Quote Originally Posted by bassin_bug View Post
Promises made are not necessarily promises kept. If Obama keeps his promise to help the victims of hurricane Irene, he will have done something that merits applause. However, I am predicting he will soon forget because, after all, he lost nothing to the hurricane.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed the 9th Ward in New Orleans and GWB (and 'Brownie') promised that help would be forthcoming. Today that area still sits in ruins amid grass and brush that have grown taller than a man's head. The property owners are still waiting for help. Today roads through part of the 9th Ward are traveled by limousenes and tour buses going to huge casinos that were built with the blessings and help of crooked politicians. Most of the victims who lost everything seem to have been forgotten.

In 1992 hurricane Andrew, a Category 5, with winds of 165 mph, hit near Homestead, FL and did damage that was estimated between $27 billion and $34 billion. The victims were also told that the government would help provide for them to rebuild their houses and the city. The people are still struggling to rebuild, at least those who can. They were soon forgotten and never received the help that was promised. I had some relatives who lost everything but their lives to that wicked hurricane.

I want to see Obama put some 'hands and feet' on his promises and make something good happen for the victims of hurricane Irene but I am having serious doubts.

Just my 2-cents.
The federal government has poured hundreds of billions into Katrina aid. In my opinion the main problems are bureaucracy, mass confusion, misplaced expectations, and outright fraud. Politicians, particularly those in Louisiana have been inept from days before Katrina right up to now. Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagan is a perfect example of that. And what did the citizens there do about it? They reelected him.

How is it Joplin, Missouri, a city totally destroyed by a tornado less than a year ago has their schools operating already? Granted the schools are in makeshift facilities, but you don't see national news clips of people shouting "Wheah my money?" because welfare checks were late. No politicians spouting profanity and blaming the President to the news media, just hard working people trying to get past the lousy hand nature dealt them.

The biggest difference between the two cities, other than their size, is the people in Joplin do not want or expect the federal government to do everything for them, they took advantage of federal ASSISTANCE, but assumed the full responsibility for rebuilding.

The federal government cannot fix every situation by throwing money at it. That they've already spent us into crisis with little to show for it proves it. The sooner people realize that the better.

Far as Mr. Obama's promises, we've already seen first hand how well those work out.

Just my opinions.