'm not even frustrated.
00:08:43.725 --> 00:08:54.059 I just want to know let's stick to FEMA here, because there's a crisis, there is a genuine crisis that's existed since we got rid of the border.
00:08:54.721 --> 00:08:56.404 It started there.
00:08:56.404 --> 00:09:12.312 There is a domino effect in this whole process and David, the DEI Equitable Movement, though it makes you feel good, that's what you do by giving to your charitable organizations out of the money that you make.
00:09:12.312 --> 00:09:16.385 Some religions call it tithing, some people call it charity.
00:09:16.706 --> 00:09:36.745 Whatever, some people call it charity whatever it isn't to diss the American people that support the system that elected them to the people.
00:09:36.745 --> 00:09:37.866 The people are the ones in the people's house.
00:09:37.866 --> 00:09:41.072 But let me just kind of put a little bit of bow on your fruit salad over here.
00:09:41.072 --> 00:09:50.875 Okay, people's lives should not be predicated on skin color, should not be predicated on I mean, we're talking about emergencies, okay.
00:09:50.875 --> 00:10:00.341 And if you, stuart, you're in Florida and you've seen what destruction and devastation is all about, and there are some people who can afford to get themselves out of it Many people cannot.
00:10:00.341 --> 00:10:02.908 Essentially, their entire lives are destroyed.
00:10:02.908 --> 00:10:09.432 You look in Georgia and you look into North Carolina, south Carolina, and there's, I mean, homes are completely destroyed.
00:10:09.432 --> 00:10:20.774 And if you look at the people that they've interviewed who've lost their homes, these are not necessarily people who are supposed to be in the DEI category.
00:10:20.774 --> 00:10:43.943 And if I am let's pretend I am African-American, hispanic, whatever, are you telling me, stuart, that you want me to have someone who's African-American or the best person to help me get out of this crap, american or the best person to help me get out of this crap?
00:10:43.943 --> 00:10:46.769 And again, this mindset of we need DEI everywhere because we need to be sensitive.
00:10:46.769 --> 00:10:48.072 There's a time and a place for that.
00:10:48.072 --> 00:10:49.653 But this isn't it.
00:10:49.653 --> 00:11:03.436 Fema, an emergency organization that helps people in need, need the best people, need the right people, not about their skin color.
00:11:03.436 --> 00:11:10.721 And if you're telling me your recruitment practices are messed up, dei doesn't solve your problem.
00:11:10.721 --> 00:11:13.548 You've just changed one problem and created a second problem.
00:11:13.548 --> 00:11:15.321 Correct, bringing in the best people.
00:11:15.321 --> 00:11:16.182 Stuart, allow me please.
00:11:16.624 --> 00:11:23.649 The kicker for me here is this is the Democratic administration's mindset.
00:11:23.649 --> 00:11:25.835 This is the bow I'm going to put here.
00:11:25.835 --> 00:11:31.571 Look at all the programs that we need in the United States Canada too, but let's just talk about the United States.
00:11:31.571 --> 00:11:33.600 Fema underfunded.
00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:35.383 Where's the money going?
00:11:35.383 --> 00:11:39.267 Illegal immigration we need the best people.
00:11:39.267 --> 00:11:39.986 What are we doing?
00:11:39.986 --> 00:11:41.688 Dei hiring, why?
00:11:42.210 --> 00:11:48.014 Each and everything, each and every decision is all about votes in November.
00:11:48.014 --> 00:11:53.323 It's not about your safety, it's not about your life.
00:11:53.323 --> 00:12:00.139 It's about them creating an anarchist system so they can blame the Republicans, so that they can turn around and tell you vote for them.
00:12:00.139 --> 00:12:01.182 Right now.
00:12:01.182 --> 00:12:10.706 North Carolina you know the statement to parade Kamala Harris and say look, she solved the problem in North Carolina.
00:12:10.706 --> 00:12:13.392 She solved the problem with the hurricane.
00:12:13.392 --> 00:12:14.701 She solved nothing.
00:12:14.701 --> 00:12:21.114 And then you've got Joe Biden running into the White House, into the press conference, saying no, me, it's me, I did it.
00:12:21.114 --> 00:12:54.561 Look, don't forget me, baba Folks, there are countless people suffering today because of the mor at your expense, instead of the money going to the taxpayers who've worked hard and living in North Carolina and who have no home.
00:12:54.561 --> 00:12:58.139 That's the mindset, stuart, that's the logic for me.
00:12:58.549 --> 00:13:00.434 But let me now put the real bow on it.
00:13:00.434 --> 00:13:09.320 So, deanne Criswell, as we discuss what FEMA's mandate is set by Congress, this woman changed the mandate.
