2005 - 09-01-05

Now, let's talk about FEMA. FEMA is the United
States' governmental organization which dispenses money to victims
of natural disasters.

Last year, during those four major hurricanes,
the places that got the most money... and... got it almost immediately...
were the cities of Miami (Dade County) and Ft. Lauderdale (Broward
County). That's kind of curious. These are the two counties
who suffered the least hurricane damage in nearly
all of Florida. The truth is, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale completely
lucked out... but... a number of slick, savvy, sleazy people
filed fraudulent claims and got paid enormous amounts of money
by FEMA.

What about the people who got crushed by Charley,
Dennis, Ivan and Jeanne? The folks in Punta Gorda? Orlando?
Pensacola? The cities which were almost leveled? Many of these
individuals have not yet collected any relief money whatsoever
from FEMA. Many of them are still homeless, broke, and have
received no aid whatsoever.

Let's shuck right down to the cob: If there were
a contest for the two most corrupt cities in the United States,
New Orleans and Miami would be duking it out for top position.
The governments of both Miami and New Orleans are both so incredibly
corrupt, if it weren't so tragic, it would be laughable. But,
as corrupt as the governments of those cities are, there are
hundreds of thousands of other people who live in those areas
who are honest, decent, God-fearing people, who do their best
to do whatever they can to make the world a better place.

So, how do we help the people of New Orleans,
Biloxi, and Gulfport? Do we send a check to the Red Cross and
allow them to spend it any way they choose?

Even if any governmental agency did want to send
a check to the afflicted people, it was pointed out on the news
this morning, there are no banks within a number of miles where
they could cash those checks. There are no ATM machines. There
are no supermarkets. There are no check cashing type businesses.

Even if those people could get a check... and
even if they could cash those checks... there's not even any
place to spend the money. No Wal-Mart's, no K-Mart's, no Home
Depot's, no Lowe's, no Publix's, no Winn Dixie's, no Chevron's,
no Amoco's, and by the most recent estimate of the mayor of
New Orleans...