Lavish tastes of card-carrying lowlifes

New York Daily News Online ^ | September 9, 2005 | Ben Widdicombe

[guitarnick40]

Profiteering ghouls have been using debit cards distributed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - intended to buy essentials for evacuated families - in luxury-goods stores as far away as Atlanta.

"We've seen three of the cards," said a senior employee of the Louis Vuitton store at the Lenox Square Mall in affluent Buckhead, who asked not to be named. "Two I'm certain have purchased; one actually asked if she could use it in the store. This has been since Saturday."

The distinctive white cards were distributed by the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and carry a value of up to $2,000.

[guitarnick40]

What more would they expect with such a political correct program wrought with imperfections just to appease the whining crying Black leadership and the looney liberals.

[goldstategop]

FEMA scrapped the program after the story came out. Does any one really think the federal government would give white, middle class citizens caught in a disaster a $2,000 credit line out of its goodness of heart? Naah - I didn't think so. More racial pandering.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[KStorm]

It's the Bling Bling thing thing.

[guitarnick40]

All it took was less than 24 hours for the scum to abuse it..let em starve, find the videos of them in the stores and arrest their a**ses.

[endthematrix]

I had to search what Louis Vuitton was. Too rich for my blood, but when it's money that's "entitled" to me I guess I'm "entitled" to splurge...

[Brandi in AZ]

The sad part is that for many this would have been ideal. $2000 is enough to get a whole new wardrobe if you're shopping at a modest store, as well as get a start on furnishing an apartment. Because of a few or some greedy fools, the whole plan is scrapped.

[thegreatbeast]

Sigh.

[kingu]

"It doesn't say anything on the card other than alcohol, tobacco and firearms cannot be purchased with it," the store employee told me. "There's nothing legally that prevents us from taking it, unfortunately. Other than morally, it's wrong."

For some reason, I think one could stand outside the Astrodome with $1000 in cash and buy one of these cards fully loaded.

What seriously bothers me about this story is that they accepted the cards. They call it morally wrong, but they accepted the cards. But what tickles the back of my neck is the nagging wonder if this story is real, or just another urban legend in the budding.

I've grown accustomed to questioning any story these days.

[Bullish]

Black appeasement cards.

[NickatNite2003]

You know, my problem with these cards is not
the money, but the fact that they are so
easy to steal/rob/mug away from their recpients.

I find the mental picture of thousands of [eople.
walking around with 2 grand in their pockets,
akin to wearing signs that say "Rob Me!".

...And in a city whose remaining population, has
a large contingent of armed looters, guarding
their booties.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Wait a minute, where is MY $2000 gift, or do I get a $2000 deduction on my income tax return instead?

I have been through plenty of storms in my life, do I qualify for more than one card or tax deduction? (I am not from the South, but does that matter?) < / humor >

Get ready folks for the RATS to offer $2000+ gifts to all distressed people.

[guitarnick40]

"Wait a minute, where is MY $2000 gift, or do I get a $2000 deduction on my income tax return instead?"

Answer: if you voted for George Bush and paid taxes, which means you have a job, then no card for us. Since Katrina's all Bush's fault and because we elected him we don't get a card to buy crack with, we get the shaft. (Al Sharpton 9/9/05) :)

[konaice]

FEMA scrapped the program after the story came out.

Not true. FEMA simply said it would not issue them in other states in the future. The cards will continue to be issued in Texas to NOLA evacuees till the supply is exhausted.

[don-o]

Get ready folks for the RATS to offer $2000+ gifts to all distressed people.

Let's be clear. This half baked idea came from Bush's people. Which cannot seem to get out of its own way. Just damn.

[Salamander]

I'm sorry.
Am I supposed to look "shocked" or "surprised" or what?...:)


[gee...they just didn't see this coming, did they?]

[jslade]

Wait a minute, where is MY $2000 gift

Hey! I had 3 hurricanes come over my home last year...Charley, Frances, & Jeanne. The way I figure it I want MY $6,000 gift.

[auntyfemenist]

No. Displaced, family have lost all our jobs, No electricity, no water, no income. I went to Fema and they didn't tell me one thing about any I could get. None. I don't expect a penny or even a free face cloth from these guys.

[DCPatriot]

It is not unusual to see this type of thing in business.

For example, there are people who purchase 2nd trust notes on real property at a discount.

If I sell my house for $400K and hold a "small" 2nd trust for $80K for 5 years with a higher than market interest rate of 10%...there are people that will cash me out TODAY for $70K.

Am I "losing" $10K?

Same with this debit card. You cash folks out for hard currency for $1500, and profit $500.

It's called capitalism. What a country!

[Calico Cat]

I heard that Barnes and Noble and Borders have been mobbed by people using these cards.

[R. Scott]

The sad part is that for many this would have been ideal. $2000 is enough to get a whole new wardrobe if you're shopping at a modest store, as well as get a start on furnishing an apartment.

For me it would buy a complete summer and winter wardrobe – I’ve never been into name brands or the latest styles, as well as furnish my apartment with the basics.