Land of Oz

Paying for Other's Stupidity

I've been looked at askance after saying that while I did feel sorry for the victims of Katrina (and Rita, and Andrew, et al), my sympathy was limited. It's not like a hurricane isn't expected, or even a very rare event in certain areas. While I do feel sorry, I also wonder what made them build there in the first place. I do realize that many people there are victims of circumstances. Many of them don't have the fiscal or mental resources to get themselves out of harm's way. However, those folks aren't the one who are costing us a lot of money. Look at the below clip from the Washington Post

Dauphin Island is one of the most vulnerable barrier islands in the nation. Since 1979, it has been struck by six hurricanes and has lost nearly 500 expensive vacation homes and rental properties. Yet owners keep building back, trying to elevate their homes out of harm's way. And the island has received more than $21 million in federal flood payments to help spur redevelopment.

Dauphin Island has a population of about 1,300, of whom 95.8% are white folks (2000 census). It's not hard to guess that probably every single person on the island has lost their house at least once. The feds have paid $42,000 out for each person on that island. I'm guessing that most, if not all of the houses, have been mashed by Katrina and Rita this summer as well. Those folks, in their vacation homes, are the ones who make a farce out of the disaster relief complaints. Since 1979 they've been hit by six hurricanes and pounded by one this summer - how many of those folks do you think won't be rebuilding after Uncle Sam sends them a check?

While I'm a firm believer in government help, there are limits. Do the folks making $6 an hour and living in some rundown rattrap in New Orleans get a government handout - most likely yes. They need a hand. Do the folks how have continued to come back to ground zero after six hurricanes get a handout - most likely no. People need to take responsibility for their own actions. If you slip walking on the ice in the winter - don't sue the store - realize that ice forms when it's cold and be careful. If you get lung cancer from smoking the last 30 years, don't sue the tobacco companies - realize that sucking smoke from burning leaves into your lungs is stupid, and if you haven't quit yet, you don't deserve to have some company pay for your problems. If you get shot by a .357 magnum, don't blame the gun company, blame the asshole who shot you. On the other hand, if the .357 magnum blows up in your hand because of faulty metallurgy - then sue the gun company. If your cigarettes were laced with arsenic from an industrial accident and you smoke them - sue the tobacco company.