My old home town and my parents current home town that they retired to has been hit so hard from the housing bubble burst that the local government is talking about declaring the area in a “state of emergency” allowing them to dip into funds reserved for disasters.
I had to clean my ears when I first heard this report as I did not think it was true. I knew how bad things had gotten there. I could go back today and purchase the equivalent house I sold for about 1/3 to 1/2 the price I sold it for which was 3 times the price I originally paid. [Yup JMos finally had good timing on something as I am usually the one saying "if I only had..." 
] But a state of emergency? Just to spend tax dollars on infrastructure that they have not been able to get through the budget? That is not only unethical it is lunacy.
What is it that makes government constantly think that they need to spend money, tax payers money, to fix a down turn in the economy. They had no problem soaking up the money when times were good. They were approving all the permits for the over building that took place there. Any imbecile could see that the prices of homes in the area were artificially inflated. Heck, it was one of many factors that led to my decision to leave there. But a state of emergency?!?
Just another example of a government entity that is inept, and resorting to extreme measures at the expense of the people they are there to serve. My question for them is if they pass this ridiculous bill and dip into the disaster fund and then subsequently get hit with a major hurricane 6 – 12 months later, what then?
Oh that s right, why worry, the federal government will be right there with an open wallet. And because PSL’s dumb ass politicians chose to misuse funds the rest of the nation gets stuck flipping the bill. I don’t live there anymore, and boy am I glad now, but I still have family in the area. And it is a travesty to let this happen.
Here is the report from NPR, there is a link for a video there as well if you don’t feel like reading:
Half built houses are the norm
Well of course they are spiraling down and out of control. When the “great one” JMos left town it was inevitable that they were doomed.
They should have paid you to stay 
Reply to Joe
Hey Jimbo, as much as I hate to admit it, when you are right, you are right! So that’s why you left us. 
Reply to MomI guess I need to translate that for you. When you say “when you are right, you are right” what you are really saying is you are always right!
See people that is what I have been trying to tell you all. I am right and they are wrong. End of discussion
Reply to JMosNooooooooooooooooo, there are a few times, and I stress the word FEW, when you could possible be correct.
Reply to MOMWell, I created the forum page for open discussions. Some place people can bounce opinions, theories and points of view. But instead of that in this case I can do one better.
I shall grant you author privileges and you can create your own posts. Not just responses to mine. You get your own blog spot on the cathedral of the MadMos domain. But I want posts from a perspective that can bring the other side (albeit the wrong one)a fair shake. Although I know I am wasting precious finger strokes writing this as you will probably never do it.
But if you ever think you have it figured out, you have full privileges and no matter what you write it goes unmoderated and unedited.
So the stage is set if you ever want your soap box.
Reply to JMos