Post by SyZyGy on Sept 14, 2005 9:53:21 GMT -5
Preparing for the Post-Katrina Fall-Out
Prologue: I am sure (?) that almost everyone with a modicum of intelligence has been following the findings and fall-out from Katrina. The info load is almost overwhelming and I have no strong desire to start pointing fingers at all of the people and politicians (not necessarily synonymous), in this century and the last, who must share the blame (wouldn't it be great to actually name names as 'infamous' posthumously for posterity too?) for the short and long-term results of the Katrina effect - the natural and political decimation of a region of our country (not by active terrorists but) by the inadequate preparation for predicted and predictable natural disasters.
Prologue aside, I wanted to respond to OldeTowne who noted in another thread: "Who knows what kind of winter it will be for storms? The town never budgets enough for that. Who knows how much of a hole we are already in because of increasing energy prices? I'd rather have a safety net for these expenses than to throw the money back to the same people who either lied to us about how much they needed or were so inept that they "guessed wrong" on their budget by nearly a half million dollars."
In this post-Katrina USA, we will all have to take a very hard look at how we are living now and how we will weather the winter here in the northern half of the USA. Predictions and prognostications suggest that we may see a horrible rise in the heating oil costs and especially in natural gas prices. Apparently natural gas is now the mainstay of home heating in the US (short of survivalists in Idaho, and other hollers, who feel comfortable outside the mainstream of "society").
Each and every one of us in Wethersfield are going to take a big hit this winter. There is an unfortunately significant chance that come Spring, we will look back on those who perished physically and financially, trying to stay warm this winter[/b]. And, it does not have to be an exceptional winter meteorologically; it can be just our usual, northeastern winter. I have read of a seventy percent (70%) rise in the monthly cost to head our homes (e.g. with natural gas). And, you can expect the cost for gasoline and diesel fuel to stay high for at least a year. And, there is the trickle down effect on the whole economy which is going to push the cost of all consumer items way up in short order as current consumer goods inventories are depleted and have to be replaced in new, more expensive to produce ones. The cost of living and surviving is going to go way up.
Back to OldeTowne: the Town of Wethersfield is going to need more money to keep it going - just because of the Katrina effect. I don't really care if the money is turned back to the PS if it goes to keeping the students warm and the school busses running (what ever happened to walking to school?).
Epilogue: The Town is going to be growing a very significant functional deficit (reallocation of resources to truly essential areas) this fiscal year due to the Katrina effect. I can see another whopping, budget increase proposal come 2006 in anticipation of the new 2006-2007 budget.
Anyone else want to throw another prologue, log, web-log or epilogue on the fire? It might be the only heat (short of political) left in town in about 4-5 months .........
Prologue: I am sure (?) that almost everyone with a modicum of intelligence has been following the findings and fall-out from Katrina. The info load is almost overwhelming and I have no strong desire to start pointing fingers at all of the people and politicians (not necessarily synonymous), in this century and the last, who must share the blame (wouldn't it be great to actually name names as 'infamous' posthumously for posterity too?) for the short and long-term results of the Katrina effect - the natural and political decimation of a region of our country (not by active terrorists but) by the inadequate preparation for predicted and predictable natural disasters.
Prologue aside, I wanted to respond to OldeTowne who noted in another thread: "Who knows what kind of winter it will be for storms? The town never budgets enough for that. Who knows how much of a hole we are already in because of increasing energy prices? I'd rather have a safety net for these expenses than to throw the money back to the same people who either lied to us about how much they needed or were so inept that they "guessed wrong" on their budget by nearly a half million dollars."
In this post-Katrina USA, we will all have to take a very hard look at how we are living now and how we will weather the winter here in the northern half of the USA. Predictions and prognostications suggest that we may see a horrible rise in the heating oil costs and especially in natural gas prices. Apparently natural gas is now the mainstay of home heating in the US (short of survivalists in Idaho, and other hollers, who feel comfortable outside the mainstream of "society").
Each and every one of us in Wethersfield are going to take a big hit this winter. There is an unfortunately significant chance that come Spring, we will look back on those who perished physically and financially, trying to stay warm this winter[/b]. And, it does not have to be an exceptional winter meteorologically; it can be just our usual, northeastern winter. I have read of a seventy percent (70%) rise in the monthly cost to head our homes (e.g. with natural gas). And, you can expect the cost for gasoline and diesel fuel to stay high for at least a year. And, there is the trickle down effect on the whole economy which is going to push the cost of all consumer items way up in short order as current consumer goods inventories are depleted and have to be replaced in new, more expensive to produce ones. The cost of living and surviving is going to go way up.
Back to OldeTowne: the Town of Wethersfield is going to need more money to keep it going - just because of the Katrina effect. I don't really care if the money is turned back to the PS if it goes to keeping the students warm and the school busses running (what ever happened to walking to school?).
Epilogue: The Town is going to be growing a very significant functional deficit (reallocation of resources to truly essential areas) this fiscal year due to the Katrina effect. I can see another whopping, budget increase proposal come 2006 in anticipation of the new 2006-2007 budget.
Anyone else want to throw another prologue, log, web-log or epilogue on the fire? It might be the only heat (short of political) left in town in about 4-5 months .........