Posted on 09/27/2005 11:08:23 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
People have always known the risks of living on the Gulf Coast. New Orleans has now had four severe category 4 hurricanes since 1915 (1915, 1947, in 1969 a category 5 narrowly missed, and 2005 Katrina). That's a category 4 or bigger storm every 22.5 years. This is hardly a once in 200- or 300-year event. Hurricanes for the Gulf Coast region are predictable, frequent and are going to happen again. Knowing this, what should the federal government do in response to the hurricanes?
If the federal government takes $200 billion out of the American economy to finance Gulf Coast rebuilding, countless thousands of people will be enticed to move back to this hurricane-prone region. People will follow the money. This great financial temptation will cause people to ignore the ever-present threat of hurricanes and flock back, at great human and economic risk.
American taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize putting Americans back in harm's way. Unfortunately, the politicians are encouraging people to go back to inherently dangerous areas. Instead of putting the American economy at risk, there is a much simpler solution.
The risks associated with living in hurricane-prone regions should be assumed only by the people who choose to live there. It is time for individuals to take full responsibility for their actions. They should not force the rest of America to subsidize their risky lifestyle choices.
Due to the actions of politicians, Hurricane Katrina is still churning at the borders of every American city, and the forecast is for an economic disaster. Only sensible legislation from Washington, which does not subsidize putting families and children back in harm's way, can save America from disaster. Politicians should not take billions out of our economy to make unsound investments in unsafe locations. We should let individuals weigh the true risks and rewards of either returning to the Gulf region or relocating to places like Illinois -- independent of government interference.
When the next major hurricane strikes, how much of that $200 billion investment will be lost? How many people who were enticed by federal tax dollars to move back into the region will lose their homes, jobs or lives? How much more can politicians put the American economy at risk?
Hurricane Katrina's lasting legacy is transforming into a man-made disaster. Only the American people can force our politicians to make the right decisions, and stop them from encouraging people to go back into harm's way.
Brian Costin, Elk Grove Village
"The rate of coastal wetland loss in low-lying Louisiana has been well-documented for more than 25 years. From 1956 - 1978, an estimated 50 square miles a year were lost. He admits, "the rate of loss has now slowed to an estimated 24 square miles a year, in part because of much tighter restrictions on oil field dredging activities". "Louisiana is running out of wetlands to even lose," he says [My note: "Running out of wetlands" caused by nature and man].
"Shipping interests pushed for construction of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, a 36-foot-deep, 65-mile-long bypass of the winding route down the river," Boesch claims, dredged straight through the wetlands, the outlet has not only fallen short of its projected use allowing saltwater to intrude to New Orleans and the oil and gas industry has actively dismissed assertions that its activities were an important cause of wetland loss and, until fairly recently, even that wetland loss was a serious problem."
Should we as taxpayers be expected pay the brunt of the this massive reconstruction bill considered one of the biggest and most expensive environmental restoration projects in U.S. history? Will the "the shipping interests" and/or oil companies, in part, be chipping in from their "profits" or as before mentioned; the taxpayer again is stuck holding the whole tab.
For further study: Coast 2050 Report (also available as html)
The intense hurricane cycle of the last few years will no doubt ease and some lucky investors will get very good deals on premium water front property.
If you want to live in a sewer, do it at your own risk.
I'm hoping and praying, their numbers are growing!
There is much sense in what this fellow speaks.
It also applies to people who choose to live along the Pacific slopes in California in their mansions and get bailed out by FEMA everytime there is a massive mudslide.
But what about hurricane damage further north and in the interior? What about tornados?
How do you draw a line between one type of catastrophy like New Orleans, and others which are in the gray area?
at least if you are going ot build , don't expect wooden structures to hold. The carribean islands have been dealing with hurricanes their whole exisitence and almost all structures are concrete.
It only took me living in one home that was in a low area to figure out water finds its lowest point and is persistent in doing so.
BUt NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not in America, you can be stupid and then compensated for your stupidity.
"They should not force the rest of America to subsidize their risky lifestyle choices."
I agree 100%. Now if we could extend this to other risky choices (unprotected sex, obesity, smoking, having children out of wedlock, dropping out of school,...) I'd be very happy.
P.S. I will make an exception for military personnel who live in the area because they have been stationed there. They are generally not there by choice.
We've not even halfway through this cycle; about 15 years left.
Does any one see PAYOLA or GRAFT in the Constitution? I cant find reference to them.
Tornado damage is trivial compared to hurricane damage.
You can draw a pretty clear line just based on scale.
Who is "us"?
Unfortunately you'll never hear anyone in a leadership roll say it
more here:
http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2005/08/grinch-who-stole-new-orleans.html
NOLA and GULF COAST woes pings . .
Troll.
That's easy: you don't. If you want protection against future accidents, buy an insurance policy.
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