if i make the same amount of money as i did last year (which i will) and my tax rate percentage is the same, Im pretty much paying the same amount of taxes as i did last year...so thats what i mean by im not paying extra...and i have gone to some bars where you get some kind of drink and the proceeds go to new orleans...but ill be damned if im about to just make some giant charitable contribution down there...ill let the rich folks handle that

and when you say such a high percentage of things are subsidized "in some way"...i dont know what you're getting at...but my point is that I pay for my own food, clothes, rent, bills, gas, etc...I dont rely on govt assistance...I work a job to pay for myself...THATS the american way...not to fuck around and get a bunch of free aid like SOME of the people down there, or in any low income area do

9/16/2005 3:22:51 PM

yeah, you're a real island

p.s., the only money i've donated to katrina relief is my change from mcdonalds yesterday

9/16/2005 3:25:04 PM

you know me better than myself

9/16/2005 3:26:23 PM

i know what this thread needs

9/16/2005 3:32:18 PM

Bush took vacation days

Clinton took just as many vacation days...at the White House...under the desk

9/16/2005 3:34:35 PM

Quote :

"also, i see you're from farmer fuck the western part of the state i'd like for my state tax dollars to only impact my half of the state"

Farmer is in the Centeral part of the state... and yeah to heck with the West!!!!

9/16/2005 11:03:27 PM

farmers on the other side of ashville right?

anything west of durham is the western part of the state yo (at least when you're from the east)

9/16/2005 11:26:21 PM

We have to rebuild New Orleans. The reason is simple:

This is America. We aren't Thailand or Indonesia.

When our major cities are destroyed, we rebuild them. When our people are put out of their homes, we house them and give them a way back.

Just as we should have broad national security initiatives to protect our major economic centers--from terrorist threats or any others--it is also a matter of national security to rebuild in earnest when they are destroyed.

Otherwise, what message do we send to our enemies? That if you destroy American cities, we won't rebuild them--that you've won, even if we track you down and put you away?

Bouncing back from disaster is a sign of strength, and it sends a strong message. America is a superpower, and damn it, we have to act like one if we're to be treated as such. Hurricanes, major terrorist attacks may faze us, but they are just setbacks to the world's greatest economic power.

Although I am quite critical of the federal government for their response to and planning for disasters, I think Bush and company are doing precisely the right thing by flexing our collective muscles and saying "we won't be put down." If anything, that is presidential.

The ability to be flexible about where we build is important, but flexibility comes from the people who build cities, not from the disasters that strike them. Bush has made a good decision by stipulating that the city will be rebuilt, on its terms, and it sends a strong, clear message to the world that has largely laughed at us in the face of Katrina and the federal response.

9/17/2005 2:39:47 AM

Uh, NO!

You are right, this isn't some third world crap-hole. When our cities get removed from the face of the Earth INSURANCE companies rebuild them, not the Federal Government.

The people that own the property built it, let them rebuild it. They seem infinitely more qualified to do so than Uncle Sam, which has difficulty building something as simple as a concrete wall, what makes you think they should be any better with an apartment complex?

9/17/2005 9:47:36 AM

UHM
the government pays to have apartment complexes built every day

i could take you to government housing in raleigh that looks better than what the average state student is renting right now, today

9/17/2005 12:09:53 PM

^^

Since you quite obviously don't know shit about what is being proposed, why on Earth are you posting in response to me?

9/17/2005 5:21:46 PM

^ Umm, the President is going to pay to rebuild the homes and businesses of individual citizens, just as it does whenever a disaster strikes, is that not what is happening here? I just assumed, if I'm wrong let me know.

9/17/2005 10:46:58 PM

^

How long does it take to read a transcript of his speech? 10 minutes?

9/18/2005 2:06:01 AM

^ How long does it take to say "Your right, he's going to pay for that stuff" or "No, your wrong, he's going to buy them all flying saucers."?

9/18/2005 1:41:41 PM

^

OK, first off:

Your point about insurance companies is just stupid. The federal government provides flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. They are THE source of flood insurance in America. Call it socialism, call it central planning, but that's the way the system works. And guess what? A giant flood destroyed New Orleans. So you figure out for me who picks up the tab.

Secondly, it should be wholly obvious to you that a lot of infrastructure is built up by collective taxpayers, not private individuals. So when the government talks about rebuilding NO, they are in effect talking about public infrastructure primarily.

For the private land, there is an Urban Homesteading act that, where applicable, does not rebuild property, but gives it to people on a lottery system assuming they can find a mortgage to build their own house on it. IMO this is a particularly smart policy idea, which you can read all about in Bush's speech.

My point about apartments, etc. was referring to TEMPORARY HOUSING, not permanent residences. Again, this is all in Bush's speech.

So in short: if you read Bush's speech, which takes all of ten minutes, this would be very obvious to you.

[Edited on September 19, 2005 at 1:52 AM. Reason : foo]

9/19/2005 1:52:05 AM

Farmer is south of Asheboro... 9 miles in fact

9/19/2005 11:36:09 AM

I happen to like the idea of redeveloping NO.
I've seen several architects renditions of redoing the downtown (french quarter, etc... -- the part above sea level) and allowing the rest to become semi-ocean resort area.

Shifting the sub-sealevel areas slightly to the north and connecting the whole with highspeed mass transit / interstate.

This way NO can "continue" and prevent a repeat at the same time.

9/19/2005 8:22:28 PM