The one question I want *someone* to answer

[wellstone_democrat]

As I related earlier, my Republican middle-class suburban brother in law and my sister got a check in Florida for 7000.00 in 2004 for "hurricane damage" literally by simply saying it was so. A check. Not a "low interest loan" but money literally for nothing. They certainly weren't the only ones. They didn't need this. They had plenty of insurance and , frankly, no damage beyond what it cost him 200.00 dollars to repair HIMSELF. Again, they weren't the only onces even of their area to get this.

I'm watching people who lost everything and who are wholly displaced and personally injured get offered LOANS. Is anyone anywhere asking about this or complaining about this or is it all: "ha ha, it was an election year that's just the way things are!"

Really, can anyone explain this or point me to anything that addresses that issue?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. They handed out money in FLA for nothing because it was an election year

Another DU'er posted an article last week about it. Apparently there were some non publicized investigations as well if I recall correctly.

Unfortunately with search turned off as long as it was, I didn't save the thread

[NYC]

3. What came of the investigations?

Any idea?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Sorry...I was overloaded with information last week

and my recall of the article is poor. Regrets.

[NYC]

10. ...quietly trying to get some of the money back....

According to Joebert in post #7.

Florida Pat in post #6: Some were asked for the money back.

Quietly getting the money back is one thing. Holding the people accountable who dispersed the money is a separate issue. I wonder if the GAO is involved.

[wellstone_democrat]

12. they gave it out as fast as they could---this now is a scam

investigation making a few give it back. Any attempt to make a case for damages is plenty from the coverage I've seen.

[FloridaPat]

6. some were indicated. Some were asked for the money back.

I don't have details.

[Joebert]

7. I believe that I read that article as well,

and that they were quietly trying to get some of the money back.

A lot of money, I think $24M was given to people, and reports said it was spent on cars, a/c's, pools, etc. Almost none on home repair.

[wellstone_democrat]

8. nope, they got another form some months later

showed pictures of the "fixed" roof and that was that. The investigations I understand are over and it was the "big" claim action that was the target.

They are in the Orlando general area (sorry, I pay no attention to Florida's geography---I was there twice, that's plenty for me!)

[kath]

2. $7000, and his house had only $200 worth of damage?!?! Jeebus.

[wellstone_democrat]

9. I guess if it was professionally done

it would have been over 1000.00 and there was some other yard damage he bitched about paying the "yard guy" to do that he did himself but he's in a nice Rep suburb and even Mr. Paranoid is now totally unconcerned about investigations because no one in his area is having problems. He thinks jeb is god for "getting them this" he's convinced himself that if he "tried" he could : "easily come up with 7K worth of fixable stuff"

He is the archetype of the middle-class manager who is about 2 checks away from disaster due to debt load that thinks he's part of the master class...the NO thing has intensified that. A little too close to home is my thinking---he has glimpsed the abyss and thinks if he only *believes* in Bush* hard enough he'll never share their fate. Little does he (or my idiot sister) know.

[FloridaPat]

5. Are you relatives in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale? Here in Polk County

I know lots of people with home damage and no checks. No loans. People got money for their homes, but through an insurance company and some took a year.

[undergroundpanther]

11. A set up for debt slavery I think

[Liberty Belle]

13. My friend who lost everything got just $2,000 from FEMA.

Her mobile home was destroyed, condemned due to toxic mold after the hurricanes in Florida. She also lost her job and is disabled, so this has ruined her life.

She said Republicans got money quickly, while everyone else got screwed. Sounds like she knew what she was talking about, unfortunately.

[NYC]

14. Reimbursement by zip code?

Did those in wealthier neighborhoods automatically get more money?