<p>Can we PLEASE impeach Bush out of the office???</p>
<p>**U.S. offers Katrina families $2,000 each **
<a href=“http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KATRINA_WASHINGTON?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT[/url]”>http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KATRINA_WASHINGTON?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT</a></p>
<p>TENISGHS guess you aren’t one of those people in need of restarting their lives huh…</p>
<p>Jeep, I think most people on this forum will find $2000 a bit “low” don’t you think? That’s someone’s paycheck (or for some, a drop in the bucket) when it comes to getting the bare necessities, including transportation.</p>
<p>Actually, that’s a lot of money - and it is NOT the final sum! It’s “getting on your feet” money. Two thousand dollars, even for the people who have nothing, is, in most parts of the country, enough for rent & security deposit on a small house or apartment plus some left over. </p>
<p>My guess is that you’ve spent your entire life in high-priced cities. Where I am (South), my (very nice) rural town has houses that go for about $700/month. Entire houses - furnished - enough for a family. Lovely, safe area. Even if you have NOTHING, that’s rent, security deposit, and a few hundred left over. My roomie and I have a house (not an apartment) and probably spend about $1,200/month between the two of us for everything. That is not far off what a family would spend - same amount of space, roughly similar expenses. Not really understanding your complaints…</p>
<p>Got a question for you, Tenisghs - do you think that the US can put together a disaster relief bill, akin to the 9/11 bill, for all one million New Orleans residents affected by Katrina - in enough time to help those who are in immediate need? Or do you realize, on some level, that two grand, no strings attached, to get people started is not a bad deal?</p>
<p>Those of you who detest the president for not being Superman (which, really, you would have to be to give families long-term relief at this point) only weaken your other, legitimate, arguments against him - starting with the (very delayed) response to Katrina. IMO, there is absolutely no legitimate complaint against him here. </p>
<p>By the way, a lot of the Katrina problems lie at the feet of the LA governor. </p>
<p>Finally, for your edification: <a href=“http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html[/url]”>http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html</a>
Where are the grounds for impeachment based on seemingly inadequate disaster relief funds written in there? Article II, Section 4: “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”</p>
<p>Drop the impeachment nonsense. Sexual assault is a felony. Inadequate disaster relief (which is the subject of your post, right?) is not.</p>
<p>The $2000 is for immediate necessities. God bless those who think it is a drop in the bucket!! If I had lost everything in Katrina, I would sure be relieved to see some immediate cash. Remember, these debit cards are being given to 320,000 families, and if they can get them out to the families quickly, that would be really something. Some of them will buy shoes, hygiene items, food etc., and some I am sure will go yippee and get an IPOD.
Like you said, it could be A’s monthly salary, or B’s mad money. I don’t think it’s a bad amount to hand out for starters. And it is a handout.</p>
<p>At least we aren’t France… </p>
<p>"Our great ally France has offered the following in the wake of Katrina: 600 tents, 1,000 cots, some kitchen kits, 60 generators and 12 experts to advise the American Red Cross. --I hope they speak English.</p>
<p>Now I believe the 4-H Club of Bangor, Maine, has topped that offer. "</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168552,00.html[/url]”>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168552,00.html</a></p>
<p>A direct cash transfer is the most efficient (and cheapest) way of helping people who need help. I’m expecting many rants about people formerly known as refugees lined up with their new debit cards with shopping carts full of beer… or whiskey. But it is most efficient to let people in need decide what they need. It might make you feel better to buy diapers in New York, pay sales tax, ship them to Louisianna, have them sit in a truck for 3 days and moved to a nursing home where they sit in a closet because they are too small for adults… Much better to let the mothers buy diapers locally. </p>
<p>One thing I heard tonight that makes me very unhappy is that only evacuees in approved FEMA shelters are getting the debit cards!! If the evacuee is housed in a church or with a local family, sorry charlie, no $$$</p>
<p>That does not sound right. Yet, it was announced that 320,000 debit cards will be issued…surely that’s not the number of families in approved shelters.</p>
<p>See AP article linked below. It appears that the debit cards will be distributed first in evacuation centers–it makes sense-- but will not be limited to evacuees there.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/07/D8CFK5701.html[/url]”>http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/09/07/D8CFK5701.html</a></p>
<p>Those in shelters are being ‘‘registered’’ thru FEMA - so that makes sense - it was also announced today for people NOT in shelters to get in touch with FEMA to get registered so that they could also get these benefits - they have to have had an address in the affected area in order to be able to apply - and it is supposedly 1 card per household!!! They are also being registered in state Medicaid programs as well - for medical/health related things/expenses to be covered.</p>
