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Archive through January 24, 2007

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Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
<57> I am sorry, but I get very upset when people who did not live Katrina post about it because they just know what they see on CNN is the truth. All I was trying to do was make you understand that more white people lost their homes in Katrina than blacks (which Abassi will never understand). I was also trying to make you see that not having flood insurance has nothing to do with one's income. It has to do with your "base flood elevation." If you are in a designated area that requires flood insurance, you must have it regardless of your income, or your mortgage company will make you take "forced" insurance (which is often much more expensive than if you obtain your own flood insurance. So to equate lack of flood insurance due to poverty is wrong as it has nothing to do with it. Lakeview/Lake Vista, etc. are all upper middle class and upper income homes and they were not required to have flood insurance because of their BASE FLOOD ELEVATION.

I realize that probably half of y'all understood what I was trying to say when I was explaining the amount of devastation in this region (that it wasn't only the Lower 9th Ward, which was one of the smaller areas that was devastated, but it makes for good TV for Mayor Nagin and Anderson Cooper). I also now realize that people that do not live on the Gulf Coast will never understand how flood insurance works and why your income has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether or not you have it.

I also reiterate my offer to take anyone from TV Clubhouse on a personal devastation tour and just maybe y'all might "get it" that poverty has nothing to do with the damage caused by Katrina.





Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
More people died in the impoverished areas of NO than in any other area. I think that's an important point to remember. And the impoverished areas are the ones that are the last to be rebuilt and reclaimed all this time later.

Because people did not live it, does not mean they are not entitled to their opinions about it. I have friends that have gone back three times to help those lower income areas rebuild. They have first hand experience also.

No, it wasn't only impoverished folks who were damaged. But they have the least ability to recover from that damage, for a wide variety of reasons. JMO

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
ZM, when a woman is on welfare the state finds the men and they do pay child support. Don't even get me started on this!

The state does? WOW, where is my child support check!! (I just went on state assistance in Nov and the state can't find Zachary's father)

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Heh, the state just sent my MOM a bill because they can't find my dad. She called me to tell me I could call and deal with them this time since I'm an adult now, lol. They do it every couple years and she has to go through a big thing with them, "No I haven't seen him for x amount of years, no I haven't heard from him, no I have no idea where he is," before they finally go oh ok, nevermind then, our mistake. And she hasn't collected any type of welfare in 26 years. Once in the 28 years since we left, he stupidly opened a checking account with $800 and the great state of California swooped in and snatched it. Mom will still occassionally pull out the form they sent her and giggle because it had not only what he owes the state for those two years we got financial aid but also what he owed her after 15 years of no child support payments of any kind. None of us will ever see a dime of it but hey it's good for a laugh.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Rehtse, what I can't fathom is why, just because your family eeked out a subsistence living and survived despite 'never taking a dime' from the government, that you are so passionate that others should take that same path. (Is it that your parents had to endure judgment by others . . . so much so, that they felt they had to prove themselves better?)

And, you were lucky. For you must have had inherited some brainpower from your parents/grandparents to have achieved as you have.

Unfortunately, the pride that resulted from having taken such a hard route (granted, without a whimper of complaint) seems to have convinced you that the path you/your parents took--without accepting a hand when you could have used one--is the only correct path.

I have a lot of pride and independence, too, but I know, if I'd have to face a similar situation, I would have accepted welfare without shame if it meant my kids didn't have to eat ramen day in and day out.

I think taking a hand extended might have softened your heart towards others who acknowledge their need to accept a hand extended in help.

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
ZM...they'll keep looking for him...but you'll get your assistance whether or not they find him.

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
Yes, I know Scooter, but I really don't them to find him. He wants nothing to do with Zachary and in time I will be back on my feet again.

Herk, I have always been one in favor of assisting those in need. I am big on charity and giving to others less fortunate. Walking into social services and have ME be the one who was in need was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. To think that a year ago I was making good money, had a nice roof over my head, medical insurance and a great job and all of that was taken away in an instant. It certainly changed my way of thinking and really feel for those who have a hard time navigating the system. Heck, I have a hard time trying to figure out these forms!

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
This is Lakeview:

http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/lakeview

I drove through Lakeview the other day... 18 months after Katrina and it looks no different than it did once the flood waters receded.

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
This is St. Bernard Parish (the most devastated area in Louisiana from Katrina - click on Video No. 1). Most of St. Bernard still looks like this - except for the several thousand homes that have now been demolished. All 45,000 residents lost their homes in Katrina - it was the only area in the Metro New Orleans area to suffer 100% devastation.

http://katrinavideo.info/

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Well I would like for them to find him...he should support Zachary whether he wants to be in his life or not. That is his responsibility!

Rehtse
Member

08-17-2005

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rehtse a private message Print Post    
I am passionate because I know it can be done! Like I said before, there is birth control. Given that the free clinics give away birth control and provide educational services, what is the excuse for having a bunch of kids that you cannot support?

Believe it or not, other than post on this thing, I actually get some work down (although I get more down if I am not here posting and preaching :-)). Just five minutes ago I met with a pro-bono client (I do work occasionally for a local women's shelter (I know, who would have thunk it, huh?)) who for the last ten years was the punching bag of her husband. I just told her that the government has just sent me the notice saying that she can provisionally receive public benefits in order to get on her feet. I am very glad for her. In the months that I have known her, I have known her to be very self-reliant. Even though she cannot work full-time since she has a newborn at home and two young children, I know for a fact that this woman hustles and takes on little jobs cooking and cleaning in order to put food on the table for her children.

My final point (I mean it this time) is that public assistance is fine if you are elderly or mentally impaired. If you are able bodied and uneducated, then get it for a limited period of time one time only.

