Personal Responsibility for Disasters
Over at HorseAss, Carl Ballard writes, “One of the questions with the Oso disaster that people are asking now is why did we let it happen? We knew that the hill was in danger, and yet people were allowed to live below it. ”
Bullshit.
I see no reason folks who want to build homes in dangerous places should be any more restricted in this right than skiers, smokers. boxers, prostitutes, or sky divers.
My answer has three parts:
1. Liability. The government should provide accurate data on risks to all property owners on an annual basis. This should be covered by a reasonable fee paid by the owner.
2. Risk assessments should be public so insurance companies can adjust their fees and buyers know their risks.
3. Owners should be liable for all costs arising from the risks they take, including damage to other property and costs incurred by the public.
On purchase of a property, the new buyer must sign an acknowledgement of the risks and post a bond (or show insurance) that covers potential risk!