$2000 Debit Cards

Does anyone else see this idea going very poorly? I see people being robbed of their cards, people trying to get multiples and other such nonsense. Maybe I am just to pessimistic though.

 

He's referring to this:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8CFH5F81.htm

 

Oh yeah, my bad...thanks Rob I forget not everyone is a news whore like I am.

 

I wonder how many people from other states will go and register as a hurricane victim just to get a card.

 

I don't know, it seems like a good idea to me.

At least it's money that these people can use on whatever they want.

 

Indeed, this is just another disaster waiting to happen...

 

No I agree there is really no other way to help them but, I also see some very bad things happening, you have to remember, some of these people steal to eat everyday, stealing debit cards worth $2k that is quite the payday for anyone. I am just worried for peoples safety when these things start going out. then again, maybe humanity will prove me wrong.

 

Sounds like a decent idea to me. Can you suggest a better alternative? There may be some stealing going to happen as a result of this but there are also hundreds of thousands of honest people in need who will benefit from it

 

FEMA gives out checks and many people may find it hard to cash them... so I think debt cards are great ideas.

 

I didn't say it was a bad idea, I said I see it going poorly, hell I think it's a great idea on FEMA's end, but, I also know people, some of these people are the same ones who were looting and terrorizing the city, you think stealing a debit card from someone will be any different? As I stated before, you guys are correct, there is really no other way to handle it, I just think there are a multitude of issues that can come along with it's handing them out that officials will have to be very careful with.

 

Maybe giving them four $500.00 cards instead would help things.

 

Or 20 $100.00 cards?? I am just going to end saying I will be happily shocked if nothing happens.

</pessimistic attitude>

 

palespyder, I totally see your point and, unfortunately, I am sure someone will be abusing the system or at least try to (hope no one gets hurt over these things ).

But again, many of those who deserve will benefit from this greatly.

 

I've already said its a great idea to move to TX for a while.

#1 - they are giving out welfare & unemployment checks without any ID necessary. KA-CHING!

#2 - $2000 debit cards! KA-KA-CHING!

I'm not so sure as to the intelligence of either of these concepts. For at least a while, necessities should be provided for. Not sure how giving people a debit card to use as they wish is wise, smart, or helps anyone. I wonder who decided on $2k anyways? Seems like an odd number to arrive at.

One has to be proud of a government where they are going to spend $150 million dollars to create 25,000 jobs. Hmm (whips out his handy dandy calculator) - that is $6,000 per job created. Only a government could make creating a job so expensive.

 

It seems to me that a lot of jobs would kind of create themselves. There is going to be a huge amount of construction work needed for the area hit by Katrina, along with all of the supplemental jobs that go along with construction.

 

Don't jobs create themselves naturally? Making a fake job with money makes sure it'll disappear eventually anyways - so really, what good was the money doing?

 

I think that's basically what Hodge is saying.

 

i can just see the receipts now...

55" Widescreen Television $1999.99

 

Yeah lol. Considering the fact that 300 of these hurricane victims should be landing in here in Reno today it may be safe to assume that some of that will end up being spent on gambling and fun.

I didnt read the article, but can it be used for anything? I think it would be good if it could only be used for food, health or clothing.

No person should be using tax dollars to buy a playstation.

 

The local news here in Dallas reported that there were a lot of angry people here that were demanding money. The debit card is supposed to be a test program in Houston, however they didn’t give the cards out there either.

Here’s a link to a Houston news site.
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou050907_gj_astrodome.34d5d225.html

On the local news they said that people could go online and get the money directly placed into their accounts if they have accounts (the majority of the sites have internet access). They recommend the money be used for food, clothing, and transportation, but there is no guarantee that it be used for that.

Unfortunately you will see some of this. I’m not sure how much though. A lot of the people that were bussed into Texas are very poor and there is concern that some of the people will spend the money and the local, state, and federal government will still be forced to support them. At the same time there are a lot of people that are hard working people that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The number of evacuees that are in the major evacuee centers have decreased as people have found other housing. In North Texas they have given out a lot of housing vouchers and the local apartments are really working to waive move in expenses, drop rent prices, and even waive rent in a lot of cases. A lot of people are finding housing because the rental housing capacity was only at 88%.