Hurricane Katrina Victims Still Need Our Help!

[aaharvel]

the victims of Hurricane Katrina still need our help! Without having to politicize what's going on, it seems our federal government is dropping the ball (again) by cutting off financial aid for the victims of this terrible tragedy. Federal Emergency Management is now ending the hotel payments for over 12,000 homeless families dispersed across the country in the wake of Katrina, including 4,400 still living in New Orleans.

That's thousands of homeless Americans people. Thousands of men, women and children. For the 2nd time, I've pledged $100 to the American Red Cross and I'm a college student for godsakes. Am I tooting my own horn? You damn right. Sometimes that needs to be done in order to wake others up to what's going on around them. All of you church goers, put your money where your mouths are. All of you Valentines Day junkies, put your money where your hearts are. It's time for middle-class America to pick the ball back up.

The RedCross: http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

Save The Children.Org: http://www.savethechildren.org/radio_hurricane_usa.asp?stationpub=x_ggkatrina_da

USA Freedom Corps: http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/

DirectRelief.Org http://www.directrelief.org/sections/our_work/hurricane_katrina.html

[ohskigod]

its hard to look at up close. the purpose of the program, in my eyes, was to give them a place to stay/relocate and help them get their lives restarted. You have to admit, there are people who are going to exploit it, and have no problem living in a Hotel forever on the Government dime if the oppurtunity presented itself. Hence, something like this was coming, no matter how you slice it.

from the Hotel standpoint, even if they are getting paid. if the Hotel is jammed with Katrina victims, they will not have rooms available for the general public. hence, their customer base will get hammerred. theres alot of factors here that need to be looked at

Of course, I feel as well that donations should still be given from people that can spare it. And not the over the phone stuff, they take alot of the money for themselves. Donate directly to an organization if your going to do it, like the ones above.

[nadams]

I gave my money when the hurricane first hit. Since then, all I've been reading about is people taking advantage of the system and increased crime rates where the "victims" have been relocated. Yes, there are good people out there who could legitimately use help, but c'mon... you've gotta draw the line somewheres.

[PolkThug]

I know this sounds crazy, but they could try getting jobs.

[RuSsMaN]

Ed Zachry.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Yeah, it's been like four months now - time to find jobs and move on...quit living off the government...

[aaharvel]

Well what if the jobs aren't there or the jobs available (a-la min. wage) don't cover the lifestyle of a middleclass family that lost everything?

Not everyone in New Orleans are poor blacks that would benefit from working at Burger King. Some of these people were middle class, have children, have medical and college bills.

unfuckingbelievable.

[ohskigod]

Well what if the jobs aren't there or the jobs available (a-la min. wage) don't cover the lifestyle of a middleclass family that lost everything?

Not everyone in New Orleans are poor blacks that would benefit from working at Burger King. Some of these people were middle class, have children, have medical and college bills.

unfuckingbelievable.


this is very true, and certainly sad that something this devestating happenned to them. but no matter how you slice it, your starting over from scratch. the ones used to the "lifestyle of the middle class" might very well have to start over. they lost there stuff, homes and jobs. it is EXACTLY like starting over. It is unfortunate, It will be rough and trying. But, at least they are alive. lest we forget many were not that lucky.

Plus, it has allway been true that those who exploit the system ruin it for those who could truly benefit from it in the way it was intended to.

[shack]

I am more than willing to help those making an effort to help themselves or those that are physically unable to do so. The rest need to do whatever it takes to get on with their lives rather than wait for someone to "fix it" for them.

[TroyD]

Without having to politicize what's going on, it seems our federal government is dropping the ball (again) by cutting off financial aid for the victims of this terrible tragedy.

You ARE politicizing it. The line HAS to be drawn someplace.


BDT

[MacLeod]

For the love of God. its been 6 months!! There is no excuse for them not getting jobs and to start taking care of themselves by now! I understand theyve been thru a lot and there lives have been turned upside down but there has to be a point where you have to hold them responsible for taking care of themselves. They were relocated, given debit cards with thousands of dollars on them and put up in hotels for FREE for 6 months. If theyre disabled then thats a different story but if not then they should get their lazy asses off the public dole and take care of themselves.

[bobman1235]

I gotta agree, however "cold-hearted" it may seem. Here's the thing - say someone's house is randomly burned down, after being struck by lightening. How long would the government pay for that one person, who by no fault of their own, is now homelesss? I'll bet it woudlnt' be even close to six months. Just because there's MORE people doesn't mean they deserve to live off the government dime for the rest of their lives. You get a nudge in the right direction, some help getting on your feet, and then you're let go. That's the way it works.

