Outpouring of relief cash raises fear of corruption and cronyism

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article313781.ece

The outpouring of billions of dollars in federal relief money to victims of Hurricane Katrina is raising concerns about the risks of corruption and cronyism, with Bush administration critics expressing the fear that the Gulf coast, like Iraq, could become another grand experiment in neoconservative ideology.

Already, no-bid contracts have been awarded to major Republican contributors including Kellogg, Brown & Root, the subsidiary of Vice President Dick Cheney's old company Halliburton. President Bush has unilaterally lifted a protection law that makes it possible for contractors to pay sub-minimum wage rates to reconstruction workers.

Among provisions releasing more than $60bnto the disaster area meanwhile, is a rise in the limit on government-issued credits cards from $25,000 to $250,000. One Republican Senator, and the Democrats, have denounced this provision as outrageous and open to abuse.

Critics have been particularly disturbed by reports that Karl Rove, President Bush's political brain who has no experience in disaster relief or urban planning, may be put in charge of the reconstruction effort. Since his speciality is fighting and winning elections, the concern is that he will want to redraw the electoral map of southern Louisiana and Mississippi before providing new homes or electricity and water.

[Montauk6]

1. Weren't the NOLA no-bids to Unholyburden already in place by the time

Katrina showed up?

[Missy M]

2. In this country we accuse the poor victims of "corruption and cronyism"

It is already starting with the media and pundits citing isolated incidents as the government being ripped off.

[whistle]

3. How much of the cash that charities like Red Cross and Salvation army

....which they received for Hurricane Katrina victims has already reached the actual victims? No one knows, correct. There is no accountability, only the charity PR people claiming that money is flowing where it is needed. Total bullshit!

[cthrumatrix]

4. corporate looting is always allowed in Bushworld

[SoCalDem]

5. GEE..do ya think??

This is always the way disasters are.. people see the tear-stained faces of injured , displaced people, and they donate.. They think (and hope) they are donating to THOSE people they see on tv and in the papers.. Unfortunately, they are really donating to a BUSINESS..a Charity Business, who will then "play God" and decide who gets what, and how much (if anything) they get..

The most needy in this disaster have been "hermetically" sealed off now, and are for the most part, unavailable to a media that has now directed their attention to the "next storm" or to the rebuilding project ahead..so these wanderers from New Orleans will be out of sight/out of mind very soon, and the Charity Businesses that have raked in MILLIONS, will just have healthier bank accounts, and probably will give bonuses to their CEOS.

Privacy laws actually work against the very people who need help. It's almost impossible to find out who needs the help, unless they are on TV and say their names..Even then it would take some real sleuthing to donate directly to them.. Most of these folks have no permanent address and most likely, no bank accounts.

We are forced to donate to the organized charities, and then can only cross our fingers and hope that these folks get the help they need..

It irks me when I see how much money has been taken in, and how little each person actually gets..

If 250 Million has been raised, why not use some federal land (George even offered) and build a whole new town for these people.. Let THEM be the entrepreneurs and have some control over their own lives..