Corruption in Louisiana

[Cedarman]

Last night on the Fox News Channel, Dick Morris, made a closing comment that La was the most corrupt state in the nation. With 100 billion dollars going into the gulf coast region, I bet the politicians are licking their chops.

The presidents message last night was a good one, but will the people that need the help to bring them up in the world use that help for the betterment of themselves and their kids.  This is an opportunity for the poor to break that cycle of poverty, learn skills, work, and be proud of themselves.

We'll know in a few years.

[Frank_Pender]

Cedarman, I'll bet that it will not take years, but a few months. :'(

[beenthere]

Like all handouts, there will be the clever who will know how to invest the money and make more, there will be those who will spend it to get themselves back to the same level they were before, and there will be those that will spend it in the casino's (helping the casino's and the state's income) hoping to hit the 'big' one.

Many will get rich off the money, but it will be an economic shot in the arm of the coast area and they will be ready for the next hurricane to do the same thing, no more, and no less. 


I'm venting, because I don't see it happening any other way. The people who have been on the dole for half a century and really need to pick themselves up, have no intention of doing so.
But there are many, many who will take advantage of the help and they'll spend their money on the trades and services to get back into a new house with a new roof. I'd like to see some wise decisions regards the level of ground behind the levee or the height of the levee - but I doubt taking that step will ever happen.  :(

[SwampDonkey]

The thing that will make it all fall flat on it's face is that there won't be any conditions set. They'll get money, but they won't commit themselves to better themselves. When the cash is gone they'll be looking for more. I see it here all  the time.

[karl]

I hope some of the "help" goes to the folks outside of NO that we aren't hearing about-rural residents need help too, and those are the ones that are most likely to do more with less and actually work to honestly help themselves.

[sawguy21]

The thing that will make it all fall flat on it's face is that there won't be any conditions set. They'll get money, but they won't commit themselves to better themselves. When the cash is gone they'll be looking for more. I see it here all  the time.

That is a real problem. When conditions are set, it is viewed as paternalism and resented. When our federal and provincial governments started wanting accountability from the native bands for treaty money  (who are BTW, extremely wealthy from oil royalties), the band leaders and left wing press really got their knickers in a twist. Some of the natives are serious about wanting to better conditions and work hard but tend to be viewed as "white men" by the others which is about the worst insult they have.

[HORSELOGGER]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46361

[Texas Ranger]

FEMA and the Red Cross handed out money in Houston to the evacuees.  Some used it for food and clothing, housing.  Others bought tattoes, $600 hand bags, and spent it in strip clubs. 

No conditions set on how they used the $2000 provided, but the local folks were up in arms that they donated money to the agencies and were seeing it used for less than life support.

[hardwood]

IMHO, the corruption in Louisiana will pale in comparison to the way our tax dollars will be funneled to political supporters in the form of no-bid contracts. When it comes to wasting money, no one holds a candle to our gov't.

[beenthere]

hardwood,
And IMHO the contracts go to those who have the track record to get the job done, or it goes to a 'new' minority 'pop-up' contractor with no track record that likely can't get the job done.  I don't buy the political supporters/no bid accusation, as I suspect from where it comes, and feel if it happens, it happens no matter who is in... but I don't fret over it.

Way too much local, state, and federal 'political' manuevering to accomplish the social goals while there is real work that needs to be done, and us getting the most bang-for-the-buck just doesn't happen.  Probably never will either.

[Wyatt]

FOX.....NEWS.....I won't go there! . . . Tex the Red Cross did hand out cards to people just in Astro dome on orders from FEMA. They stoppped when FEMA told them to and the  $ came from Red Cross to be Re-payed by FEMA. FEMA has not to date refunded the Red Cross??????? Don't blame the Red Cross. They are NOT a GOV agency! just my 2cents.