[Drumingman]

I lost EVERYTHING after 9/11 and I had no Goverment Help whatsoever.
We even lost our place to live. My wife stayed with a friend and I slept in my car
and worked during the day. I did this for 4 months until I could get us a place to live.

Even at that, I gave after the Hurricane, but sometimes you have to get off your fanny and DO SOMETHING.

I'm all for helping people, but not for the Bone Idle.

Sometimes you have to get out of the wagon and help pull.

[Polk65]

Good grief. My heart and pocket has gone out to these people, but when do you say enough already? This gives "life support" new meaning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Nagin
"Before his election, Nagin had never held public office; he was a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable communications company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises."

A new city manager aka mayor in New Orleans with some sort of disaster recovery experience would be a good start in rebuilding that city.

Drumingman, sorry for your loss. Your attitude helps build this nation.

[madmax]

I lost EVERYTHING after 9/11 and I had no Goverment Help whatsoever.
We even lost our place to live. My wife stayed with a friend and I slept in my car
and worked during the day. I did this for 4 months until I could get us a place to live.

Even at that, I gave after the Hurricane, but sometimes you have to get off your fanny and DO SOMETHING.

I'm all for helping people, but not for the Bone Idle.

Sometimes you have to get out of the wagon and help pull.

Slept it a car for 4 months? Damn, I couldn't do that for more than a week or two. Maybe I could... I worked day and night for a year to bring myself into a position to buy a house and start a life but of course I did it with two low paying jobs in hand and some friends to stay with. I can't tell you what it was like working 20 hours a day, clocking in from one job to the other with no clicks in between and sleeping for a few hours in between on a couch at one of the workplaces. I can certainly see where it could take 6 months if you had little or no skills. I guess there are people on both sides but I would think you could find something after 6 months... Two minimum wage jobs can net you enough to get started. Middle class, who are we kidding. Once you've lost everything you have to give up your fettishes of middle class life. How many of these victims do you think still pay $100 a month for a cell phone and have been paying for cable in their hotel room rather than saving up? If you can't live low you have to face the consequences... I'm thinking 6 months is enough time to start at the lowest end of the scale of just getting by. For those with larger families and medical problems I understand.
madmax

[beardog03]

with all the new construction going on, I bet they need skilled labor and unskilled laborers...

Those that relocated should have been able to find something, as far as work goes....if they even bothered to look

Not to say that some people still need help, and shouldn`t have backs turned to them, but quite a few of these folks were on the street to begin with....and have no intensions of doing anything different..

[Dennis Gardner]

Sometimes the curse that Mother Nature casts is the blessing they need to get out of their plight. Few will actually see the blessing, and lay blame on others as has been their nature. Those that rebuild their lives elsewhere will be all the better for it, but those that go back to the comfort of poverty will remain broken. "Comfort" being the operative word here.

[MacLeod]

Dude, I double dog dare you to find a job that still pays minimum wage. McDonalds starts out at near $7/hr! While you definitley wont get rich on that its something. And who cant load trucks in a warehouse for $10/hr or stock shelves in a grocery store for $9/hr?

Besides, we're forgetting the biggest thing, they were living rent free for 6 months. Had no utilities either. Plus they were all given a debit card with $2000 on it FOR FREE!

Most of the people that were initially on aid, took the helping hand then got off their asses and took responsibility for their own life. The ones that are still living on the public dole are parasites.

One other thing that kills me, these bums couldnt go and get jobs but they could go get lawyers and bring a lawsuit against the federal government?!?!? Puh-leeze!

[ohskigod]

One other thing that kills me, these bums couldnt go and get jobs but they could go get lawyers and bring a lawsuit against the federal government?!?!? Puh-leeze!



well, if they really are suing, then my sympathy for them flew out the window.

right call on the 9/11 thing druming, lots of people got hit by that (not even including those who actually died) lots of primary breadwinners perished, lots of businesses gone, and yes, some lost homes. they had to restart too. no one accused the government of racism back then

[MacLeod]

well, if they really are suing, then my sympathy for them flew out the window.




http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/02/13/katrina.evacuees.hotels.ap/index.html

[JWBurns]

Just browsing and came across this thread...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0214061katrina1.html

Enough said..

[MacLeod]

Meanwhile, the survivors that arent lazy parasites have been busy rebuilding New Orleans and have got it together in time for Mardi Gras! Hats off and my respect to the people of NO that ARENT lazy parasites!

