Subj : Re: Um...no comment? To : John Iwaniszek From : Finnigann Date : Fri Sep 02 2005 14:41:00 -=> John Iwaniszek wrote to alt.tv.farscape <=- JI> From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape JI> Trouble wrote in JI> news:OoqdnbAOmNIKyIXeRVn-1g@comcast.com: > 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" > JI> I considered the possibility of buy some cheap NO land, but I don't JI> have the cash and I don't know NO. Well do you at least have a SUITCASE? Come on, work with us here... sheesh! .... "We're all washed in by the very same rain" - Pat Humphries --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.46 .