Let's Cut the Umbilical Cord

Since Katrina I've heard all sorts of cries and demands for increased federal aid, increased federal responsibility, and increased federal accountability. What it has demonstrated to me is the need to cut the perceived umbilical cord between people (individuals and cities) and the federal government. Over the years the federal government has been assuming a greater role as the mamma and caretaker of the people, and that has to stop. The sooner it stops the sooner people will care for themselves.
The United States Treasury tells the history of the tax system:

When the Constitution was adopted in 1789, the Founding Fathers recognized that no government could function if it relied entirely on other governments for its resources, thus the Federal Government was granted the authority to raise taxes. The Constitution endowed the Congress with the power to "…lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States."

Now the federal government collects taxes to give to other countries - sorry, but the welfare of other countries is not part of our Constitution. Our taxes are taken and used by politicians on both sides to fund groups and peoples that represent special interest groups. Our tax dollars are now going to be used to build people homes that had previously made the conscience choice of not having flood or perhaps any insurance. People need to take care of themselves, cities need to take care of their own cities, and states need to tend to their own states.
If you think I'm some selfish conservative then heed the words of former Democrat President Grover Cleveland:

I find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and the duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit... The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the Government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.