Friday, September 09, 2005
Hand Sanitiser
I had a chance to volunteer to help out the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. I was asked to volunteer at the cafeteria. I spent two-and-a-half hours dispensing hand sanitiser (Wal-Mart's version of Purel). The thing that struck me me was that practically everyone that came in - young, old, men, and women - were all extremly courteous. They all said, "Please," "Thank you," and "You're welcome." I guess what I've read some conservatives say that the U.S. is becoming less courteous is simply false.
Building 171 on Kelly USA here in San Antonio, Texas, looks completely different than it did last Saturday. It seems much more organised than it did. The halls are clean, the place - even though it has thousands of people living in it - smells clean. A small army of people goes around cleaning up everything - bathrooms, door handles, floors, carpets, etc.
I do not know how much longer Building 171 will be used. I would hope that most of the people would be moved out to more permanent homes sooner, rather than later. On suggestion I read about on Marginal Revolution was to offer housing vouchers for families so they could rent homes. I think this would be good for all those involved - renters and rentees. The 12.8 percent of renters in San Antonio could house the evacuees and receive payment (until the evacuees can get back on their feet) - everyone would benefit. Best of all, the mechanism is in place - Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Granted, Section 8 has been looked down upon by many. However, if this program can be used to help people out, it should.
I had a chance to volunteer to help out the evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. I was asked to volunteer at the cafeteria. I spent two-and-a-half hours dispensing hand sanitiser (Wal-Mart's version of Purel). The thing that struck me me was that practically everyone that came in - young, old, men, and women - were all extremly courteous. They all said, "Please," "Thank you," and "You're welcome." I guess what I've read some conservatives say that the U.S. is becoming less courteous is simply false.
Building 171 on Kelly USA here in San Antonio, Texas, looks completely different than it did last Saturday. It seems much more organised than it did. The halls are clean, the place - even though it has thousands of people living in it - smells clean. A small army of people goes around cleaning up everything - bathrooms, door handles, floors, carpets, etc.
I do not know how much longer Building 171 will be used. I would hope that most of the people would be moved out to more permanent homes sooner, rather than later. On suggestion I read about on Marginal Revolution was to offer housing vouchers for families so they could rent homes. I think this would be good for all those involved - renters and rentees. The 12.8 percent of renters in San Antonio could house the evacuees and receive payment (until the evacuees can get back on their feet) - everyone would benefit. Best of all, the mechanism is in place - Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Granted, Section 8 has been looked down upon by many. However, if this program can be used to help people out, it should.
