45,000 refugees to Florida?

[Clark]

My thoughts are that we have so many children in the system looking for a good home.So many people without jobs,losing their homes,living in the streets and hungry.We have sent so much money to these off-shore countries just to be wasted by the leaders of them.The leaders mostly don't care how their people live or prepare for disasters.They use it to live high on the hog and build fancy mansions.Look what Iraq and Iran and the Afagan gov built with American dollars.Look at the money the went out of the country and still is and now look at the jobs that followed.We have to get our house in order before we can send much more out.Another thing,those countries down there let bussinesses use them for tax havens and now we can just send them the rest of our tax dollars.I have two kids that have lost jobs to plants moving overseas and lost their houses...j.....enough is enough.........Done ranting........continue on JerryB.
On a side  note:They outa send people to some of these countries and teach them to abstain from sex and hand out condoms after their taught what they are used for......3Million people and a town that can only support 40k people.Whats wrong with that picture?

Jerry.. i understand how you feel and posted something along the lines of your side note but it somehow vanished into cyberspace.

[stormrider]

Just like Byron McGregor said "No one has helped the U.S. during our disasters".......JB.

Well, every year since Katrina a team of "no ones" from our church in Calgary, Canada has spent several weeks building homes for Katrina victims.  I guess that doesn't count.

Was in New Orleans last March and met folks from Canada helping out. May have been some of your fellow worshippers.

[Serk]

Was in New Orleans last March and met folks from Canada helping out. May have been some of your fellow worshippers.

But... Canada's part of the US... Isn't it???

(Sorry, couldn't help it... )

[hotglue #43]

They have their own issues..... don't wish our problems on them.

[scoot]

 Jerry, I couldn't agree with you more. You want to see horrible pictures of people living in the streets. Thats easy go look under the highway in any major town. Here the only difference is these people are trying to sleep in 5 and 10 degree weather. i haven't seen anybody rushing to their aid. I think its an absolute shame how we treak our own people. most the do gooders that jump on the band wagon when something happens would have nothing to do with our homeless, They are dirty, scary, and a dangerous bunch. You can't just blame it on our Government, look at all the other private groups that are there now. if just 1/2 of these groups put as much effort towards our own people as they do when a disaster happens we would be better off.
 I don't have a problem going in and help people rescue their wounded and find their lost ones, but then get out, wash your hands of it. Why should we be expected to rebuild (better then what they had @ our cost) for them.

[JerryB]

I don't want people to think I am cold hearted toward the rescue going on over there.I have had deductions from my checks for the last 30 years to charities.I think alot of it is the media hoarding to this little island and seeing which one can broadcast the most doom and gloom over there.Rotating their staff on the choppers taking up space when you could load up hundreds of lbs. of supplies.They need much more aid than our economy can sustain and the hurricane season is right around the corner.IMHO I think they should level out an area several square miles,set up a tent city and get the women and children and injured out of the area.Then put the rest of the able bodied men to work cleaning this mess up and let them salvage materials and show them how to rebuild.There is alot of trees on the island for lumber.........Again,get the off their duffs and show the men how.Then help our people over here.......JMHO......JerryB.

[Serk]

There is alot of trees on the island for lumber.........

I actually agree with most of your premise, but wanted to point out that there really aren't many trees there...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation_in_Haiti

[JerryB]

I was going from what I saw when I was there in the early 60's.Guess I should have studied it a little more.Cut lumber dropped in on cleared land with nails and hammers and food would go a long way to help these people get out of the elements.......JerryB.

[Charlie]

I was going from what I saw when I was there in the early 60's.Guess I should have studied it a little more.Cut lumber dropped in on cleared land with nails and hammers and food would go a long way to help these people get out of the elements.......JerryB.

Actually, I read that there are very few trees now.  The main product of the country is concrete, which is what the majority of the buildings were made from.  My understanding is that is why there is so much devastation.  Unlike wood and steel, when concrete falls, it isn't worth much when it comes to reusing it for rebuilds.

