DEBIT CARD TO REFUGEES EVACUEES
Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff (search) described the plan in a conference call with state officials Wednesday morning. The unprecedented cash card program initially will benefit stranded people who have been moved to major rescue centers such as the Houston Astrodome (search)."They are going to start issuing debit cards, $2,000 per adult, today [Wednesday] at the Astrodome," said Kathy Walt, a spokeswoman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
The cards could be used to buy food, transportation, gas and other essentials, according to a state official who was on the call and requested anonymity because the program has not been publicly announced.
In Boston, Gov. Mitt Romney said the cards will be offered "to people in shelters as well as people who are not in shelters but who have evacuated the area and need help." He said the hope is the cards will encourage people to leave shelters voluntarily.
I'm sure the cards will help a great deal, and they're an innovative idea that's much better than just putting wads of cash in people's hands. Given the lawlessness of the past week, that would be a bad idea. It would be a bad idea in almost any circumstance.
But I can see how the race and povery pimps may play the cash cards. The cards are going out to adults, one per, in each family. So a pair of yuppie evacuees with zero kids will get 2 cards, value $4k. A single mom with four minor kids will get 1 card, value $2k. The single mom is more likely to be poor and black than the yuppies, she has greater need and will get less money. The poverty/race pimps will say that this plan is further evidence of racism. They'll be wrong, but that won't stop them from saying it.