Halliburton, NO.....Public Works....YES!

[AnnInLa]

Here's an idea that everyone can work on, even from their computers. A new DU poster in the LA forum (Diva77) came up with the idea to lobby for the clean up and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast to be Public Works projects instead of Halliburton projects. That way, the unemployed from the area would be put back to work. Didn't we read, in high-school, that Public Works projects helped to end the Great Depression (I'm old and my memory is not reliable.) The money could stay in this area and not be stolen by Halliburton to enrich other areas or other pockets. We could start an email campaign to all of our own congress people and to the media. Feedback? Is it even feasible?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Great point, I will add it to the letter writing thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x22507

------------------------------------------------------
Save New Orleans, then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[Emit]

2. A caller on CSPAN Washington Journal yesterday

suggested a similar thing to Stephanie Jones Tubbs, who was the guest on the show that day. Tubbs said it was a great idea and she was going to work that into her suggestions for the appropriations discussions. Great ideas! Maybe we can get something together to send to her. She's great!

[AnnInLa]

3. Here on DU, we could at least participate in an email campaign,

we've done it before, to good effect.

[Q]

4. This is not only a great idea...but needed to boost spirits and...

...put people back on their feet.

The same concept could have worked wonders in Iraq.

But please remember that we have a criminal, war profiteering government in charge of projects like this and they don't WANT to put people to work.

Cheney is still making money off of Halliburton. What are the odds that he will allow the people to take his profit cake away?

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. kick

[Z_I_Peevey]

6. An absolutely splendid idea.

Of course that's what should be done.

[Wizard777]

7. Don't forget about the VOLUNTEERS @ Habitat For Humanity

They want to help rebuild.

[alphafemale]

16. You beat me.

:hi:

[mod mom]

8. excellent idea. Lets get this to the greatest page.

[Frustratedlady]

9. Excellent Idea

I've always believed they should have done the same in Iraq, to give the Iraqi citizens a stake in rebuilding their country.

Halliburton/KBR should not get any more contracts until they've accounted for the money they lost/cheated us out of. Enough is enough!

[madmax]

10. Fantastic idea

A New Deal redux. People will earn money, regain their self-esteem and work towards rebuilding their community.

[Sydnie]

11. I think this would be a great idea for the DU Activists corp to champion

Letters to the Editor, letters to our reps in Washington and letters to the Department of Labor. It's time we did this here the way they should have done it in Iraq! Rebuilding highways, homes, schools, communities is the business of our citizens not the money grubbing - no-bidders!!!

Welcome to DU Diva77! Great idea!

[Pirate Smile]

12. I heard Miles O'Brian or Brian Williams mention that a few days ago

during an interview with some official. They just asked if that was being considered. The official didn't really respond.

I will be furious if Halliburton or any of the Bush Cronies use their connections and this disaster to make billions. NO!

We have to realize though that if BushCo has any say in it, it won't happen - any type of public works.

Thank goodness Blanco didn't sign over control to the Feds. If she did wouldn't that have meant the Feds would control the entire rebuilding? I suspect that may have been a reason for that odd request.

[KingFlorez]

13. I like the idea

Get two things done at once, clean up the Gulf and employ those who lost their jobs. Much better than lining corporations pockets.

[Liberaler]

14. WTF???

Did the chimp already give Haliburton another few billions while people in NO was dying?

That motherfucker is sicker than I though and I thought he was very, very sick already!

I guess he had his priorities set:
1. Make sure Haliburton gets all the reconstruction contracts
2. Save some niggers in NO for no reason other than public pressure.

Thank whatever deity you believe for giving this country such an imbecile leader.

(To anyone offended by my use of the n-word, it was only used to illustrate Dubya's views)

[alphafemale]

15. I LIKE this idea. Let's spread this.

Like maybe the BIGGEST Habitat for Humanity project....EVER??!!

[BrklynLiberal]

17. The evacuees could be trained, given employment, and experience for

future jobs..while helping to rebuild their city.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

18. We have to start talking to everyone we know about this. Halliburton

already got a contract and so has Blackwater. There has to be a huge public outcry for this and I think the public is ready to participate. Everyone around here are really ticked.

[bleever]

19. Absolutely! No private profits from Katrina!!

Recommended.

[Califooyah Operative]

20. amen. nt

[GettysbergII]

21. Model letter written by Matt Jones of Southsiders for Peace

This is a fantastic idea! Here's my letter--I'm sending it to my
senators and representatives. Please personalize the letter and send
one yourself!

****************************************
The federal government has a lot of decisions to make regarding the
rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. Obviously, right
now the priority is aid and recovery. But I’m sure that the
government’s favorite private contractors over at Halliburton are
working hard to get rebuilding contracts. This scares me. A disaster
like this is no time for profiteering.

It will take years to rebuild the region and it is reasonable to expect
that the entire region will be in an economic depression for many
years. Let’s help the area and not give contracts to Halliburton or any
other contractor. Private contractors will bring in out of state
workers, charge the government twice what they are paying the workers,
and send their profits out of the region.

Let’s do the right thing and put people in the region to work for the
Public Works Administration. It brought our nation out of the great
depression, and it is logical that if you cut out the company seeking
profits, you can do the same work for less money, while providing jobs
to workers in a region who so desperately need jobs.

I urge you to do the right thing for the people in the Gulf Coast
region and introduce legislation to re-open the Public Works
Administration for the reconstruction of the area.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. Would the Feds be in charge of this or the state? I would think it

might be under Gov. Blanco's jurisdiction as long as she didn't relinquish control of the state.