New Orleans Corruption Update
Apparently the fed has decided to take charge on corruption and fraud following Hurricane Katrina. According to the New Orleans Times Picayune, a St. Tammany Parish Councilman was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 15, for extorting $100,000 kickback in connection with a Hurricane Katrina debris removal contract.
Impastato was arrested during an FBI sting as he accepted two cashier's checks totaling $85,000 from a subcontractor cooperating with authorities, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said at a news conference Wednesday.
Well I am glad something is starting to be done about the corruption. Baby steps.
posted by Casey at 1:49 PM
4 Comments:
Thanks for tackling this subject! Sometimes I am ashamed to say I from Louisiana. Did you see where Time magazine has Blanco listed this week as one of the worst governors in the US??
I did see that. It is all over the news right now. Also considering the Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is reported to be running for president in the 2008.
To comment on Blanco being the one of the worse governors of all time: I think she handled the aftermath of Katrina horribly. Being in Baton Rouge, I was glued to the television watching the local press conferences mostly comprised of Blanco and former FEMA director Mike Brown. I was surprised at how terrible Blanco was handling the situation. Every time she was at the podium reading her little pre-written speeches, she seemed like she was about to cry. She gave no one the impression that she was strong and bearing the weight of this catastrophe well.
All and all, she seemed weak, and I hate to say this, and a man needed to step in and take charge.
The topic of your blog is an interesting one, but I have some issues with the basic theme. You title it "What does the Government Owe Us" with special emphasis on hurricane relief. I have a two-pronged analysis of the question as it relates to the theme.
1) I think a good argument can be made that a Government with the means to provide relief of this sort is obligated to do so in a democracy. The Government is charged with looking after the welfare of the people. The people are in need because of an Act of God. Granted, at least some of the people could have gotten flood insurance, and probably should have, but that wouldn't protect the people who lease. A government that does not come to the aid of those people is a government that is not effectively fulfilling its mission.
2) Even if one doesn't buy into the argument that the Government is obligated to come to the aid of those in need, it is still good for teh Government to do so. The Government is the Government for all of the people. That includes people who were directly affected by the hurricane, and people who were indirectly affected, like me. By this I mean, while I did not lose my house or any possessions to the hurricanes, it is certainly not in my interest to have a couple hundred thousand new homeless and jobless people without means wandering the streets of towns like mine. It is in my interest to see those people in adequate housing and with adequate food, and on their way to resuming their former lives. As such, by helping them the Government is helping me.
Richard
Basic lesson from war: bad decisions can kill, but indecisiveness is always fatal. Seems to be a basic requirement we have for politicians: be strong in a crisis. Hard to know which ones will be until they are actually tested. Suggestion to Republicans: run a retired general for Governor next time. (Maybe Dems should think about that too!)
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