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Exactly. I have no problem with idiots that want to build in flood plains, but I get upset with federally-subsidized flood insurance program and FEMA who come
by Simon_says 9y ago
Exactly. I have no problem with idiots that want to build in flood plains, but I get upset with federally-subsidized flood insurance program and FEMA who come in to rescue people who make shit decisions.
- leereeves 9y agoIs this partisan? Do you feel the same way about people who live in areas prone to destruction by hurricanes, like New Orleans and Puerto Rico?
- mistermann 9y agoThis is a great question. It's exactly the type (there are many more) of question that isn't asked and debated to conclusion, and this is a big part of why politics will never get fixed in the US.
- scarface74 9y agoEmotionally, I feel different about Puerto Rico because it’s island that got completely destroyed. It’s not like they can get in their car and go someplace safer. But there is a lot of land in the middle of the country that is not prone to hurricanes and floods (?)
- zaroth 9y agoThis is the cognitive dissonance of trying to explain away the underlying truth that you want to help people you sympathize with, but not the people you don't.
- scarface74 9y agoI don’t have a problem helping the people in Houston relocate and pay them what was fair market value for their homes.
- zaroth 9y agoBut presumably you do have a problem helping them rebuild their homes where they live. And you don't have that same problem with the people of Puerto Rico, because... it's an island. Surrounded by big water. Whether or not you can drive a car to a neighboring state is not a compelling factor on whether or not people should have to pick up and leave their home because other people no longer consider it feasible for them to live there.
- icelancer 9y agoPuerto Ricans have freedom of movement as well. Pay them fair market value for their houses + transportation and move them to Florida. PR is at much larger risk than the Houston metropolitan area to future disasters. Seems fair, yeah?
- Simon_says 9y agoAbsolutely not partisan. I would prefer if my (federal) tax dollars didn't help anyone affected by hurricanes. I understand my point of view is way outside of the mainstream, where all of the politicians compete to see who can appear more concerned.
- mulmen 9y agoI'm curious to understand this perspective. If this were true what do you think the consequences would be?
- Simon_says 9y agoPrimarily, I think it would bring incentives closer to the people making decisions. I think it would have pretty dramatic effects on where people choose to live, how they construct their houses, and their level of disaster preparedness. And these are all very good things. Secondarily, it would ever so slightly reduce the federal budget. I don't have any illusion that it would be a meaningful impact on the budget, but I have very similar attitudes towards a wide swath of other federal programs.
- skybrian 9y agoDo you really want to mix up search-and-rescue versus rebuilding homes in flood plains?
- Simon_says 9y agoSorry, I see now that I worded my phrase in a way that was likely to be misunderstood. I meant "rescue" in a metaphorical sense that people are getting financially rescued by FEMA assistance.