Pretend you're surprised: Relief fraud.
Jun 14, 2006 1:53:53 GMT -5
Post by Lamron on Jun 14, 2006 1:53:53 GMT -5
Well, now we know what happened to all the money the government STOLE from you and gave to someone else.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13304506/
As requests for emergency assistance poured in after Hurricane Katrina, one applicant listed as his address the Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans. FEMA promptly issued a check for $2,358 for rental assistance.
That's just one of thousands of examples of alleged fraud and abuse described in a new report by the investigative arm of congress — abuse that cost taxpayers about $1 billion.
“The examples are so egregious,” says Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, “that what they tell us is that FEMA didn't perform even basic checks to safeguard taxpayers' money.”
One person applied for aid 13 times, using 13 bogus addresses, and received a total of $139,000.
The report says FEMA didn't even try to verify the identity of people who applied for aid by phone and says FEMA's fraud controls are “weak or nonexistent.”
More than 2,000 people applied for aid from prison and received about $12 million.
The report also finds that FEMA debit cards, which were supposed to be used for necessities, were used for a week-long Caribbean vacation, a $600 tab at a gentleman's club and a visit to Hooters, which included a $200 bottle of champagne.
Former FEMA official John Copenhaver says in the rush to get money to victims, mistakes are inevitable.
"Any time you have to balance speed of assistance with accuracy, you're going to have problems," Copenhaver says.
In a statement Tuesday, FEMA says it's “already reforming capabilities for how it will serve disaster victims this storm season.”
But Sen. Collins says the fraud is so pervasive she doubts FEMA will be ready for a hurricane season that's already here.
They're WAY underestimating the amount of fraud. The actual fraud amount is 100%. The American people are being defrauded by being told that the government has some right, responsibility, authority, etc. to STEAL money from one group of people and give it to another group of private citizens.
The government has a the authority to collect taxes for "common good"; things like military, roads, fire trucks, schools, etc. It has no authority to take money and give it away to individuals in this country or to any other country.
They want to talk about "compassion" and say you're mean-spirited and selfish if you don't want these people to receive the money. On the contrary, we are DENIED the opportunity to show compassion when the money is taken by force and anonymously given to people who have been taught that they have the RIGHT to receive it. There is no gratitude shown by the recipient, no sense of satisfaction from helping another for the giver.
Welfare is the bigotry of assigning low expections to people we've never met.. We are saying that a large group of people are so completely helpless that they can't even be expected to fend for themselves. More and more people (voluntarily) join this class of sub-humans that we just assume have no potential for improving themselves, to the point that pity compels society to give. Anonymous pity robs us all of dignity. Generation after generation grows up with this "safety net", knowing that no matter how lazy and irresponsible they are, someone else will pay for their food and housing.
There's a reason why communism fails. It denies the most basic human motivating trait: self interest. With no consequences for not working, and no rewards for hard working, nobody does anything. And the overall living standards for this group just keep falling and taking down everything else with it.
2nd Thessalonians 3 (KJV)
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13304506/
As requests for emergency assistance poured in after Hurricane Katrina, one applicant listed as his address the Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans. FEMA promptly issued a check for $2,358 for rental assistance.
That's just one of thousands of examples of alleged fraud and abuse described in a new report by the investigative arm of congress — abuse that cost taxpayers about $1 billion.
“The examples are so egregious,” says Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, “that what they tell us is that FEMA didn't perform even basic checks to safeguard taxpayers' money.”
One person applied for aid 13 times, using 13 bogus addresses, and received a total of $139,000.
The report says FEMA didn't even try to verify the identity of people who applied for aid by phone and says FEMA's fraud controls are “weak or nonexistent.”
More than 2,000 people applied for aid from prison and received about $12 million.
The report also finds that FEMA debit cards, which were supposed to be used for necessities, were used for a week-long Caribbean vacation, a $600 tab at a gentleman's club and a visit to Hooters, which included a $200 bottle of champagne.
Former FEMA official John Copenhaver says in the rush to get money to victims, mistakes are inevitable.
"Any time you have to balance speed of assistance with accuracy, you're going to have problems," Copenhaver says.
In a statement Tuesday, FEMA says it's “already reforming capabilities for how it will serve disaster victims this storm season.”
But Sen. Collins says the fraud is so pervasive she doubts FEMA will be ready for a hurricane season that's already here.
They're WAY underestimating the amount of fraud. The actual fraud amount is 100%. The American people are being defrauded by being told that the government has some right, responsibility, authority, etc. to STEAL money from one group of people and give it to another group of private citizens.
The government has a the authority to collect taxes for "common good"; things like military, roads, fire trucks, schools, etc. It has no authority to take money and give it away to individuals in this country or to any other country.
They want to talk about "compassion" and say you're mean-spirited and selfish if you don't want these people to receive the money. On the contrary, we are DENIED the opportunity to show compassion when the money is taken by force and anonymously given to people who have been taught that they have the RIGHT to receive it. There is no gratitude shown by the recipient, no sense of satisfaction from helping another for the giver.
Welfare is the bigotry of assigning low expections to people we've never met.. We are saying that a large group of people are so completely helpless that they can't even be expected to fend for themselves. More and more people (voluntarily) join this class of sub-humans that we just assume have no potential for improving themselves, to the point that pity compels society to give. Anonymous pity robs us all of dignity. Generation after generation grows up with this "safety net", knowing that no matter how lazy and irresponsible they are, someone else will pay for their food and housing.
There's a reason why communism fails. It denies the most basic human motivating trait: self interest. With no consequences for not working, and no rewards for hard working, nobody does anything. And the overall living standards for this group just keep falling and taking down everything else with it.
2nd Thessalonians 3 (KJV)
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
