CompuServe Messages

MD> Being a proponent of liberty you also understand the nature of news MD> sales. If a news organization went about reporting on houses that MD> *didn't* fall they would soon be selling something else. Short-term you're right. Long-term, though, I tend to go to the news source which reports (my perception <g>) of the Truth. Network news is falling down big-time here IMO. And since govt. policies to spend our tax money end up being based on the mass media, this _is_ a problem. MD> I am a structural engineer (besides being a radical Whig) and can MD> state that things *are* pretty bad up there. Not that I think the MD> government should pay for repairs. I am not so zealous, though, that MD> I don't mind underwriting low interest loans. I do. Which is why the govt. shouldn't be doing it. If the govt. didn't do it then people like you could band together voluntarily and pool your money in a private charity to support this particular cause that you believe in. I'll volunteer my charity money where _I_ think it belongs, thank you very much. MD> These people (me included since I live in San Diego) must accept the MD> fact that they have assumed some risk by living in an area of seismic MD> hazard. Which leads to the subject of earthquake insurance. I MD> consider it a large scale ripoff. The deductibles exceed $10000. MD> Self-insurance would probably as good or better considering the low MD> probability of damage to individual homes exceeding the deductible by MD> more than the future value of the premiums. You pays your money (or not) and you takes your chances. I feel sorry for those who chose to live with no insurance, but they chose to live there and put their money into other things, like a nicer house than they could live in otherwise, or better cars or more meals at restaurants or whatever. There's always Chapter 7 for those who made these bad gambles. If'n I had to live in CA, _I'd_ sure consider the $400-$500/year a reasonable expense, but then I'm a geologist by training <g> and I carry lots of insurance on the rest of my life too. Same deal applies to rebuilding houses at government expense for those without flood insurance in Arizona last winter or in the midwest. Why the h*ll should all of us be forced to pay for the mistakes of a few in choosing where they live? (Sorry, this is a sore spot on my libertarian hide!) Yours in freedom, -=< Angus Scott-Fleming >=- GeoApplications Tucson, Arizona * Capitalism without bankruptcy is like Christianity without Hell *