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.

[rineaux]

Your right.

Lots of people will take advantage of these programs. Double/triple cards for the same joker.

The government, for good or bad, wants to hand out the money as fast as they can. And don't really care who gets it.

[conservativehusker]

I understand, I want folks to be able to get things they need (just not things they want - with my money)...I also didn't know they weren't supposed to be able to stay at the shelter with this card....Thanks

[AmericanDave]

Yes "what about the folks who Hi tailed it out when they should have.."

The poor Mississippi victums better get cards, or I want my money back!

Somebody calculated that it works out to $500 per american. Of course as a head of household thats X2 for my family, and as a taxpayer; thats probably X2 to cover welfare and retired workers too; for my personal total of $2000. And I ALREADY DONATED TO RED CROSS!

[Admin Moderator]

Time will tell

[Sleeping Freeper]

The government has already approved over $61 Billion for recovery, with a lot more promised. Originally the estimates were $25 Billion in damage. Then, $50 Billion with $25 Billion covered by insurance. Now the figure is up to $100 Billion in recovery costs. ($333 for every man/woman/child in the country - $100 billion/$300 million.)

It doesn't sound to me like much accounting is really going on. It seems more like the more money we throw at it, the better it looks politically. Someone on an earlier thread compared the rebuilding of the levees to the Boston Big Dig X 100.

Where it is really needed, I favor it, but you and I will be paying for this for a long time.

[rineaux]

Most of the DUmmies think that it's NOT ENOUGH!!

Great, let them pull it out of their own pockets than. Streisand, Clinton's, most of hollywood crowd have lots of money.

Reason they have all that money is because they hold on to it. They force the government to pay for all these social programs so they do not have to help. Just have to show their fat faces and scream at the government for not doing enough.

Wonder what the victims of the hurricanes in Florida in the last few years have gotten? Anyone?

[Jaysun]

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.

I agree. The flood obviously didn't wash out their bank accounts, but most of these people probably live week to week and they have to replace their cars, homes, clothes, etc. Without the $2K many of them would remain stuck in the football stadium with no hopes of leaving.

[AmericanDave]

"IIRC"

Not familiar, is there a glossary?

[patriciamary]

Unbelievable!What the old saying?The squeaky wheel always gets oiled?(NAACP )Well,anyway the silent majority better start speaking out,but honestly I think it may to too late.Political correct has taken over this country in every way shape and form.

[ScreamingFist]

There was a well known second hand store near where I worked in California where people could sell $100 worth of food stamps for $60.00 cash and then buy booze or drugs.

Unfortunately, 40% sounds about right. It's a running joke with my less fortunate friends. Your tax dollars at work....sigh.

[Montfort]

"I'll probably be labeled a bad person..but Unregulated cash seems to indulging..and positively reinforcing non helpful behavior.."

You may be right, but right now this is what makes politicians and concerned people and the victims of the hurricane feel good, and it helps take the heat of politicians. All politicians. If you could use someone else's money to take the heat off of you, how much of someone else's money would you spend? Well, the politicians will spend as much as they can get to get off the hot seat.

Heck! A member of the Walton family of WalMart fame just died a month or two ago. One of the sons, I guess. Unless he gave it all away to charity, the government will be confiscating billions from his estate within nine months of his death. So all these debit cards could read, "Courtesy of the heirs of Mr. Walton the younger."

The prospect of more confiscation and wealth redistribution to make the many voters happy at the expense of the few is why the estate tax will not be repealed. From each according to his ability; to each according to his need.

The looting has only begun.

[rineaux]

well the charge of racism= throw more money at it so it does not look like racism.

Sad, very sad.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

IIRC- If I recall correctly.

[Venerable Bede]

The DUmmies are exhibiting their astounding lack of how government functions.

I think that's great but cards should also have been distributed before the hurricane to people in the affected area to get them OUT. Because as it happened, those without cash -- and all they needed was a couple hundred -- did NOT get out. And they are now dead.

Mmmmm... hyperbole. The tastiest of idiocies. This guy obviously doesn't realize that a state of emergency has to be declared before the government can do that. Otherwise, the expenditures would have to be approved by Congress. So much for his "How To Implement Socialism In 30 Minutes Or Less" plan.

[patriciamary]

So ,some will sell the card for 1500,or 1000 to someone.They get the cash to buy whatever and the buyers gets an extra 500-100 dollars.

[texgal]

I know, at first I was apalled at the amount but after I heard more about this from friends who are woking at the Astrodome in Houston, I realized it probably would work out. There's a real problem with theft among the evacuees. You can't leave your cot or clothes unguarded or they will be stolen. The cards have names on them and the names must match the wristband the evacuees were issued when they were processed in.

Evacuees will be given time to go through the process of application and approvalfor other houseing. This amount will be deducted from any future FEMA funds they have coming. The cards are similar to food stamps and cannot be used for alchol or tobacco products.

The people here in Houston think that the shelters will be almost empty by the end of next week.

[AmericanDave]

"IIRC- If I recall correctly."

I don't know do you? LOL


Thanx

[IronMan04]

Thankfully, President Bush is a Humanitarian and will help the people of New Orleans though this devastating crisis.
As for me who is eligible for a debit card I don't think I will be buying a Plasma TV or even case of beer.

But, I will thank the President for his effort.

[patriciamary]

Exactly,Dem's forget people need to be responsible too.Sorry,responsibility only applies to the working class.

[patriciamary]

This is just the start,they will get free homes,more money and much,much more....If they deserve it fine,but I believe many do not.