<p>TENISGHS - have you had to take care of a family of 4 (or more) on $2000 - uuummm - to some that is a great deal of money - but believe me it doesn’t go that far - when you think of the necessities of life - clothes - food - personal care items - underwear - diapers - formula - etc… but, 2000 is the initial amounts - it may have to be adjusted in the future - but they need to help people get back on their feet and start the road back to being independant. Those funds are not to be used for buying big ticket items or cars, etc…it is for the immediate needs for now. In fact - I really think it is a generous amount for the initial start up for needs for those who have lost everything and have nothing - it will alow them to get the necessities to get kiddos back in to school quickly also - if in a shelter ones basic needs are being met at this point - shelter and food - but not much else til they have the resources to do so - the 2000 is their jump start.</p>
<p>I think a good word to describe what this initial 2000 can do for many is EMPOWERMENT - it will allow the evacuees to have some control over what they have not had any control at all. I prefer to think of this ‘hand out’ as a gesture of compassion.</p>
<p>TENISGHS - you have to realize that many of these people have been living below the poverty level - so 2000 could actually be 3 months income for some those who were working - or could be all the $$ they may see for a long time to come. And no matter who of these people has wealth and who was poor - they are all the same right now.</p>
<p>But, do those 4-H’ers speak French?</p>
<p>try and get in touch with FEMA…impossible</p>
<p>second try - as of today there are ~~3000 maning phones for FEMA with another 5000 being trained and on line by the weekend - per an announcement this afternoon. I have to agree that trying to reach FEMA is very difficult - espeicaly their web site - which is pages and pages to get thru before you can do any thing - poor planning and another lesson learned.</p>
<p>and how many have access to phones and the web</p>
<p>Hopefully it will get pulled togetherm the idea is a good one</p>
<p>
Actually, when I was in Maine this summer, I watched the French channel - so close to Canada that you get enough cross-cultural stuff for French to be common! :p</p>
<p>CGM: credit where credit is due - great post. Thank you for getting the thread back on track and avoiding political discord. :)</p>
<p>ariesathena, I would imagine that the victims of Katrina would not be so quick to dismiss aid offered by France. Bill O’Reilly, as is often the case, has his ‘facts’ skewed, or at the least, carefully edited. </p>
<p><a href=“http://feeds.thefrancenews.net/?rid=32b6552f7a5d271e&cat=e597bd109c960ae3&f=1[/url]”>http://feeds.thefrancenews.net/?rid=32b6552f7a5d271e&cat=e597bd109c960ae3&f=1</a></p>
<p>People in need should be grateful for donations, large or small.</p>
<p>Thanks for proving my point, alwaysamom! :D</p>
<p>For Ten. to characterize the Federal aid as ONLY $2,000 immediately to everyone is just as skewed (if not significantly more skewed) than me pointing out that France wasn’t helping out too much… considering how very generous the US is, domestically and internationally in such disasters, it is, IMO, a little lackluster of France. </p>
<p>Your link says that the extent of French aid is…
Correct?</p>
<p>I think what we have to remember is that none of us knows the extent of everything that is being done, including aid from foreign countries. I posted that link simply to show that O’Reilly, as he often does, has cherry-picked his information to suit his comments. That information was what was published as of one week ago. Who knows if it was even totally accurate then, let alone now? We certainly don’t. I know for a fact that the press is not reporting every detail of assistance that is coming in to help the victims of the hurricane. We have a friend who has been infinitely blessed in life and who has pledged, as a start, $3million of assistance. He has already chartered flights and flown over 300 people to a facility he owns in Florida where he is providing them housing in apartments and clothing and food, etc. Not only that, he is arranging to purchase 1000 acres in Louisiana with plans to construct housing for at least a thousand people where he will house and feed them, over a five year plan. I haven’t seen the media reporting on this. And I don’t think that he is unique, many people of means are assisting in ways that most people know nothing about. Whether France’s contributions are ‘lacklustre’ or not, we should still be thankful for the offer. In all the years I’ve done volunteer work with various charities, we always trained people involved in canvassing to be gracious and grateful for a donation, regardless of its size. </p>
<p>As for the $2000 debit card, I actually think it’s a very good idea. My understanding is that it is an initial amount to assist people buy things such as clothing, shoes, pay for medication, replace eye glasses, and get necessary toiletries, in addition to preparing children with adequate clothes and supplies in order to start school. This was what I heard from a Red Cross official who was describing their cards. Perhaps FEMA’s cards are more directed towards housing? I’m not sure. I thought it was pretty obvious that it was just a start, no one is going to rebuild their lives with $2000.</p>
<p>I know it’s a horrible tragedy, and I cannot even imagine going thru one iota of what some of the victims have. But I was wondering, to what extent are we collectively responsible for rebuilding lives.</p>
<p>This country has money, its misspent, over there. </p>
<p>Think new deal</p>
<p>Whatever it takes, I think
Many of these people had jobs…poof, all gone</p>
<p>Collectively- what would your limit be?</p>