Evacuees Line Up For Debit Cards In Houston

kwtx ^

[NormB]

Hundreds of survivors of Hurricane Katrina lined up Thursday outside the Reliant Center in Houston in hopes of getting $2,000 government debit cards, but there's confusion about who can get the cards and when.

[satchmodog9]

Smokes and Malt Liquor are not the issue. It is money and that makes it desirous to the miscreants.

[eureka!]

The government cards can only be used for food, clothes etc., or so I heard...

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The sharpest crapshooters and card players in the bunch are gonna be millionaires before Sunup! 90% of them will be broke, hungry, and bitching, and moaning, before next fookin week!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

...and that just among the bureaucrats that get the boxes of cards to distribute.

[SouthernFreebird]

I'm not going to begrudge these people a debit card. They are suppose to be used for what they need like bus passes to get where they need to go, gas money, clothes ect. Most of them did make it out with just what they were wearing, a family of four could easily run thru that just getting everyone some necessities starting from scratch.

[Sleeping Freeper]

Similar cards already sell on Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Travel-related-Mastercard-debit-card_W0QQitemZ6558760924QQcategoryZ1310QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[rineaux]

How many of these will end up in the hands of Non-Katrina victims??? I'm sure this will be a hot ticket for a lot of long time residents of Houston.
/
You have to also consider, Dallas, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, just about every place evacuee's were sent.

Some friends and I grilled a lot of food(a lot) at the Reunion Arena on Sunday. I can tell you there were people coming through the line who did NOT have braclets on. I don't mind them eating but I do mind them taking money.

[martinidon]

"maybe not. you cannot buy cigarettes nor booze with the cards"
Are you kidding me! Want to know how many mom and pop convenience stores will sell you anything for the money! You may not be able to buy cigarettes or booze at Kroger, ALbertsons, or Safeway but most of these people have no intention of shopping for groceries!

[Mo1]

I understand the need for getting these folks Emergency cash...but $2000 seems like a lot at one time....Why $2000 and not $250 or $500 no and more next week..

Because that money can give them a chance to put a deposit on an apartment .. some furniture and some cloths

Whether that is what they use it for in another story

[ScreamingFist]

The government cards can only be used for food, clothes etc., or so I heard...

It works like this....I'll give you $250-$500 cash for that card, right now. Think of how shysters and "bidness" men can scam this.....

[isrul]

Next week they simply demand (and probably get) another card.

[rineaux]

but most of these people have no intention of shopping for groceries!

no argument from me about that.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Evacuees Line Up For Debit Cards In Houston

A little money and ((( poof ))) you go from being a "refugee" to an "evacuee"

[Muzzle_em]

I wish that weren't true,....but sadly it IS!

[Borax Queen]

Ping to some laughs!

[Muzzle_em]

I thought I read they can be used at any atm machine.

[msnimje]

I am sure a good number of them are well trained in lining up for Government Handouts.

[NormB]

LOL!
Man, it will be the hangover that will be felt around the world!!!

[Admin Moderator]

Hint: Tone it down or this thread will be pulled also