- In this article, business owners who had their businesses wiped out by Hurricane Sandy were offered long-term, low-interest SBA loans so that they could rebuild. Turns out they don't want loans, they want the government to GIVE them money. I'm sure they realize that the government doesn't actually generate money, it just re-appropriates tax money to various expenses and that tax money comes from me and you and everyone else who pays taxes. So these people want ME to help pay to rebuild their businesses and I will get exactly nothing out of the deal. Sounds like BS to me. I think the people in the comment section of the article pretty much covered all of the things that I think about this unreasonable request to jack the money right out of my wallet. tldr; If you are a business owner you are responsible for having a disaster plan, having an emergency fund, and insuring your business (and, if like some of these people, no insurance company will cover you...there's your sign. Duh).
- And then there was this video. The lady featured in the video made a wonderful sound bite which all of the news shows pickup up. I mean who wouldn't feel sorry for an old woman who has only had one piece of pizza to eat in two days? This was shot two days after the storm, in a place where the residents were told to evacuate but who stayed in their homes and...didn't have enough food at home to keep them fed for two days?? In many places you are lucky if anyone shows up after a disaster to help you and also in many places it becomes a "neighbor helping neighbor" kind of thing but in the US people demand that they receive help and receive it now yet they don't seem to make any sort of preparations to help themselves. EVERYONE should be responsible for taking care of themselves, with no outside help whatsoever, for at least a week after a disaster which would allow enough time for aid to get to you. I mean if there are millions and millions affected why would it even seem reasonable that YOU are the one that gets help NOW? Everyone should have a month's worth of extra food in their house. Everyone should have an alternate heat source, an alternate cooking source, and a way to purify water. Your BOB alone should encompass all of these items so that no matter where you end up--in your wrecked home or in a shelter or camping outside for a couple of weeks--you will be able to take care of yourself until help arrives.
Yes I know I am preaching to the choir. I'll hop off my soapbox now.
