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
Show me where the Constitution says we have to pay for stupidity! I don't want to subsidize personal folly. As far as I'm concerned, anyone would was STUPID enough to stay in New Orleans after an evacuation notice was given should have been left drown, starve and rot. I saw thousands of drowned cars, buses and trucks. How many hundreds were pulled off roofs because they KNEW the government owes them something? Who gets to pay for all that air time? They could steal a TV and not a ride?
And now I'm hearing that the rescue teams and the Red Cross and the Salvation Army and the churches and shelter staffs aren't BLACK Enough? My personal pity pond just dried up...
Chang ran away. LOL. That says a lot in and of itself.
Your absolutely right, but if not rebuilding there, then where? I surely do not want those people (gulf coasters) moving to the Austin area. We have enough problems with growth to take on more humans.
He'll be back unless he gets banned.
Your tagline has caused a serious ear worm!
I'd rather do neither. Can you have a port without a 1/2 million bums sitting around it.
I don't give a rat's *ss about the Wetlands (formerly known as swamps).
Welcome to my world.
I meant to say "You Can".
Tag team trolls. Let's guess, since September 27, 2005?
So are low-income citizens...unless you're up for raising minimum wage
Oh goody. Let's make minimum wage $50.00 an hour! That will solve everything.
DUmpster Trolls are a pre-requisite for any large conservative forum... NOT!
Yeah! To heck with those worthless morons. We don't need them or their stupid Gulf coast. I mean, other than oil, gas, refining capacity, international and domestic sea ports, fish, and agriculture, what are they good for? Huh? Huh?
God you are dumb. You liberals can't even comprehend the idea of solutions that fall outside the realm of government.
This isn't a blog.
Now, were you saying something about ignorance?
LOL! The solution is . . . what? Private industry relocating Gulf coast refining capacity to, well, where ever you're living? Maybe private industry relocating the Mississippi River and the salt water ports to Nebraska? And the oil and gas pipelines will, of course, be relocated by private industry to some place really, really safe, far away from those dangerous wells. And the fish, they can be moved by motivated private fisherman to Idaho! I'm liking this. We can cut that Gulf coast cancer right out of the country if we put our minds to it!
The solution is called private insurance. With private insurance, the market determines where assets should be located with regard to the benefit of the location versus the cost of the increased risks. Your problem is that you will bail everyone out whether they have insurance or not, thus subsidizing uneconomical behavior.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.