bcvillastwo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2002
- Messages
- 649
Another point I'd like to make involves the question of why the rush to tax or cut taxes when at this point we don't really know the cost of doing anything. Yes there are certain things that must be done right away so immediate action needs to be taken to address those needs.
On the other hand, at this point we don't have a clue how much private money is going to be available for rebuilding. I assume that many business and home owners had insurance and that insurance proceeds will cover some of the cost of rebuilding businesses and homes.
Then there is federal flood insurance, I suspect that the flood insurance will cover another portion of the business and home losses and help with rebuilding. (Yep I realize the the money may not actually be there in the flood insurance accounts and they may have to take these funds out of operating accounts. However, the flood insurance program is supposed to be self sustaining so I suspect that any additional funding could be treated as a loan that would eventually be repaid with premiums.)
Another broad area that no one seems to be talking about is how much is due those that have had to leave New Orleans and other damaged areas from Social Security, other retirement accounts, and the various streams of welfare funding that was already going to these people in the first place?
I suspect that when everything is broken down and figured into the equation that the cost may be a good deal less, or at least in theory it should be less.
I understand that for a bit the government (federal, state, and local and private charity) will be needed to help many of these people until their normal income streams can kick back online. But after the income streams are restored then some of the huge amout of money that we are talking about should be able to stop. (or go to other purposes)
The point I am trying to make is that no one knows how much this is going to cost, no one has had the time to sit down and figure out everything that needs to be done, or how they are going to do it. If they don't know the total picture then how can anyone say how much "extra" it will cost us taxpayers?
On the other hand, at this point we don't have a clue how much private money is going to be available for rebuilding. I assume that many business and home owners had insurance and that insurance proceeds will cover some of the cost of rebuilding businesses and homes.
Then there is federal flood insurance, I suspect that the flood insurance will cover another portion of the business and home losses and help with rebuilding. (Yep I realize the the money may not actually be there in the flood insurance accounts and they may have to take these funds out of operating accounts. However, the flood insurance program is supposed to be self sustaining so I suspect that any additional funding could be treated as a loan that would eventually be repaid with premiums.)
Another broad area that no one seems to be talking about is how much is due those that have had to leave New Orleans and other damaged areas from Social Security, other retirement accounts, and the various streams of welfare funding that was already going to these people in the first place?
I suspect that when everything is broken down and figured into the equation that the cost may be a good deal less, or at least in theory it should be less.
I understand that for a bit the government (federal, state, and local and private charity) will be needed to help many of these people until their normal income streams can kick back online. But after the income streams are restored then some of the huge amout of money that we are talking about should be able to stop. (or go to other purposes)
The point I am trying to make is that no one knows how much this is going to cost, no one has had the time to sit down and figure out everything that needs to be done, or how they are going to do it. If they don't know the total picture then how can anyone say how much "extra" it will cost us taxpayers?
While there are certainly some instances of some doing this, issuing a blanket condemnation of the wealthy like you've done doesn't make it true. But I suppose some still believe if you repeat something often enough it may magically become true. 
