[TheForge] Getting absurb - OT Katrina ?

[Walter Mullett]

I think most of the country feels compassion for those affected by Katrina
just like they feel for those affected by other natural disasters,  but
there are some other issues involved here.  Lets not be absurd and compare
poor choices with catastrophe.  

Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and other natural catastrophes are
predictable, they will happen.  If we knew when and where, most people
wouldn't put their families directly in harms way and this would be a
non-issue.  But generally we don't know when or where and when so we should
all feel compassion for those affected by Katrina because any of us could be
the victim of something similar on some scale.

I wish our founding fathers had written the "Bill of rights" as the "Bill of
rights and responsibilities".  To many times the statement is raised "it's
my right".  BULL!!!!

None of us are singular individuals living on a world by ourselves.  If we
were, maybe we may have the "right" to do anything ....  but even then I
have doubts.  We are individuals within a society and many of our rights
come with social responsibilities.  Along with the right, we have the
responsibility to vote, we have the responsibility to treat everyone equally
and we have the responsibility of not infringing on the rights of others.  

With regard to property "rights", I believe you have the right to use your
property as you wish within the limits that society places on you.  I
believe that we (society) have the right to prevent you from using your land
in a manner that harms us (society) or future generations.  Building on land
that has a higher than normal risk of damage could be just your own $$$
problem.  But your living in such areas affects the rest of society.  When
catastrophe occurs and whether you want it or not, we have the
responsibility of trying to save those that you also put at risk as well as
yourself.

There are certain high risk living areas that society can and should
tolerate but still within limitations.  We need fishermen, ship builders,
off shore oilmen and others that may have to live and work in higher risk
areas but even these individuals need to limit their exposure.

Under Amendment V of the "Bill of rights", we (society) have the right to
take (including dictating the use of) individual land when beneficial to
society.  I believe we have the right to limit living in high risk areas for
only individual reasons (preferences).  AND ... We do not have the
responsibility of making your property safe for you to live on.  The
building of the levees around the below sea level areas of N.O. by the feds
was a mistake that should not be repeated.  By building those, the Feds made
all of us responsible.

For those living in acceptable areas of risk but still affected by Katrina
or other disasters, I believe our governments have a responsibility to
assist you but not to the point of making you whole.

Walt