Originally posted by lazs2
so... if a hurricane destroyed the levees in holland it would be the governments fault?
I hear what you are saying traveler. I am just one who says that the people and government of that state have failed themselves and that the city should be there only at individual risk.
lazs
I agree that each person holds the final responsibility for their own well being, however, you asked about the country of Holland, so far Europe has been protected by mother nature from hurricanes, that might change.
Homes built in a flood plain in Holland, along rivers and cannels must float by law. Would the Government leaders of Holland be responsible for encouraging it’s people to live in a flood zone? I believe that the answer to your question is, yes. I think Government leaders would take responsibility.
But the Government of Holland is built more around a Democratic Socialistic society rather then a Democratic Capitalistic one, I think I remember reading that their true tax rate on income is like 73% for total taxes paid. As opposed to our 56%. A true tax rate considers any and all taxes paid not just income tax.
That’s why I feel it would be best to allow the flood zone to flood and relocate the city and port of New Orleans, to areas that will not flood . Yes, it’s major undertaking, but I think it’s a better investment long term. The cost is not that much different then what will be expended on the levy system over the next decade.
Another option rather then moving or relocating New Orleans is to raise the land adjacent to the river by 20 feet for a 2,500 feet on each side of the river with a state of the art drainage and pumping system embedded as part of that 2,500 foot buffer zone. Take land fill from the devastated shore line. There is nothing left there on the shore line. The homes are all gone, the people are gone, all the roads have been undercut with wash out and are crumbling under pressure of the weight of the roadbed itself. It’s currently a waste land.
But our Federal Government is not thinking outside of the box, they would rather attack the problem and rebuild the existing levy system which is based on 18th century technology. So when they declare the area safe and encourage people to live there. Yes, I’d say that they will bare the responsibility after the next Katrina.
