How are they going to pay for reconstruction of Houston or Galveston?

[demo dutch]

Stop de taxcuts?, roll back medicare?, raise taxes, quit Iraq?
It will be interesting to see what the next stupid move will be!

[eallen]

1. Neither city is as vulnerable as New Orleans.

Houston is sixty miles inland, and Galveston built itself a considerable seawall after it was wiped off the map by a hurricane a century past. Most importantly, neither city is below sea level. People are acting as if what happened in New Orleans might happen elsewhere. It won't. New Orleans was uniquely vulnerable because of its geography.

[MoonRiver]

8. If a Cat 4 directly hits Galveston and Houston the cost will be huge.

Probably not as big as NO, but maybe so. While NO was unique in being below sea level, it was also spared the worst of Katrina, which vered off the predicted course into Mississippi.

[SaintLouisBlues]

12. Here's some recent estimates on a direct hit to Houston/Galveston

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3046592

Models show 'massive devastation' in Houston
Damages could cost up to $50 billion -- 10 times Allison's cost
By ERIC BERGER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle


SPECIAL REPORT
• Are we ready? If the big one hits, what will happen in the Houston-Galveston area?

Houston's perfect storm would feed on late summer's warm waters as it barreled northward across the Gulf of Mexico, slamming into the coast near Freeport.

A landfall here would allow its powerful upper-right quadrant, where the waves move in the same direction as the storm, to overflow Galveston Bay. Within an hour or two, a storm surge, topping out at 20 feet or more, would flood the homes of 600,000 people in Harris County. The surge also would block the natural drainage of flooded inland bayous and streams for a day or more.

[Canuckistanian]

2. Not to worry. Tom Delay says the deficit is under control.

No cutbacks needed, tax cuts can resume, pork o'plenty to be had!

Yeee-haaa, it's good to be a Republican!

[Somawas]

3. You never get the bill if you're about to be ratured.

But to answer the original question, take a look at www.armybakesale.com

[joanne]

6. I agree no other city is as vulnerable as New Orleans

but there is still potential for massive damage.

[tom_paine]

4. Borrow from the Chinese, of course!

n/t

[boston bean]

5. They're not its all an illusion, slight of hand. nt

[MidnightWind]

7. A cat 3 or cat 4 hurricane hitting Texas is going to cost

billions of damage just as Andrew and Hugo did in Florida and South Carolina respectively. I agree that there will not be flooding like there was in New Orleans, because of it's unique geography but it will still be very bad, it will still require FEMA response and help from other agencies. Things will still have to be rebuilt and I'm with the OP--where the hell are we going to get the money to pay for this?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

9. NO MORE WAR. NO MORE WAR PROFITEERING. NO MORE

BULLSH*T FROM THIS ADMIMINISTRATION. SOMEONE ELSE IS HAVING THEIR SAY NOW AND THERE IS NO ARGUING ALLOWED.

NO MORE MAIMED TROOPS RETURNING HOME.

NO MORE PSYCHOLOGICALLY DESTROYED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN RETURNING HOME.

NO MORE EMPIRE.

NO MORE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN CHARGE.

GET READY TO TURN YOUR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES BOYZ, YOUR JOB IS JUST ABOUT OVER.

[KerryOn]

10. How will they pay for it?

There are lots of ways to save money in the Bush Administration:
They could cancel the senior drug subscription plan.
They could roll back medicare as you mentioned.
They could cut benefits for Iraq war veterans.
They could suspend pay to soldiers in Iraq.
They could close a few more military bases.
They could do away with the two border patrol agents that they have.

But they would never:
Cancel Halliburton contracts for rebuilding Iraq.
Get rid of the fat in the White House.
Roll back tax cuts.
Increase taxes.
Leave Iraq.

But just think of how much money they could save if Air force One stopped flying Bush around on vacation. Bush said we all should conserve, and I think it should start at the top.

[lonestarnot]

11. Well shit! Isn't the answer just as plain as the nose on your face >(

They are creating slave labor to rebuild... work people for under minimum wage... long hours, days, weeks...probably no adequate food or water crap houses...just have to shit your pants and keep working draggin' your drawers.