Support your president, he needs all the help he can get.

[John Mastrocco]

Bet someone figures a way around those restrictions in about 10 minutes. Hell, I could tell you how to do it in less than that! All it takes is one crooked storekeeper giving them 50 cents on the dollar. Who says merchandise has to change hands anyway? I've personally seen this happen with food stamps more than once in the neighborhood where I grew up. And most of the time the abuse is never discovered.



Besides, who is going to monitor it? How many are they handing out? Anyone wanting to abuse it will have no problems, which is why I don't think it's worth worrying over.

 

[Nelson Atwell]

I'm sure you're right Rocco. There will be some bartering for those items. I wouldn't be surprised either to see some of those cards on ebay.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Standing in line at the WalMart, a young lady in front of us says:



"I'll sell you this $50 food stamp for $20."





My wife says to the lady:



"No thanks...I wouldn't know how to use it."





I roll my eyes, and the other lady says:



"Whaddya mean...it's JUST LIKE CASH. You think you're too good to use a food stamp?"





My wife said:



"No. I'm sorry I can't help you."





The lady was black.



Another time, my wife and I are standing in the grocery line at the food store. We have a small cart full, mostly stables (bread, milk, eggs, cereal, some hamburger, etc). My wife asks if I did a transfer from savings because payday is still a few days off, and we discuss other normal finances as we are about to pay with a debit card.



In front of us is a young white couple with several really small kids (redneck triplets...sorry for the racism....just to say they all looked no more than 1 year apart); and they were cashing out with their STEAKS and crab legs, and tons of other convenience foods....all of which they pay for with food stamps.



I look at my wife, then our meager groceries and say: "Man, maybe we should get on food stamps!"



TJR

 

[Greg Cheek]

I can't believe after all that these people have went through that anyone wuld consider the fema cards as a "gift". In my opinion these people have earned a lot more than these benefits and I am sure they will get it. They've had to leave their home , their belongings, their pets and their "normal" way of life. It is true that they may have not had very much, but what they had I am sure they valued-such as family pictures and family "heirlooms" passed down through the years. As far as Barbara Bush's comments I believe people just have to attack anything said. But back to the cards, if they want to buy beer and cigarettes-hell I don't mind-in my opinion they've earned it. How many of us (not me) will be having a beer and sitting back with friends this weekend, or did last weekend? Remember these people did not ask for this to happen and I doubt many of them are glad to be where they are as opposed to where they were before the hurricane. Just my 05 cents worth. Greg.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Greg, I think that it's the least our govt can do for these people, and we should do more. But you said twice that they "EARNED" this money. Your idea of earning and mine are different.



I am not saying they aren't deserving...but they didn't earn it.



TJR

 

[Gerald Pierce]

Laura Bush on TV today (CNN) called it "Hurricane Corina".... thought that was GREAT!

 

[Eric Pennal]

TJR,



You're splitting hairs, trying to determine what the definition of "earned" is.



I don't think anyone sitting in their air-conditioned house, surfing the Internet, with a fridge full of food, has the right to speculate or complain about what they spend their assistance on. Besides, like Nelson pointed out, I believe the cards are blocked from being used for alcohol, smokes, porn, etc. But, like Rocco said, someone will figure out how to get around that. But, like I said, it's none of our business.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

You're right EricP, I am splitting hairs, but I am NOT complaining about what someone spends their assistance on. I have never complained. Observed, commented, yes, complained, no.



If I choose to give someone money I think they need, then I don't preach or complain about how they should or do use it. I give a buck to a homeless guy with an MD 20/20 bottle in his hand and recognize he will probably drink the money. So what.



I don't care if the $2K debit cards are used for crack. I really don't care.



My major point is that they haven't EARNED the money, nor has the wino I gave the buck to, or the welfare mom that gets a fraction of a cent from my paycheck. None of them earned it. They may have DESERVED it, or needed it, and I really don't give TWO $HITS how they use it...they just haven't earned it.



People EARN things by working for them, IMHO.



That's all I was trying to say. My heart (and hard earned money) goes out to these people. They deserve a lot...they have EARNED NOTHING!



I am a stickler for the English language and have a very good work ethic...those two, hand in hand, made the word "EARN" used in this context irk me!



TJR

 

[Greg Cheek]

Yes I see you point, earned was definately the wrong term to use. I suppose saying that they "deserve" compensation for what they have endured would be more accurate. I'm sure one could make the argument they don't deserve anything, and maybe compensation is a wrong choice too. I'm just making the point we shouldn't give a damn what they use the money for, its not like they are getting "rich" and profiting from all this. How many of you would trade places for a cpl grand? Another amazing thing to me are these people that are attacking President Bush. Why not wait until everyone is settled and running more smoothly then look into the blame, if one can really be determined? Enough of the two parties attacking each other-am I just young-or in r ecent years has this not gotten totally out of control?

 

[Eric Pennal]

TJR,



I understand where you're coming from. "Earned" is primarily used the way you use it. My statement was that they've earned the right to spend the money [the way they see fit] - not the money itself. But, if you consider the synonyms of "earn" (according to Webster's: deserve, merit, etc), Greg wasn't out of line to use it the way he did, either.



My second paragraph was not aimed at you. I know you weren't complaining about their use of the money. My comments were aimed at anyone who does.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Right, Greg, they are deserving.



TJR

 

[Nelson Atwell]

[Broken External Image]:

 

[Josh Langel]

Don't you have to a home owner or business owner in order to receive the $2000? If so, it's more than fair, considering all is lost for them.



Now if you were Joe Smoe (Sorry Joe) and you were just "getting by" before the hurricane, than I think it is less deserving. But there really is no way to know.



Plus, a lot of the people in LA relied on the government to begin with... so naturally, they'll call on it ... personally, I only think the money should be limited to those who had put forth in the comminute and into our country ... not those who just fed off the government just because it was more convenient or easier ... but then again, who knows who?

 

[buzz worth]

Of the THOUSANDS of people displaced and given a new chance, how many do you think will take this as a real opportunity to make something of their lives? Or will it just be another example of look what the government owes me?



fed up buzz



I wonder if the mayor got any of those busses started yet? Or if he found his copy of the Emergency Evacuation Plan for the city.

 

[Eric Pennal]

I agree.



The Feds dropped the ball on this, but so did the city and the state.

 

[TomT]

Yep. If you gotta point fingers at anyone then start with the idiot they have for a mayor.

 

[John Mastrocco]

If you are aware a disaster is coming and is imminent there should be a LEGAL way to get prepared so the relief arrives quicker.



Right now, that can't happen... The rules (laws) don't really allow it.

 

[Fred]

If you're aware of immenent danger, and refuse to evacuate your city, you need to be hung out to dry.

That's right.

 

[John Mastrocco]

I really want to know how you two - Fred and Q - would have evacuated a city of over 1 million in less than 48 hours?

 

[Deleted deleted]

And to continue with Rocco's point... New Orleans has only 5 ways out of the city:



1) Air - Airport was already clogged - no additional flights could be added.

2) Via Mississippi River - No sane person would have taken a ship out the Mississippi with a Cat 5 Hurricane headed directly for it.

3) Eastbound I-10 to Gulfport/Biloxi - Go that way? Need I say more?

4) Across Lake Ponchartrain - a 40 mile bridge across a lake already churned up by the hurricane. Not a place you'd want to be trapped on if it hit.

5) Westbound I-10 to Baton Rouge - the only viable option, and most everyone that owned a car was on that road already.