FEMA is helping people? &^%$$%^&*&%

[PyroChixRock]

I call the blowers we're helping as often as I can see update our lists so we don't buy stuff they might have picked up, and to check to make sure they are ok you know. One of them tells me today that FEMA is asking for people to either prove where their money has gone or send it back! Yes I'm so sure that in all the confusion and scrambling to get their lives in order that they are keeping detailed records and receipts!!! And if they aren't "approved" purchases they don’t count!! :mad1: Lucky (?) for him FEMA never gave him any money, they said it was coming so he told them if he has to give it back to not bother sending it cause he just can't give it back, he needed it to get back to work. He's a single parent to top this off.

He also said that companies were waiving and lowering fees for the month, like electricity and stuff, but that the ONLY company that stood by their promise was Sprint! (go sprint) WTF is wrong with people? You tell people you're going to waive or lower their electricity and phone and rent/mortgage for one month to help, and then don't? They have made a bad situation worse.

Sorry to rant about all this. I only wish there was something helpful I could do, more then what we’re doing already.

We still have one guy in a hotel. Those of you who have posted work/living space offers I’m going to pass on your number to him and see if he can't figure out a way out of the hotel, which is way too expensive for anyone! :(

[PyroChixRock]

PS I need airgas headquarters number, if anyone has it. They won't fill owned tanks for one of the blowers and they are the only ones open within a 3 hour radius. :sick:

[B.C. Creations]

i could offer up some shop space for a bit. i have an extra station. let me know if any of them are interested. i also have some sleeping space????

[NUBBLET]

Airgas Inc.
259 North Radnor-Chester Road
Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087-5283
Phone: 610-687-5253
Fax: 610-687-1052
Web Site: http://www.airgas.com

[PyroChixRock]

Thanks Danny, you rock. I let him know about Tom and Will's offer since they out out their way.

Thanks Tom! That's perfect, I'll pass on the info.

:D

[Utopian Brain]

making people have proof for their money, but reimbursing the religious organisations that already dont pay taxes for all of their time effort and contributions, yep, sounds just like our GOV. which organisations, ill bet all the big time baptist ones are gonna make more money than they give off of this thing
by the way if anyone lives up in BC , help us all out with a mass exodus, try and get those glassblower LA refugees up there. So they dont have to prove their faith in god to get some damned help

[Greymatter Glass]

Self Reliance is a virtue. If you don't depend on the government for assistance, then they can't screw you over when help never comes.

Of course, this _COULD_ be a reaction to all the flat out "dee dee dee" MORONS who got their FEMA and Red Cross debit cards and went out and blew the money on designer purses, lap dances, and down payments on sports cars they'll default on in 6 months. My point is, don't _EXCLUSIVELY_ blame the government for doing some book-keeping. In a time of emergency is the absolute most important time to keep records, there's never a good excuse to not keep books. Fuck applogetic sentiment, these peopole are dealing with the government, what do they expect?

The rules were writen long before Katrina hit, ignorance is no excuse.

As for the churches getting unaccounted money, well that's messed up, but it's neither a suprise nor is it illegal (even if you FEEL it should be, it's not).... have ANY of you contacted a senator or representative about this, or just bitching on forums and blogs?

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?command=congdir

GO THERE and bitch.



I applogize for once again being heartless and offensive to the bleeding hearts, but I get sick of hearing people bitch and moan about things to one another then wuss out when it comes to real involvement.

We do NOT live in a communist nation, you cannot EXPECT nor DEPEND on the government to help you in time of crisis. Our (federal) government is set up to provide MILITARY and INDUSTRY, the protection of the people comes as a result of that... at least in theory.

The sooner people realize that the better off they'll be... then and only then, can you work for change.

And Utopian Brian, despite what you may think, no one has to prove a faith n any religion to get help from the southern baptists or any other relief agency working around there. I agree it's a thinly veiled attempt to press christianity on people, but shit, they already go door to door doing it, and then you don't get all kinds of support and aid, just a bunch of brow beating BS.... I know it's a hard concept to grasp, but Churches can and do involve themselves in secular activites from time to time.


Last but not least, if you don't like it, CHANGE IT. With the exception of our few foreign members, this is OUR country, but it's no longer working for _US_ (unless you're one of "THEM"). No matter how powerful and intimidating politics can be, this is still a nation of citizens, we CAN and should act in a way that truely influences politics. blogs and forums can get the ball rolling, but you HAVE to be involved in what you want changed.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?command=congdir

GO THERE. Send a letter to a congressmen, if you have an extra 10-15 hours a week volunteer for a campaign, if you don't have free time, but make decent money, give to a political campaign you belive in. THATS HOW OUR SYSTEM WORKS!!!!!!!!

bah

rant done

-Doug

[Mr. Wonka]

Doug-

I love reading your posts, and your views are a great balance of Republican / Democrat, liberal / conservative- I wish more people would see the world like you do. Thanks so much for being a "voice of reason". If you ever decide to run for office, you have my vote :)

[Utopian Brain]

