I share Brock Long's frustration. Part of me wants to cry about their losses, another part wants to say you deserve what happened to you, and then, another part is pure frustration that so many people are complicit in what has happened to people being impacted by hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, etc., etc.
I'll put the major of blame on our elected officials at all levels of government. Most will say that their No. 1 charge as elected officials is to provide for the safety of their constituents. When it comes to disasters, few are doing much of anything on that end when it comes to disaster resilience.
I was thinking I'd try to put this in terms that I'd use with my own kids when they were growing up — kind of dumb it down to the level that elected officials seem to be at:
- What are you thinking? You need to look beyond today, to tomorrow. With the choices you make today, there can be and will be consequences. You may think you won't be caught, but eventually everyone is caught doing what they should not be doing if they keep doing it.
- Don't tell me that everyone else is doing it!
- Stop thinking of what is fun and exciting, and start investing in the future. Paying some dividends today will pay off. This could be education, but in your case it is disaster mitigation.
- Start with zoning to keep development out of flood zones and other dangerous areas, hillsides, forests, areas of liquefaction where earthquakes are common.
- Then have strong building codes that are modeled on the standards that exist.
- Do not let developers and builders lead you astray. They are only in it for themselves and a quick buck. Yes, it feeds your economy and provides jobs, but it will only lead to destruction and misery in the future.
- Eventually the Piper will be paid. The economic boom music will stop and don't bet that you will be gone and forgotten when something bad happens.
- I am not going to keep bailing you out. It is time you take some responsibility for your actions.
