Harvey will show why we need "big" gov't

[nadine_mn]

Conservative idiots and Ayn Rand fanatics love to ho on and on about how we don't need government. Everything can be solved by capitalism.

But this huge ass storm is a big fuck you to all those who think pesky regulations and govt agencies are unnecessary.

It isn't just the need for FEMA, it is the need for improvements in infrastructure, coordinated emergency response, public transportation, etc. Long after the rains stop, there will still be power outages, thousands of people (and pets) in need of shelter, food and medical care. Standing pools of water are going to be a haven for mosquitoes and disease outbreaks, groundwater will likely be contaminated, remaining structures will need to be inspected and repaired, sick and the dead will need to be cared for, people will have lost employment, savings (if any), I mean it just goes on and on.

Many remember the devastation of Katrina, but it is clear that we as a nation didn't learn much from it. These "freak" storms are going to become the norm and we are not prepared.

So while that idiot is tweeting about how this is the biggest storm ever - with the same ridiculous fervor that he talks about his crowd sizes - the impact of Harvey is going to last long after the headlines disappear.

We need a strong government in times like this...you cannot privatize humanitarian and environmental crises. Loosening regulations and cutting taxes for the rich does nothing when millions of people's lives are affected by tragedy.

As usual, the hardest hit will be those the least able to speak out and ask for help.

[bluecollar2]

1. well put...n/t

[BigmanPigman]

2. Good luck trying to convince R. Paul of that. I wonder what his plan will be

when his state needs Fed. assistance. He'll probably be another GOP hypocrite like Cruz.

[nadine_mn]

5. He is such a fuckwit - the type who blames ppl for living

Near disaster (tornado, hurricane, flood, drought) areas. Newsflash - due to global warming everywhere is going to be a disaster area


Except Minnesota...it's perfect here...but then maybe I'm a tad biased...lol.

[chowder66]

3. Perfectly said. Thank you. nt

[VOX]

4. A-bloody-men! The Katrina echoes have never ceased...

And this Houston mess will as well.

[yardwork]

6. We need better urban planning, too.

A city as large as Houston right near the coast needed to be planned more wisely.

The get rich quick approach to development leaves communities vulnerable to inevitable disasters.

[genxlib]

7. Agreed but it goes even deeper than that.

Many of those regulations that people complain about are there to mitigate the effects of nature. Especially the ones that are hated by developers like Trump.

Regulations require a certain amount of drainage to be the responsibility of the developer. Regulations require maintaining wetlands that help attenuate flooding. Regulations require developers to get the permission of a Community before they build something egregious.

The point is that without all of those regulations, these kinds of impacts would be seen even in a smaller storm.

The problem is basically that this storm exceeds every design standard imaginable. I design drainage in a very rainy part of the Country and this would overwhelm anything done here.

[Nay]

8. With what we know now, we must have a planned pullback from all coastal areas as

a priority. But that'll never happen.

There should be NO rebuilding in areas that were destroyed by Harvey -- buy out everyone affected and tell them to rebuild on higher ground. There should be strict zoning that prevents rebuild on any land prone to flooding and that flood area should be turned into wetlands/ponds/rice paddies/whatever, so we can start to mitigate future damage.

[Duppers]

9. +1000 - EXCELLENT POINTS.

These disasters are only going become worse. And as you stated, we must mitigate future damage.

Stop building and relocate. It will not happen anytime soon but, with repeated disasters of flooding and hurricanes, the choice will become inevitable.

Most people are in some stage of denial regarding the environmental impacts facing us. We must become more informed and react both privately and governmentally.

Scientific predictions state our coastlines, especially Florida's, the Gulf Coast's, and most of the entire Eastern seaboard's are at tremendous risk.

[Duppers]

10. K & R - Well said.