Subj : Re: Um...no comment?
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : Trouble
Date : Fri Sep 02 2005 09:37:27

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

Nick wrote:

> Here is a story that I find most disturbing because it will affect me
> both personally and long term.

> Overnight Baton Rouge Becomes Largest City in Louisiana

I immediately wonder if all the city's power, water, and sewage/waste 
processing capacity can withstand doubling the demands put upon them 
overnight? 

> In a day, this city has become the largest in Louisiana, and grim
> local officials here predicted it would double in size, to about
> 800,000, permanently.

If they're counting nearby localities that will have to take overflow 
they're probably right.
 
> There were reports of attempted carjackings at 24-hour gas stations. 
> Authorities decided to impose a 10 p.m. cutoff for gas sales.

I have to wonder if these people want the cars for shelter, or to go 
somewhere where they have family? There ought to be a better way to 
alleviate these problems.

If they just want the car well that is a police problem. 

> Sheriff's deputies were dispatched as armed guards for grocery
> warehouses, and police stepped up around-the-clock controls downtown,

But when will this people doubling start to effect the lines in local 
grocery stores, will locals run out and stock up on everything just to be 
ahead of any possible shortages, and like Gasoline runs, cause shortages 
by their behavior?

We have this all the time when snow threatens DC...

The dilemma gets worse if you take part yourself to protect yourself from 
the "idiots" sort of a prisoners dilemma, there is only enough food for 
everyone if everybody acts rationally.

> With a new month beginning Thursday, hundreds of the newly homeless
> and poor crowded up the area's food-stamp offices to start
> applications. 

According to the USDA's Food stamp Q&A the average monthly benefit is $86 
and aren't available for 30 days, if they expedite the benefits 7 days.

Even assuming that's enough to feed them, and maybe unemployment benefits 
can provide them something to live on (if they hadn't already maxed out 
their unemployment benefits since 2000)

There still might not be enough shelters, hotels, motels, and YMCAs to 
house them all, and again, power, water, sewage.

> In addition, others are coming to town looking for opportunity.
> "People are showing up with suitcases and suitcases of cash, offering
> to buy houses and real estate on the spot," said Walker, who is also a
> real estate broker.

I really regret the bubble these 'opportunists' are going to cause.

And what's worse, like the food and gas shortages, the people who don't 
sell will be the ones affected.

Its reprehensible to combine human greed with human tragedy...

I mean if I had suitcases full of cash, the last thing I'd be thinking 
walking into a disaster relief area is "lets try and make some money"

-- 
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise.
Seek what they sought."
--Basho

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