Well douggie, I have done all that. I did it while i was in high school when bill Clinton was in the administration. I was a member of my Schools amnesty, i have wasted my time, and i emphasize wasted my time, because even when your governor or congressman comes to talk to you, all you have to say just rolls right off their shoulders. Just like everything my brother says, who happens to be the mayor of a small town in florida, not a hick town by the way, rolls off their shoulders. Money talks, and unless u have millions, theyre not really listening. even then, its a waste of time and money, and ure better off using it to isolate yourself in a part oft he world free of media and with minimal dependancy on the political world. Oh and by the way when my governor visited my school he happened to be Jeb Bush, so try talking to that brick wall. ive got pictures of my brother shaking his hand, its terrible
I wasnt bitching i was just expressing my disappointment in this countrys moral fiber. Another fine fact is that hundreds of thousands of immigrants, Legal and illegal, are gonna ruin thewage gap by taking thousands of low paying jobs from haliburton, who of course got a no bid contract fo the whole shabang.
Im disgusted, and im sorry i wanted to rant a little about baptists, but now ill rant about haliburton. who is going to be making millions off of the lower wage gap. a construction employee instead of making 35 dollars an hour with benefits. will be making maybe 18 dollars an hour, and thats not after taxes. all because of our lovely gov, who we can apparently convince to listen to us by wrting our republican controlled house. Nope, i tried it. yeah, ill start putting in more effort when i see our time buddy, but until the nation wakes up. ill continue on working for positive change in my life and my family.
We have no control overmost of it. i know all that stuff sounded great in High school Doug, but i was talking about bias, a bias towards what our governmentsee's as GOOD and RIGHT for US.
I know what writing and money can do, look at NORML and some states around our country, things can change, i didnt know i was bitching and moaning so much. But i definately dont wuss out. maybe u dont know me douggie, but chill out before u start making assertions
Thanks
Peace out

[Paxton]

First off, it is a fallacy that FEMA is asking people to provide receipts or give the financial assistance they have given out back. I received money, and contacted two separate FEMA representatives about this exact thing before I spent any of the money I was given, as well as read the pamphlet that I received from them. As far as the 2000 dollar immediate assistance they give, you can go and buy crack with it if you want to. The same goes for the additional 2358 dollars that they give you for rental assistance. If you want to receive further assistance, then it will be beneficial to save receipts for major purchases such as housing. It is called accountability. The original 2000 dollars is for hotels, food, gas, haircuts and whatever you may immediately need. The additional 2358 afterwards is to be used to rent a house if you can find one. If after that money runs out, you have not found a job, or returned to your place of residence, you can receive more aid if you have a record of receipts showing that you used the money for its intended purpose. If not, you are on your own after that. The rumor that Fema is asking people for their money back was probably started because it did ask for 30 million dollars back for funds that the state of LA. misused. http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?s=3151637 The only time you will be required to give money back is if you receive money at a later date to repair your damaged house, and use it for something else.


As far as getting the money, everyone who applies gets the aid as long as you meet these simple requirements:
1. Your house where you usually live was in a federal disaster area and you are displaced because you can not live in it due to damages, or are prohibited from returning to your area. (Limit of one person per household.)
2. You or a member of your household is a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national or qualified alien.
3. You have already accepted help from your insurance provider if you have one, and are still in need of immediate assistance.
4. You do not own a second home or rental property in which you can stay rent free.


As far as the churches getting unaccounted money, that also is a fallacy. I happen to be working in an intake and redistribution warehouse for the United Clergy Task force in Lafayette. I am being paid to work there by the government at a rate of 9.75 an hour, as well as about eight other evacuees. None of the people running the warehouse are being paid for their time (except some by the churches they belong to). In the 70's the national coalition of churches organized and chose different denominations to be responsible for particular aspects of emergency relief in crisis situations in the United States. The Seventh Day Adventists were put in charge of warehouse management, so I have been working at times with one of them named Brian, a full time pastor who is a 100% volunteer. Besides helping us organize our warehouse, which receives as many as 4 18-wheelers a day full of donated goods (many from churches all over the United States and Canada which will never receive a dime from the government for their services) he also helped to organize Fema's main distribution warehouse, which takes up a whole Wal-Mart. The Baptist were put in charge of food preparation, which is why you will see them often giving out hot meals during crisis situations. According to Fema’s website, the American Red Cross, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, served more than 12 million hot meals and more than 8.2 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

While there are central agencies from each particular denomination working full-time (employed by their denominations) all year round to oversee their designated responsibilities, the country is then broke up into seven regions, and then further into tri-state, state, parish/county, and eventually individual cities. On all of these levels the organizations are comprised of part-time unpaid volunteers, which are activated in the case of an emergency. None of these people are paid by the government, although they are a highly professional group working in conjunction with Fema, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army (another Christian organization), and other major relief organizations. Besides supplying food, school supplies, bedding, and clothing to surrounding areas, homes and people, they also supply many local churches with the necessities they need to house and feed the thousands of displaced people they are letting live in their churches as well as individual church member’s houses. Fema is also being allowed to set up their main headquarters in a local church. None of these organizations require that you have any belief in God whatsoever for their services.