For me, this is the end...on this topic.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
My daughter is in her 30s now and I never got a dime of child support for raising her by myself her entire life. Then again, I never really tried to find him to get money from him. I preferred him being out of her life.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Well, the whole discussion of welfare is off topic, if you ask me. And how the discussion turned to abusers of welfare and women with 16 kids is beyond me.

But since we arrived here via Katrina and via the discussion about flood insurance, then it was surprising to me to note the emotional reactions as much as the differences of opinion.

No one here was advocating lifelong welfare status for anyone. So, except for lifelong coverage (when needed) for the severely physically or mentally disabled, I am in agreement on that point.

But to advocate taking nothing from the govt just so you can say you took nothing seems to be putting pride before the welfare of children and a cohesive, thriving community.

Zachsmom
Member

07-13-2000

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Zachsmom a private message Print Post    
In CA you can only have welfare for 5 years total in your lifetime. 1 time homeless assistance (for only 16 days).

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
ZM...that's relatively new...it came from the whole welfare reform act...

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
I thought the federal law changes limited welfare to 2 years, but maybe that's just here.

16 days of homelessness is simply not enough time to get back on your feet.

It is a difficult subject, about which people have strong feelings. I would hope folks know that no one here means anything ugly toward anyone else by stating their opinions, just sharing dialogue and thoughts. That's how we learn.

As for being off topic, we do that all the time here at TVCH. Conversations kind of go where they will at times. I think we went from the devastating effects of a natural disaster to recovery from such to needing public assistance to welfare.

At any rate, slightly more than half those who died in Katrina were African American. The biggest group effected were the elderly.

I'm not sure if Abasi's claim about ethnic cleansing is true, but I do think there was gross incompetence on the part of the gov't. Whether that was because Bush wasn't wildly concerned about poor people, or whether it's because he was just clueless is hard to say.

Still, I can understand the rage, if not in total agreement with his interpretation of events.

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
I have not personally heard of Homeless assistance, but it doesn't seem like enough time...although I don't know what it entails.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 1:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
Even though she cannot work full-time since she has a newborn at home and two young children

by your own argument though, shouldnt she have known better and used birth control especially if she was in a ten year marriage with a man beating her up???

Rehtse
Member

08-17-2005

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 2:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rehtse a private message Print Post    
Yes.

Chiliwilli
Member

09-04-2006

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 1:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chiliwilli a private message Print Post    
At any rate, slightly more than half those who died in Katrina were African American.

And, the other slightly under half was what? What was the total poplulation of NO before Katrina? I would be more interested in percentages. Afterall, if the population of NO was 75% black and slightly more than half of the dead were black then they obviously wouldn't have the highest percentage.

By what we have seen on our news it was only the poor black people who were hurt in any way. From what I've read the poorest part of NO that was flooded the worst is the part of NO that is at the lowest sea level of the entire city. They are saying it wouldn't be wise to rebuild in that area and that they probably won't.

All I was trying to do was make you understand that more white people lost their homes in Katrina than blacks (which Abassi will never understand).

Abasi doesn't want to hear about that though and, if you brought it to his attention, I imagine he would flat out say he doesn't care and it doesn't concern him. <57>

In Alaska it is 2 years total on welfare and 2 years your kids can be in foster care before they take away your parental rights and put your kids up for adoption.

Twinkie
Member

09-24-2002

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 11:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Twinkie a private message Print Post    
I just recently heard on TV that NO is being rebuilt to category 3 standards but Katrina and Rita were category 5 hurricanes. How can they get away with this if it is true?

Lexie_girl
Member

07-30-2004

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 12:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lexie_girl a private message Print Post    
Katrina had gone down to a Cat 3 when she actually struck New Orleans. I'm not quite sure what "Cat" Rita was when she actually made landfall in southwest Louisiana.


Chiliwilli
Member

09-04-2006

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 5:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Chiliwilli a private message Print Post    
Part of the problem was that even though the levee system was built to withstand leve 3 storms, it was in disrepair and needed major upgrades. I saw this on PBS in about 1997. So why weren't the repairs and upgrades made then? Why didn't local government make sure they were made? Why didn't the people of NO make sure their government was doing it's job?

Maybe we need to start a what the heck about NO and Katrina thread and take it out of this one.

Sunshyne4u
Member

06-17-2003

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 6:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sunshyne4u a private message Print Post    
Rehtse, I have a similar background. Anyone here live in a $75 a month termite infested cabin? I am very passionate that anyone, if they choose to focus and plan, can better their life. Both my sister and I went on to well paying careers. Both of us know that having a car, phone, longdistance plan, TV and Cable are luxuries. Most people i've met on Welfare have full cable, tv and other luxuries. Many also smoke. A friend used to smoke $300 a month and the kids would get wieners, mr noodle and alphagetti for their meals.

To cry the blues and stay in a bad situation due to poorly thought out self planning is not a reason to STAY in that stage of existance. (i do not consider health issues in this category. I feel that the government needs to help people who have had life altering disease)

I do feel the USA and Canada differ in many ways but our Welfare problem is so acute that finally laws had to be changed to force people off of it.

Women could stay at home, with pay, until the child reached 7 yrs old. In my work environment, we were allowed 6 months and were expected back at work.

Now Welfare moms are supposed to be looking for work when the child becomes two yrs. However, she can keep getting preg every two years she will continue to collect.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 - 6:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Well, perhaps the gov't could get off its butt and help the thousands of people who are still living in FEMA trailers in Louisiana who can't get adequate education, health care, and are unable to find even minimum wage jobs while living in unsafe conditions in those trailer parks.

Many of them are elderly or mentally ill or disabled and even illiterate. They are the poorest of the poor, and they are forgotten. Not to mention that the trailers aren't hurricane safe.