00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:14.094 It's now inclusion, diversity, equitable and accessibility.
00:13:14.094 --> 00:13:17.379 Now, david, to what end?
00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:19.484 What's the end game for her?
00:13:19.484 --> 00:13:22.316 Exactly, david, what the end game is?
00:13:22.316 --> 00:13:23.841 Vote for Donald J Trump.
00:13:24.510 --> 00:13:24.855 No, no.
00:13:24.855 --> 00:13:26.250 The end game for her is not for Donald J Trump.
00:13:26.250 --> 00:13:26.870 No, no, no.
00:13:26.910 --> 00:13:28.955 The end game for her is not for Donald Trump.
00:13:28.955 --> 00:13:30.979 The end game for her is vote for Donald A.
00:13:31.038 --> 00:13:31.278 Trump.
00:13:31.278 --> 00:13:33.903 No, her net result might be that people will do this.
00:13:33.903 --> 00:13:40.283 But, stuart, you know, what's crazy is that the media has painted what.
00:13:40.283 --> 00:13:45.201 There's a lot crazy, david, no, no, but I'm saying the media has painted Kamala as the great savior.
00:13:45.201 --> 00:13:46.232 But the money?
00:13:46.273 --> 00:13:46.735 isn't there.
00:13:46.735 --> 00:13:52.682 I mean hurricane helper, border, border czar absentee.
00:13:52.782 --> 00:13:55.695 Listen, the only thing she reminds me of she's more of a steward.
00:13:55.695 --> 00:13:59.714 She's more of a hamburger helper, not a hurricane helper, and to me she's just not.
00:13:59.714 --> 00:14:02.782 Her mindset is about her.
00:14:02.782 --> 00:14:05.589 You know, someone used the word yesterday, I'm sorry.
00:14:05.589 --> 00:14:09.879 On on monday, someone said to me donald Trump is narcissistic.
00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:11.493 And I'm like they're all narcissists.
00:14:11.493 --> 00:14:19.620 Don't tell me that Kamala is not a narcissist because she stands up there and pretends that she's the great savior, she's the rainmaker, no pun intended.
00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:23.855 But right now, in FEMA, stuart, in FEMA, right now.
00:14:23.855 --> 00:14:30.690 If you're right now in a zone where your home is destroyed, your business is destroyed, your business is destroyed.
00:14:30.690 --> 00:14:32.835 Your insurance company isn't there to help you.
00:14:32.835 --> 00:14:39.639 You've got nothing there to help medical supplies, no water, no infrastructure, no money, no money.
00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:42.570 Let me remind you about East Palestine, right?
00:14:42.570 --> 00:14:46.596 A train wreck, chemicals go into the water.
00:14:46.596 --> 00:14:50.423 Joe Biden has yet to visit that part of the United States.
00:14:50.423 --> 00:14:54.274 And here, the so-called next president of the United States.
00:14:54.274 --> 00:14:55.999 What is she doing right now?
00:14:55.999 --> 00:15:02.302 Ha Ha, she's doing nothing, but DEI is all that matters.
00:15:02.582 --> 00:15:09.697 This woman's been touring the country telling everyone that she's going to solve problems, but can't seem to put the definition on how.
00:15:09.697 --> 00:15:11.841 David, I think it's time to wrap it up.
00:15:11.841 --> 00:15:13.663 The quarter hour is done Midweek.
00:15:13.663 --> 00:15:17.095 We're back on Friday and let me tell you something.
00:15:17.856 --> 00:15:27.207 There's more word salad coming out of me, but at least put some dressing on it, because, frankly, nobody wants to hear word salads.
00:15:27.207 --> 00:15:33.499 People want to hear real things and I think that the sad part is that what you're seeing out of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.
00:15:33.499 --> 00:15:49.149 And, by the way, let me stress one line which I, which I want thing.
00:15:49.149 --> 00:15:55.350 Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, what she just said she's not willing to change her policies with immigration, fema, all the emergency parts that right now is desperately needed.
00:15:55.350 --> 00:15:57.817 She is saying no change.
00:15:57.817 --> 00:15:59.620 Remember that, ladies and gentlemen.
00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.162 That's it for today.
00:16:00.162 --> 00:16:01.774 Thanks for tuning into the Laurent Network.
00:16:01.774 --> 00:16:14.020 We hope you've enjoyed this conversation and gained some valuable insights and, as you're approaching we're about a month away from the election, please take these comments into consideration as you get to the ballot box.
00:16:14.020 --> 00:16:16.899 Even today, there are states that are voting even now.
00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:21.438 Do not think that the media is giving you the full picture.
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