[Dennis Gardner]

From the article:

FEBRUARY 14--Some victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita used federal assistance money to pay for "adult erotica," a pistol, strip club fees, and at least one $450 tattoo, according to a new government audit.



You can take people outta the ghetto, but taking the ghetto outta the people is a whole other story.........

[Polk65]

You get a FEMA check for $18,000 now what?
Take it to a local check cashing place, get followed home, beat up, and loose the money.


"The 42-year-old single mother, who landed in the East Bay after the storm flooded her home, received a large payment last month from the federal disaster agency to compensate her for all the family's losses -- and she planned to use some of the money to return to Louisiana.

With the check in hand and her future seeming bright, Gary walked into a check-cashing outlet near her temporary home in Hayward. After employees there made sure it was a real check and she was the correct recipient, Gary received the payment in cash -- $17,975.

She went home and hid the money for safekeeping, then drove to buy groceries. When she returned, three masked gunmen who police say apparently had followed her from the check-cashing outlet grabbed her and forced their way into the residence.

They held guns to Gary's head and the head of her 2-year-old daughter -- and took all the money, she told police. Gary's 15-year-old son broke an arm when he jumped out of a second-floor window in an attempt to get help............"

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/16/KATRINA.TMP&type=printable

[tonyb]

From the article:

FEBRUARY 14--Some victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita used federal assistance money to pay for "adult erotica," a pistol, strip club fees, and at least one $450 tattoo, according to a new government audit.



You can take people outta the ghetto, but taking the ghetto outta the people is a whole other story.........

How right you are.Getting weened off the teet of goverment hand outs is a tough nut to swallow.But lucky for them, they have the likes of OPRA and the Hollywood Left in their corner.:rolleyes:

[jdhdiggs]

Well, the rebuilding crews in NO are starting at $24/hr. Dock workers were/are getting $10K bonuses an $80K/year for at least a year to start. Burger King is offering $6-$8K signing bonuses and $8/hr.

They can't find people to fill these jobs and now the displanted parasites are getting mad because hispanics are moving into their old neighborhoods and taking these jobs.

The hotels they have stayed at have tried to hire them an no evacuee has taken a hotel job. The middle class folks? I will garauntee you that almowst all of them have relocated and gotten new, or at least temporary jobs.

Sorry, I have no pity for the evacuees that are able to help themselves and haven't. There is no excuse.

[tonyb]

Have any of you guys ever BEEN to NO ? A filthy ,dirty place indeed.Was that way before Katrina.If you stumbled a few blocks off the main strip,you'd be in deep trouble.No outcry then.REBUILD????Below see level???Why do you think the French gave it to us for a song?But in our current society,of "we accept no responsability" and "THE BLAME GAME",it's easier to say it's George Bush's fault.Everything is Bush's fault don't ya know.Wife cheated on you...Bush's fault,car ran out of gas...Bush's fault....Poor people are still poor...Bush again....Naked Midgets running around,terrorizing your 'hood.....yep....must be good old Bush at it again........MAKES ME SICK!!!! I will admit everyone dropped the ball on the whole Katrina thing,you can't blame it on one person...well unless the trojan machine at your local truck stop is empty...and guess whose fault that is.:mad:

[ohskigod]

You get a FEMA check for $18,000 now what?
Take it to a local check cashing place, get followed home, beat up, and loose the money.


"The 42-year-old single mother, who landed in the East Bay after the storm flooded her home, received a large payment last month from the federal disaster agency to compensate her for all the family's losses -- and she planned to use some of the money to return to Louisiana.

With the check in hand and her future seeming bright, Gary walked into a check-cashing outlet near her temporary home in Hayward. After employees there made sure it was a real check and she was the correct recipient, Gary received the payment in cash -- $17,975.

She went home and hid the money for safekeeping, then drove to buy groceries. When she returned, three masked gunmen who police say apparently had followed her from the check-cashing outlet grabbed her and forced their way into the residence.

They held guns to Gary's head and the head of her 2-year-old daughter -- and took all the money, she told police. Gary's 15-year-old son broke an arm when he jumped out of a second-floor window in an attempt to get help............"

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/16/KATRINA.TMP&type=printable


interesting story....someone help me with this...... why not open an account in a bank? Carrying nearly 20g in cash on you? I'm a 320 lb gorilla and even I wouldnt be that stupid. WTF?!?!?!

[tonyb]

They probably never had a bank account to begin with.I don't get why it's the goverments fault she lost everything in the flood.No wonder this country's broke.My house gets flooded Uncle Sam won't give me diddly squat.:confused: