[SamAdams76]

It is also an extremely efficient distribution of aid to people displaced, and reduces the time that they are dependent on the government to procure everything from toothpaste to toilet paper.

You are on the money with that one. It goes against the grain of our way of thinking but it is actually much more efficient to give aid directly to the people and cut out all the middlemen and bureaucracy.

I read an article some time ago where it was fairly well documented that if the federal government completely eliminated all the welfare offices and just issued checks to all those who qualified, it would be much cheaper.

Not that I go for that type of thing (regarding welfare) but it might be a good idea to do in the case of emergency aid like this.

[Jorge]

You are on the money with that one. It goes against the grain of our way of thinking but it is actually much more efficient to give aid directly to the people and cut out all the middlemen and bureaucracy.

Exactly!