Hurricane Relief? Or a $200,000 Check?

[dcfirefighter]

I've got to admit, I like this idea. http://slate.msn.com/id/2126715/

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Large bills, please. n/t

[ComerPerro]

2. I understand his point, but 200k per persn is a bad idea

and I know its completely hypothetical. Hes just using that figure to prove his point. But I still gotta say it.

Now that that has been said:

Yes, it is an interesting idea. It would at least ensure that people would be able to start new lives. And the money wouldn't be given to a well-connected company.

But it still leaves the problem of rebuilding the NO area. If nothing else, something needs to be done there. I don't imagine that it can just be left as a vast wasteland.

And, imagine a family of five being given a million dollars. How much of that would be misspent?

[dcfirefighter]

3. points

There is nothing requiring NO to be rebuilt. The tourist areas weren't that damaged, and there is plenty of economic incentive for private interests to invest there.

As for a family of 5 getting amillion: #1 I trust the people to choose for themselves and #2 it wouldn't be given at once.

[ComerPerro]

5. Maybe I just have had too many bad experiences with people

The main reason I said giving 1 million to a family of five is too much, and that the money would be misspent:

I am imagining a Republican family getting the million, buying a $600,000 house, sending their kids to good schools, donating money to the GOP, and then turn around and be unwilling to help others, and to arrogantly brag about how their self-reliance and how they were able to pick themselves up and become successful, even after disaster.

Maybe if they find Jesus, they will even get a book deal.

"I prayed to God for some help, for some money, and the lord provided"



Maybe I'm just too cyncial.

But I know a lot of Republicans and conservatives who would do exactly that.

[HeeBGBz]

4. I could live for years on $200,000

Not that I've ever had the chance to prove it.