[asfltdncr]

Jerry, I couldn't agree with you more. You want to see horrible pictures of people living in the streets. Thats easy go look under the highway in any major town. Here the only difference is these people are trying to sleep in 5 and 10 degree weather. i haven't seen anybody rushing to their aid. I think its an absolute shame how we treak our own people. most the do gooders that jump on the band wagon when something happens would have nothing to do with our homeless, They are dirty, scary, and a dangerous bunch. You can't just blame it on our Government, look at all the other private groups that are there now. if just 1/2 of these groups put as much effort towards our own people as they do when a disaster happens we would be better off.
 I don't have a problem going in and help people rescue their wounded and find their lost ones, but then get out, wash your hands of it. Why should we be expected to rebuild (better then what they had @ our cost) for them.
Much of the charity work is carried out by churches.They are trying to convert the Haitian people to christianity and draw them away from their own spiritual beliefs.

[Willow]

Much of the charity work is carried out by churches.They are trying to convert the Haitian people to christianity and draw them away from their own spiritual beliefs.

Well, then, I guess the joke's on them because the recipients receive the benefits of those churches' generosity and then are free to either accept Christianity or remain in whatever belief system they practiced prior to receiving aid.

Honestly, I really don't know of any churches that send relief on the condition of conversion.  There is, of course, the outside possibility that folks may just contribute to and participate in humanitarian missions because they think it's the right thing to do.

Incidentally, in this case, over 80% of Haitians call themselves Catholics and 15% practice Protestant Christianity.  It must be a pretty small percentage to which those teams are offering relief.  They'd have more opportunities in Wisconsin.   

[Robert]

Have been away awhile and haven't been able to post but have read all of them and its quite interesting. I'm sorry I missed the one offer of aid and if that person is still around they can email me. As for the Haitians I dont know if anyone has read all the articles about whats happening in Haiti but some are really bad. I'm not talking about the conditions but the how the people involved are acting. I also wonder why we haven't heard anything from the Dominican Republic the next door neighbor. Just for you that dont know they are on the same island. Seems a easy fix for me have the people move there till there country is rebuilt and supply aid to both. Could it be that the Dominican Republic doesn't want to have them there? If things are really as bad then the Haitians shouldn't have a objection. All you talk like Haiti is one small Island alone in the big world. I would also say with all the aid and such that's flowing is wouldn't the logical go to where the aid is coming in and beg or do whatever to get some instead of staying where you are and making them come to you? How about the condition of the country before it was hit did anyone really see the conditions before? How about the government of Haiti doesn't even have a president that's in the country and they dont even have enough back hoes to bury the dead.  That this is the level the people are comfortable with, and the desire to make more is really not there. In one church here they have quite a few Haitian family's and one in particular has kids that are the really cute but the kids want to come to church the mother doesn't allow them unless they are good and only if she feels like it. The church bus always goes for them and sometimes they are there and sometimes not. Of course they dont live in the best of conditions but you would think that a loving mother wanting her kids to do something better would encourage them to go to church where the kids were learning things and all would chip in and buy Christmas presents for them and just general clothing. But no and the little girl was even in a dance class that would go to other churches and perform. I bought a bike for them and the next day someone went curb jumping and broke the rear tire. So a bike for one day and then gone. Today if you asked me where this girl is I cant tell you but what I heard a while back made my heart break for them.  I always agree with helping people and in this case the Haitians all I am saying is you cant make people want a better life for themselves and if the Haitians want to live that way then God bless them but why bring them here to bring the level we want to live at down? If anyone has ever heard the talk at aa you know that you have to want to have something better than what you have and strive to achieve it. But with no striving and personal ambition then we are just bringing in more feeders that have found a easier way to feed, not to contribute. I personally dont want more feeders I will always give a helping hand to someone that wants something better,that has caring and wants the common good. Sometimes the personal potential is not really there but the desire is and that's what I am talking about. All you bleeding hearts are writing checks enjoy and have fun. Obama and you will really get along good since neither one really weights the cost of the undertaking and the amount of resources at your disposal. Obama has a unlimited check book on the backs of me and you but each one here needs to have discernment and understanding to accurately weigh up the whole problem. The war on drugs we slashed and burned Americans in the hope to stamp out drugs including ruing some peoples lives by taking land and houses that the government in the begging never gave back. Now the new headline war lost. Vietnam LOST and at what price I weep for the cost here. Now the war on terror ARE WE WINNING? Does anyone really know or are we just committing lives and precious resources to a cause that should have been taken up when Olie North told congress about it. I can go on and on but why do we always have a knee jerk reaction instead of a conscious weighed response that is sustainable. This includes health-care too. We here seem to live pretty decently and we have to master a budget well this talks of planning and even when disasters come you try to cope as best you can and hope that the dam you made to keep out crisis will hold. So help the Haitians of course bring them here NO. Dont disrespect the American people that voted and worked for laws on immigration so all who want to come can in a reasonable fashion in a reasonable time, so as to not overload the system. Which would case it to collapse and not be able to help anyone not even ourselves. You cannot build strength by making laws then violating them at a moments notice. By giving resources now in hopes of recouping them later. France spits in our face now but without the US there would be no France or do we let history repeat itself once more. See I am not heartless and not prejudice just bullish on America and want to protect what we have so we can share our limited resources with those in need. Isreal was going to the promised land but because of sin those who committed acts that were detestable in Gods sight never made it into that land. It cost the Isrealites 40 years. If that was today and that was us we would say lets help them in the desert role out the red carpet and bring them in free of charge. It cost me personally to make the life I have both in ideas and in time and just plain sweat plus the blessing that God has given me so like all here why do we not understand that unless you work for what you want you shouldn't have a silver platter. I would also say that for all those who supposedly know how Christians really are after the remarks I made I would be happy to go toe to toe with donations not only with money but with time my professional services and experience to see who is really the one who cares. God loves every single person but there are laws and standards that need to be adhered to a lesson lost in today's society. He does cry for every person that goes to hell.