After the relief effort is over, the United Clergy task force may possibly receive some government reimbursement for large items bought specifically for use during hurricane Katrina that they have detailed receipts and records for, like the $7000 trailer that was bought to distribute goods from the warehouse to the people, but they will definitely not be stuffing their pockets greedily with cash, or even getting back anywhere near what they have put out. If the church of Satan stepped up to the plate and contributed millions of dollars and thousands of people to help the people in this area affected by the hurricanes, they most likely could get some reimbursement from the federal government for some of their extraordinary expenses, but so far that has not happened. To date, Christian organizations are one of the largest contributors of money, services, and people to humanitarian aid in the world.

I am certainly no big fan of Halliburton, and is does pain me to see their tents on the side of the Cajundome. The average salary for construction workers in LA. is nowhere near 35 dollars however. If people are getting paid 18, they will be getting above the norm unless they were managing whole crews as foremen, and then they will be lucky to get 35, and I lived in the most affluent area of Louisiana...and was a construction worker to boot. I am only speaking for residential construction however. Large commercial building buildiers may get paid more. I believe that I read the average was $14 hr. earlier this week. But yes, no to Halliburton.

Paxton

[Utopian Brain]

Im talking about organisations like pat roberts, and that national religious networks.
Basically waht i was bitching and moaning about is how sad it is that bushes friends will most likely be well reimbursed for all of their efforts, and there will probably be a bias in this area
Meanwhile, hundreds of other religious organisations will not, but it doesnt matter to them, because helping is what they do
I am not condemning religion, or baptists, i was just expressing my discontent for big time religious organisations and how much credit they get, when others put forth the same effort and go unnoticed
NOLA police officers said the first help to arrive were canadian mounties the day after Katrina, yet i had to dig deep to read this story.
meanwhile the guy who publicly says we should assassinate the leader of a foreign country is being handed millions to "help"
yeah, you can call me a little skeptical, and yes, i do feel it is something to moan about
its just in my experience that Priests are Carnies in disguise, and im glad that their minions do do good in the world, of which i know about since i grew up with 12 years of catholic education
I have housed relatives from europe for months while they tried to make their way in this country. I have donated my time and money to the american red cross
i am just complaining about the buddy buddy way of doing things in this administration, didnt realize id spark such a hot topic

[cheng076]

Just remember that the only good a politician ever did for the people was by accident on his/her way to lining his/her own pockets.

PJH

[Greymatter Glass]

Brian, I'm on my way tyo class, no time to respond in full... anyways, I wasn't diresctly attacking you, just being critical of the situation in general. I don't think you're WRONG, I think the whole damn system is broken, but we have to play by the rules to call them on their (politicians) mistakes.

Paxton, Thank you for the first hand accounting of what's really going on. I hope all gets back to normal for you and yours as soon as possible. From what you've said it sounjds like things are finally starting to work like they're supposed to.

Tom, thanks. I piss off both sides, it's nice to hear someone understands me from time to time :)

I agree that Halliburton is in a very lofty position to take advantage of the situation, but in all fairness, can you name one other company that can do what Halliburton does? Bechtel? ABB? Westinghouse? They're any better? Halliburton, despite their ties to the whitehouse, is experianced and trained in dealing with these situations. The GAO is already watching them like a hawk over the Iraq misadventure, I doubt they're going to pull too many fast ones.

Besides, what _IS_ Halliburton? It's a giant multi-national conglomerate that pays untold thousands of employees from all across the political spectrum to provide logistical support. They DO create jobs, and they HAVE to pay a competative wage or they simply wont have enough employees to fulfill their contractual obligations, that's true no matter where you go. It may not be enough by your standards of paying for a lot of bills and plenty of lifestyle choices, but going from making nothing to making $9 an hour is a step up, and at least it's not a hand-out. I do think we need to raise the fed. minimum wage to somewhere around $8 an hour, but I've some good arguments against that, so I guess it's a good thing I'm not in charge, since I really don't know enough to go beyond my opinion.


And I'm sorry you have such bunk politicians where you're at. Here in Albuquerque I see one of my congressional reps, Heather Wilson all over town. She's a woman I don't really agree with or like, but she's approachable and she listens to us. She doesn't "know" who I am, I'm just another constituant, money has nothing to do with it. Approach and style is everything. I've never voted for a candidate who has won election, but I've never felt unrepresented either.

A shower, clean teeth, proper English, and the asnine little formalities of politics can go a long way, even if you have no money.

-Doug

[Paxton]

I understand where you are coming from Brain, and I certainly can't speak for any tele-evangelists. I'm just saying that a lot of Christians out there are helping people. And Doug, as much as I hate to say it, but I am sure Halliburton does some good as well. Heck, even Walmart has donated a building to Fema, and is delivering 1 Million dollars of brand new clothing for hurricane victims. I'm sure they will get a nice right-off, but it's still going to cost them a penny. Maybe the companies aren't the blood sucking vampires we thought they were...just 4/5's the blood sucking vampires we thought they were. As for the politicians, I would like to make them an offer on one of those cars they bought with misrepresented Fema money, if they need help raising the funds in order to send them back. :D

Paxton