Amelia Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Survivors have lavish tastes New York Daily 11 Sept 2005 Profiteers have been using debit cards distributed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - intended to buy essentials for evacuated families - in luxury-goods stores as far away as Atlanta. "We've seen three of the cards," said a senior employee of the Louis Vuitton store at the Lenox Square Mall in affluent Buckhead, who asked not to be named. "Two I'm certain have purchased; one actually asked if she could use it in the store. This has been since Saturday." The distinctive white cards were distributed by the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and carry a value of up to $2,000. "It doesn't say anything on the card other than alcohol, tobacco and firearms cannot be purchased with it," the store employee told me. "There's nothing legally that prevents us from taking it, unfortunately. Other than morally, it's wrong." The source told me that the two women who had made purchases with the card each bought a signature monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbag in the $800 range. "They didn't look destitute by any stretch. You would never have said, 'They must be one of the evacuees.' … The one that I dealt with yesterday was 20. She'll be 21 next month." The source described the reaction of other store-keepers in the mall - which includes luxury brands Ferragamo, Burberry, Judith Leiber and Neiman Marcus - as "outrage." "It doesn't say anywhere on there, but it would have to be a good amount to be shopping in here," the source said with a dark chuckle. Quote <p><span style="color:#0000FF;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you."</span></span> Eph 4:29</span><br><br><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/US/OR/Fairview.gif" alt="Fairview.gif"> Fairview Or</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 11, 2005 Share Posted September 11, 2005 Shoot, I wonder whadit'd take to be called an evacuee? I survived the storm - even though I was a long ways away. Dagoneit. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricket Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Well, I just can't believe these store employees are complaining now. They're still making a profit by selling these outrageously over-priced items. These "poor" are still helping the rich to get richer. If it were such an "outrage" for someone to be using their money on these things, it should be an outrage for ANYONE at ANY TIME to be purchasing these un-necessary items! I say BOYCOTT time! All of America should be boycotting these stores--now and forever--just for selling these ridiculously overpriced items when there are people starving all over the world. Shame on the rich! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 If they are buying such expensive stuff one has to believe they are not destitute. Did everyone that had to leave New Orleans get a card? Or were they only distributed to the low income? If everyone got one then the wealthy may well be using them to buy luxeries stuff. Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Or ... Maybe they were stolen? They would have been informed of where and how to use the card if they had received it from the right source. Why did these girls have to ask if the card was good? Because they weren't sure they were! Their purchases should have been refused and reported. Quote The greatest want of the world is the want of men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true & honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty..., men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.{Ed 57.3} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bevin Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 As I understand it, these cards were handed out to basically all the evacuees/refugees/... in particular localities in Texas. I have never heard anyone claim they were means-tested, but people did have to supply evidence that they were from the affected areas. I did not hear that they were one-per-address or one-per-family. GWB is a terrible CEO, but he is great a buying votes with other people's money. GWB and cronies are in office - the looting of the US tax-payers continues... /Bevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Gregory Matthews Posted September 12, 2005 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2005 I suspect that a blackmarket quickly sprang up for those cards. I imagine that people were quite willing to sell a $2,000 card for $1,200 cash. So, we do not know that the people buying the expensive items were actually evacuees. Quote Gregory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricket Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Do we have evidence that this money was given as "mandated by our President"? If not, the statement Bevin made is irrelevant to the situation. And likely, there is a great market for the selling of these cards. Even so, the people buying them from others should be shamed! Is no one willing to take me up on the suggestion of boycotting lavish American lifestyles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Bravus Posted September 12, 2005 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2005 A few other points: 1. Is this even that important an issue, given that thousands of people have died? Why is our focus on money again? 2. This money is the most miniscule of drops in the 100 billion dollar bucket of recovery. 3. Some people are just idiots who make bad choices - and as has been noted above, the cards may have been stolen, or the people may already have had everything they needed. 4. Poor people often have very poor planning and financial skills - they live from paycheck to paycheck and spend all they get. This is part of the short time horizon imposed by poverty that we in the middle-class with long time horizons (like saving for a holiday or for retirement) find difficult to understand. I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying it's understandable. Anyway, point 1 is the key: are we going to get all outraged about these two idiots (and, as Chrys has noted, there might be time to get outraged about *all* the idiots who buy $800 handbags when that would sponsor two children for a year), or are we going to focus on the key activities of helping those who have lost everything. I can't get down there to help directly, but I have friends who are, and I'm helping indirectly... Money is important, but it's not the central point here. Quote Truth is important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Shane Posted September 12, 2005 Share Posted September 12, 2005 Brother Bravus <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> Quote Pastoral Family Counselor... Find me at www.PostumCafe.com Author of Peculiar Christianity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Chrys; I would take you up on it if I could. but I am too poor to even go look at their stuff. I am a Wal-Mart person. Bravus; There is a very sad situation about money that no one has spoken of. How much money was being sent to New Orleans, before the hurricane, in Medicare, Disability and Social Security? Who are the ones left behind? How much money will the government be able to save because of that delay? A whole nursing home full of Medicare and Social Security roll members are gone. Some Americans on Medicare believe the government is killing them through LACK of medical and pharmaceutical care while they are alive. My heart breaks because the very people who had the least will have lost the most, their lives. Those buses sitting in water could have delivered the disabled and those on Social Security that could not move or save themselves. I wonder if anyone will even look at all the money the Government will now save because they won't be sending them any further funds. God sees the pain and suffering. He has sent his Holy Spirit to comfort those in need. I wish I could go and help at least give someone comfort. Quote The greatest want of the world is the want of men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true & honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty..., men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.{Ed 57.3} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricket Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Quote: God sees the pain and suffering. He has sent his Holy Spirit to comfort those in need. I wish I could go and help at least give someone comfort. [:"#666666"] There is much beauty in this statement. Let us encourage one another to pray that these people will find some comfort among the believers in the area! Prayer is always within our reach. [/] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.