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Aid to communities in NY and NJ? Certainly. Aid to fisheries in Alaska and Mississippi? No. This is supposed to be about relief, not pork-barrel projects. No wonder congress has an approval rating lower than 10%.
An approval rating of lower than 10%? When did it go up that high?
The stench coming out of Washington DC is overpowering. Every bill they present is filled with amendments authorizing the pork they want so desperately. This is exactly what happened with our wonderful Stimulus that did not stimulate, but lined the pockets of the special interests who in turn donated money back to the campaigns of the politicians. Hey, I scratched your back, now you can scratch mine.
Any legislation passed by this dysfunctional Congress with a “liberal” sprinkling of pork should be grounds for tar, feathers, rails, pitchforks and torches at their door. This economy cannot stand anymore of this nonsense. I see reports from numerous companies about their exposure to this loss in the hundreds of millions each. Why do we need $60 Billion of FEMA help on it? A new bailout because the N/E is too big to fail???
How much damage actually occured and whoever said 100% of the damage should be covered by the federal government? Don’t any of these people or businesses have insurance? And if they CHOSE not to buy it, should the rest of us be responsible for 100% of the loss? If that’s the case, what’s the point of buying insurance? Emergency services to the people and businesses who need it? Fine. But 100% reimbursement for those who chose to roll the dice and not buy adequate insurance? No way. And to the communities who did not have infrastructure up to snuff, should we offer some assistance and/or low cost loans? Sure. But 100% replacement with new and better stuff (much of which they should have bought in the past) is that 100% responsibility of the Federal government? No way. The Federal government is broke. Over $16 trillion in debt and adding $1.2 trillion to that debt every year as far as the eye can see.
This is sickening that we can’t even help theses storm victims without millions of dollars in bribes!
I would hope that if aid is given to residents to rebuild on known flood map locations that it is with the express stipulation that future flooding will never be covered. I agree with helping those in need now, but they need to carefully evaluate whether they are willing to take the risk again if it’s on their own dollar.
Who wouldn’t like to have a waterfront location?
And what home or business owner with waterfront property wouldn’t like the US taxpayer to pay for it?
But don’t think there are any taxpayers who want to pay for property that they cannot use.
Just my two cents.
This is what drives voter apathy.
It’s difficult to find altruism without a bit of greed thrown in. The fisheries don’t fall under the term “pork barrel projects” but they are definitely a separate issue. Don’t deny owners of homes in flood zones future compensation; they should be entitled to some relief if they build on stilts to minimize future losses. I agree that insurance proceeds should be used first — and perhaps last. I don’t mind giving a helping hand up, but a hand out is something else.
Why bail them out at all? Every State for themselves, every man for themselves. The new American way. Right? Let the local people figure out who in their community pays, how they will pay, which one of them receives the contracts and who benefits from the jobs it creates.
I don’t think it’s quite as simple as telling NY they are on their own. Yes, Wall Street can probably raise way more money in half the time the government could. But how many jobs does Wall Street and other NY based companies provide and fund in other states? If it’s every state for themselves, won’t commerce between states change dramatically? I don’t want to spend more money than is necessary to help re-build.
My message got cut off. I also meant to end with… It’s not so simple to just tell states they must fend for themselves.