Worrying about "the abuse and fraud" perpetrated by some receipients of aid following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is "the new black" among those who, conversely, think it's just fine to spend the same amount EACH WEEK in Operation Soon To No Longer Be a Country:
Immediate emergency aid would not exceed $500 under the new rules, instead of the $2,000 per family previously allowed. And it would be handed out only after identities and addresses were checked. Such precautions were not taken consistently last year after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, an oversight auditors said led to fraud and abuse of up to $1.4 billion.
A couple of things here: first, the $1.4 billion dollar figure, as far as I can tell, is one that, to use proper terminology, was pulled right out of their ass. Are there documented cases of fraud? Of course there are--starting with the most massive fraud of all: the assurances that the levee system of New Orleans was capable of Category 3 Hurricane protection.
OK, I've digressed a bit. Are there documented cases of fraud where storm survivors spend FEMA emergency money on non-emergency purchases? Yes, of course--geez, I've heard or read stories about everything from lap dances to plasma televisions. Go figure--some people are foolish, ignorant, criminal...whatever you want to say.
On the other hand, I don't recall anyone throwing such a similar hissy fit when billions of dollars were spent in Florida to alleviate the suffering of storm victims...or, ahem, sometimes simply spent without bothering to determine if an individual was a victim or not.
Besides, pious concern for "waste and fraud" re: Katriana victims, while not so much as raising an eyebrow re: the boatloads of money being lost in Mesopotamia is a little like a doctor obsessing over a hangnail while ignoring a slashed carotid artery.
If that particular doctor was this administration, they'd reach for nail clippers, then declare "Mission Accomplished."
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