Posted on 09/15/2005 4:52:29 PM PDT by Howlin
Edited on 09/15/2005 5:05:17 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
9 P.M. EDT.
Actually most of are conservatives, not libertarians. While we believe in less government we recognize that there are times when the government, meaning the federal government must act.
I believe that we are "One Nation Under God" not every man for himself. Personally, I would prefer we fund the aid with private contributions but to do that we'd have to fins a hundred million plus Americans to pony up a grand a piece. Now I'm already on board with that but I know there aren't 99,999,999 others who are or will be.
So then the question becomes are we a Nation or are we islands unto our own. The majority will say we are a Nation and we will do what should be done.
And therein lies an opportunity. Yes, the history of such opportunities is dismal but it is an opportunity nonetheless.
Bush can do this. When we help folks build a new home we put hammers in their hands and then bread on their table paid for with sweat. When folks can't put hammers in their hands we put them to work minding the children of those that can and then we put bread on their table. When we rebuild New Orleans, we don't challenge mother nature, we pay her due deference and build on higher ground. We give them a hand and an opportunity at ownership and in return we insist that they leave the old ways behind. We reinforce the lesson that they should have learned, the government can not protect their families, only they can do that. We help our fellow citizens and we point them toward a better way. Family, work, ownership and individual responsibility.
Damn tough job and the devil is in the details and the auditors hands but it is an opportunity nonetheless. I wouldn't bet the homestead on it working out but I would bet a few grand that things will improve somewhat.
Did you see the ABC coverage after the speech? Numerous black evacuees who are staying at the Reliant Center in Houston were interviewed. They had very favorable reactions to the President. Several blamed their problems in N. O. in the first few days on local and state officials.
The ABC interviewer tried everything he could to get the people to trash Bush, but failed. He put the microphone in front of one last woman in a vain attempt to find some Bush criticism. She said she blames Mayor Nagin, who had buses and didn't use them. She also pointed out that there had been money appropriated to shore up the levees, but it was spent on something else.
ABC radio didn't mention these responses, but found a democrat official who said the President's speech was nothing but fluff and contained no specifics. Check out Nightline at 11:30. I hope they use the Houston evacuees again. They were marvelous!
It was a tough moment- Greta had on Jesse Jackson- so I went to Joe. I knew he'd gone over the edge- but when I heard him interviewing Dee Dee Myers as though she were a guru I realized he's gone forever. His lead-in to her was " So DeeDee, take us inside the White House in a time of crisis, give us a look..."
As if she would even remotely know what the Bush White House is like.
Amazing.
I thought we had already ended the welfare problem with welfare reform. Supposedly, there was a two year limit for a person to be on welfare. Was the law changed?
Exactly.
sure, but there are so many environmental laws on the books - that if ripe for litigation. toxic waste, endagered species in the delta, in the lake, in the river, etc. stopping that would require congress change those laws.
That's nonsense. The Government was trying desperately to help people in an emergency. There wasn't time to have weeks of staff studies to come up with foolproof means of support.
There are hundreds of thousands who were suddenly homeless. This has been inprecedented. Using normal standards of spending and audit in an emergency is just not realistic.
28% on welfare -- down from 60%+ (according to Bill O'reilly). The Majority of people below the poverty level in the USA are white, not black... African Americans have made significant strides.
70% of the people were living in rental property....Want to guess how many of their rents were paid for through HUD? I'd wager a very larger percentage....
Moon Landrieu has head of HUD during the Carter administration....There are many people in NOLA getting rich on the property they own/rent through HUD.....We've been paying the bills for a LONG time...Rather he give a hand up for home ownership than line the pockets of the corrupt in LA.
Yes. He has done very well. I am taking a look at him.
Great post
Spoken like a true political junkie. Bet you watched 90% of the hearings, just like I did.
:)
You could hear the disappointment in his voice... and you know why his field producer picked the interviewees he did!
"Why did these people not have flood insurance?"
I certainly hope that we never have to ask why people in Northridge never had to have earthquake insurance. And certainly that we never have to ask why people in Atlanta did not take advantage of thermonuclear warhead insurance. Think man, think. You can insure anything against a catastrophy.
>Best part of the speech. ;)<
And no mention of the United Way. Very nice, they don't derserve mention- not after the whole Boy Scouts boondoggle a while back.
I am very skeptical that handing over federal land (where?) to build homes is practical, or sensible. The lottery seems unworkable too. If Bush wants to subsidize homeowners, the funds should just be appropriated. If the federal land he wants to give up is surplus, just sell it. The Bush idea requires new infrastructure, schools, roads, etc. Unless it is infill land, I doubt that is practical, either in theory or in practice.
But the point Bush made a positive step. Bush may be slow in grasping matters, but in general he has good judgment, given time. That is my initial reaction.
That is how all insurance works. What is your point?
Anyone playing could take a drink when Katrina was mentioned....Over 125 times (usually by the Rats) Swimmer said it the most...go figure!
BTW, I thought it was a truly great speech by a truly great (and very smart) President.
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