[fstsix]

Beautiful by Kelly Corsino	powered by Aeva

[G-Man]

Lets not forget what Pat Robertson said about the Haitians getting what they deserve.
He claims that the Haitian government made a deal with the devil.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,582988,00.html

Danny Glover said the quake was the resualt of global warming. This happened since they didn't come to a conclussion in Copenhagan. 

That's because "It's a million degrees inside the earth" according to Al I'm-a-big-fat-liar Gore

[G-Man]

We pledged $100 million. China pledged $1 million. 

Yea but we're borrowing the 100 from them so it's OK.

Raymond

No THAT"S funny !!!   

[Jeff K]

I saw on the internet that Haiti is without a government. To help out, I would like to donate one Obama, one Pelosi, one Reid, one Frank, one Coakley and two Clintons. They may keep them permanently! I'd give them a constitution; but I can't find mine right now!

 

[Robert]

I saw on the internet that Haiti is without a government. To help out, I would like to donate one Obama, one Pelosi, one Reid, one Frank, one Coakley and two Clintons. They may keep them permanently! I'd give them a constitution; but I can't find mine right now!

 

Priceless simply priceless Now thats creative thinking Id go for that

It has been without a government for years,nothing new thats the status quo.

Florida’s unemployment rate continued to edge up in December, reaching 11.8 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from November and up 4.2 percentage points from a year earlier. It’s the highest since May 1975, when it was 11.9 percent, according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.

That represents a little more than 1 million Floridians who are out of work, out of a labor force of 9.1 million
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/01/18/daily45.html
If you know how they reach these statistics they count the people on unemployment and ones actively seeking jobs. This is way low just like California that is reported way low too.

[fstsix]

Now there is a donation i can spare some change on hehehehe !!!

[Robert]

Gee I was wondering how many the Dominican Republic was letting in and I found the answer It sealed its boarder with Haiti with the military The Dominican Republic has closed its borders and stationed its military on all borders with Haiti.  Only medical emergencies are being allowed in to the Dominican Republic.  Most of the passes into the country are 4-8 hours from the impacted area in Haiti. I also loved the guy that was delivering food and supplies out of his own help and had a few guards when he was beaten to within a inch of his life. Yea that's what I want here

[Jack]

Bottom line: the Haitians need to stay home and rebuild their country.  I have no problem with the orphans being adopted wherever they can find a good home.  Nor do I have a problem with the injured being treated and being returned home.  If you read up on the differences of the Dominicans and the Haitians, you will see why they aren't welcome there with open arms.  I think the world has shown the Haitians they will be supported in rebuilding.  The USA has and will do more than it's fair share.