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Author Topic:   Was Sandy a good thing?
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


Message 4 of 20 (677746)
11-01-2012 10:30 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by jar
11-01-2012 10:08 AM


Re: I doubt if NYC will come out much ahead...
whether I as a Texan should help those living in NYC, NJ, MD, VA, IN, ...
Do you classify yourself as a Texan first or as an American first?
- Oni

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 10:08 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 10:32 AM onifre has replied

  
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


Message 6 of 20 (677749)
11-01-2012 10:43 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Percy
11-01-2012 9:39 AM


In a recent lunchtime discussion with a colleague we wondered whether Sandy would be a long term plus or minus for the New York metropolitan area. On the one hand there's all the short term losses of damage and destruction, plus the lost earnings from closed businesses and lost work.
The lower east side and the village was hit the worst, which, as you may or may not know, is mostly small, local businesses. Now they suffer, hard. The comedy clubs, small restaurants, bake shops, coffee shops, hardware stores, etc...are all suffering financially with the MTA shut down. Today is the first day we in the outer boroughs have been able to take SOME trains into the city. Those small shops depend on the transit for their busniess. Plus not to mention the employees, like myself and other comics, musicians and local artist who make their living from performing in the small venues, parks, etc...
On the other hand there's the economic stimulus of replacing all the damaged and destroyed infrastructure, and all the business and economic opportunities that come with it, plus there's the opportunity of replacing or building better than before.
This will definitely help a portion of NY'rs, those in large union construction companies that will get the large bids. But remember, a lot of the MTA stuff, which took the most damage, is repaired by the city workers. So if anything the city itself will get a bigger budget to work with. Not much for the avergae NY'er.
But the central focus of our discussion was whether in the end New York will come out ahead.
New York ALWAYS comes out ahead. It's New York, baby!'
- Oni
Edited by onifre, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Percy, posted 11-01-2012 9:39 AM Percy has seen this message but not replied

  
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


Message 7 of 20 (677750)
11-01-2012 10:46 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by jar
11-01-2012 10:32 AM


Re: I doubt if NYC will come out much ahead...
Right now as a Texan first.
Why is that? Why does 'right now' matter?
- Oni

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 10:32 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 9 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 10:53 AM onifre has replied

  
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


(2)
Message 8 of 20 (677755)
11-01-2012 10:53 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Percy
11-01-2012 9:39 AM


I missed this point:
This also plays into the most major issue in this years presidential election: What is the proper role of government in a disaster? Should the federal government help New York city? Should New York state help New York city? Or should it all be New York's responsibility? And how much help should government at any level render to private individuals who have suffered significant losses?
Well since the gov is using a portion of every citizen's taxes to fund 2 wars and to pay for our own survalance, why not use a small portion to help whenever there is a natural disaster? We'd be using our taxes to help people rather than hurt people, which is nice for a change.
On an aside, I think Gov Christie has done a good job at being a loud voice for the people in NJ. In a good way for a change.
- Oni

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Percy, posted 11-01-2012 9:39 AM Percy has seen this message but not replied

  
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


Message 10 of 20 (677757)
11-01-2012 10:57 AM
Reply to: Message 9 by jar
11-01-2012 10:53 AM


Re: I doubt if NYC will come out much ahead...
Right, but the question was do you see yourself as an American first or a (whatever state your in) first?
Do you care what happens to other Americans like during Katrina or any other natural disaster? Or do you only care about what happens in Texas and helping only those in Texas?
- Oni

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 10:53 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 11 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 11:04 AM onifre has replied

  
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


Message 13 of 20 (677766)
11-01-2012 11:14 AM
Reply to: Message 11 by jar
11-01-2012 11:04 AM


Re: I doubt if NYC will come out much ahead...
Too funny. Have you ever thought to trying comedy?
That one never gets old.
"The Government" whether State, Local or Federal is simply a clearinghouse and proxy for each of us. It is in reality nothing but an agent of each individual citizen and the proper question is not whether the "Government" should do anything but rather whether I as a Texan should help those living in NYC, NJ, MD, VA, IN, ...
Would I want the rest of my fellow citizens to help if my neighborhood was struck by flood or tornado or hurricane?
I guess the "I as a Texan" stuck out to me, and I was wondering why anyone would identify themselves with a state rather than the country first. I thought you were saying that YOU identified yourself that way. I was just wondering why? is all.
But I guess you weren't saying that? I still don't know.
- Oni

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 11:04 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 11:22 AM onifre has replied

  
onifre
Member (Idle past 2981 days)
Posts: 4854
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Joined: 02-20-2008


Message 16 of 20 (677780)
11-01-2012 11:58 AM
Reply to: Message 15 by jar
11-01-2012 11:22 AM


Re: I doubt if NYC will come out much ahead...
The reason to mention that I am a Texan was to point out that I was NOT speaking in this case as someone who needed the help, rather as someone outside.
Gotcha.
A lot though would disagree with you, I think. Many people for reasons of money and the meer mention of taxes would tell those (especially in NY, NJ and the New England areas) to fuck off.
- Oni
Edited by onifre, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 11:22 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 17 by jar, posted 11-01-2012 12:22 PM onifre has not replied

  
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