FEMA money to buy porn...

hooters carries a $200 bottle of champagne? :blink: :lol:

give a large amount of money to people who don't have much money... and this is what you get.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Jun 14 2006, 10:39 AM) [snapback]271088[/snapback]</div>

The report this morning was that 17% of the money, or 1 billion dollars, was misspent. Did you get any FEMA dollars for your sick jpgs squid?

 

Anyone want to start a pool for which Democrat politician will be the first to blame Bush for this?

From what I've read, much of the "misappropriation" was done by recipients of the debit cards that were given out to people who were displaced by the storms. If FEMA had given them a check instead, the same would have happened, only there would have been no way to track it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Jun 14 2006, 09:39 AM) [snapback]271088[/snapback]</div>

I didn't buy porn, sex or drugs with my FEMA money. I hated being in the position where I had to accept monetary help. I did accept it, however... but I used the money to pay my bills as I looked for a new job and home in a new city.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(heliotropehead @ Jun 14 2006, 11:32 AM) [snapback]271123[/snapback]</div>

The government spends all of your life with its hand out; think of all the money you've paid in taxes. I can understand the distaste for accepting money like that but it's not charity, it's the government using your taxes to help you for a change instead of the other way around.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 14 2006, 11:41 AM) [snapback]271252[/snapback]</div>

Tony -

Do they still use literal food "stamps" where you live?

A number of states now us a debit-card type of system which does not give any kind of cash back.

It would not prevent a person from buying their mixers with food stamps (but how could anything like that be enforced?), but it does prevent direct conversion of stamps-to-cash.

- Bob R.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jun 14 2006, 11:41 AM) [snapback]271252[/snapback]</div>

well before i get started, let me say that this is in no way, a general attack directed towards anyone on public assitance. but Tony's story reminds me of a time i was at the grocery store about a month ago. i went to what i thought would be the shortest line because there was only one person with 3 kids walking up to the newly opened register.

well she promptly pushed each child up in front of her all with a single item. they dutifully paid for the item in food stamps and received change. (they were from out of county since Thurston County went to food debit cards several years ago) she continued to rotate the three poor children until the entire basket was empty. (luckily only about 15 items so each child made about 5 trips each)

when that was all done, the lady immediately plopped all the change on the counter and said "give me as many packs of cigarettes as i can buy with this amount of money"

 

"The bum on the rods is hunted down as an enemy of mankind.
The bum on the plush drives to his club, is feted, wined, and dined.
And they that curse the bum on the rods as the essence of all that's bad
Will greet the other with a winning smile and extend a hand so glad..."

It's easy to criticize the woman who converts a few bucks worth of food stamps into cigarettes or liquour, but the dollar amount of food stamp fraud is miniscule compared to the amount of big-business fraud: price fixing, constraint of trade to force small companies out of the market, and overcharging the government (especially the military) for goods and services.

The lady in Dave's post above is like a guy who steals a dime from the tax man. Enron and Halliburton are like guys who take my wallet and my clothing and leave me naked in the street.

 

"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; robes and furred gowns hide all"

William Shakespeare (King Lear)

 

"It's easy to criticize the woman who converts a few bucks worth of food stamps into cigarettes or liquour, but the dollar amount of food stamp fraud is miniscule compared to the amount of big-business fraud: price fixing, constraint of trade to force small companies out of the market, and overcharging the government (especially the military) for goods and services."

Exactly right. There is probably more money lost to fraud and corruption in military procurement in one day than in the welfare system in one year. Who has more opportunites for corruption - the rich and powerful, or the welfare mother?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jared2 @ Jun 15 2006, 10:35 AM) [snapback]271649[/snapback]</div>

Can you two explain the boundries of when fraud goes from being OK to being taboo?

Also, please include some explaination as to how you decide on these boundries.


I say the government spend 10 million dollars on this seasons hurricane relief. Spend all 10 million on an ad campaign to explain to the coastal areas that they are in potential hurricane damage areas and that they need to make an evacuation plan, insure their junk for damage, get food and water on hand if you're not smart enough to get out of the way, and that the government is not responsible for every broken window and flooded house.

I have insurance on my house in case something bad happens. If something bad happens, the fed is not going to pay me for it. I live in a tornado prone region and know the risks and have planned accordingly. If I decide that potential is too great, I can move somewhere else. Why can't the Americans who live in hurricane prone areas take some responsibilty for themselves and insure their stuff or sell it and move to a place where a hurricane won't be a problem.

If Allstate and state farm won't insure for hurricane damage, then the fed should create a program designed for a minimum of 'break even'. People sign up for Federal Hurricane damage coverage and pay $200 a month per $150,000 in coverage. If your house blows down, you've been paying on this policy up to date, you get a check. If you don't sign up, you don't get a check. You have to stay consistant in the program to stay covered.

That would put most of the load on the people who choose to live in the path of the bullet. Most areas of the country have some form of severe weather or disaster potential. When it can be known and is predetermined, the burden should be on the locals to plan for it. (supplies and insurance). If it's too expensive to plan for it, then move out of that area, it doesn't make sense to live there.

Maybe there are people on here that can help explain why it's impossible to plan for a hurricane and why when the coast gets 10 of these storms a year, it's somehow a surprise every time. Weird thing is.. I don't live anywhere near that area and I know there will be some hurricanes this summer and fall.

 

I agree with most of what daronspicher said. I have lived in Florida for about 4 years now and have found that the state and local governments have a pretty good handle on advising for hurricane prepareness. Also the insurance companies have greatly increased all premiums for all of us, even those of us not in an area usually affected. And many insurance companies have dropped a lot of policy holders and won't take any new ones. There are many homes in south Florida still with the blue tarps on the roofs from hurricanes of two years ago while all the news goes to the "slow" response time of aid to areas of last years damage. Its amazing how a little un-maintained (being nice) home is now worth at least $150K if the taxpayer is being the insurance company.

Again FEMA will take the heat for actions that others did a poor job of initiating.