Newsweek: Houston Flooded Because There Aren't Enough Regulations

[angelatc]

http://www.newsweek.com/houston-drowning-freedom-regulations-656087?utm_source=internal&utm_campaign=most_read&utm_medium=most_read3

Full Retard Alert:


HOUSTON IS DROWNING—IN ITS FREEDOM FROM REGULATIONS


In less-free cities, the jackbooted thugs in the zoning department impose limits on the amount of impervious cover in a development. Some of the limits can be finessed by lining parking lots with bricks turned sideways, so grass can be planted in the holes.

If you meet the impervious cover standards, you still might get your entire plat chucked into the round file because some computer has determined that your business plan will attract automobile traffic in excess of the carrying capacity of nearby roads. Faceless bureaucracies have no respect for the inalienable right of every American to park his car on the public streets during rush hourt

I got snarky in the law school class where I first heard that Houston had no zoning, wishing out loud I could build a rendering plant in the so-posh River Oaks neighborhood. I was quickly slapped down by the freedom fighters in the class, who informed me that there are no rendering plants in River Oaks because the real estate costs too much. Did I not understand that the market regulates land use much more effectively than bureaucrats could?

River Oaks remains some of the most expensive real estate in the U.S., a model of what could be done with appropriate planning. Developers accomplished their ends by deed restrictions and “gentlemen’s agreements.”

Home prices were required to exceed $7,000 back in the 1920s and deed restrictions even specified allowable architectural styles. Gentlemen of the times, of course, excluded Jews and “Negroes” and similar undesirables. After Houston annexed River Oaks in 1927, the suburb became a neighborhood, but it remained a haven for swell folks as tightly regulated by custom as Houston was unregulated by law.

Impervious cover in Houston, meanwhile, has increased and continues to increase. I look at my television and see that the streets are flooded. The San Jacinto River and Buffalo Bayou are out of their banks. People are wading through waist-deep water carrying a few possessions, children and pets.

This catastrophic flooding is the result of 20 to 30 inches of rain. Adding to the water in the streets now, the Army Corps of Engineers has announced several reservoirs in the area will be opening floodgates to avoid failure of the dams, and the floodgates are expected to stay open for weeks because so much water will be coming downstream. Additionally, the National Weather Service is warning Houston to expect another 15 to 25 inches of rain.


Houston was built without regard for the carrying capacity of its roads, just as it was built without regulating the amount of impervious cover that would be shedding water into streets, storm sewers, rivers and Buffalo Bayou.

Name a freaking city that wouldn't flood with this much rain in this short of a time period.

[Swordsmyth]

How Washington Made Harvey Worse (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?514501-How-Washington-Made-Harvey-Worse)

[Schifference]

Name a freaking city that wouldn't flood with this much rain in this short of a time period.

Moot point. Had there been more regulations, the rain would not have happened.

[acptulsa]

In less-free cities, the jackbooted thugs in the zoning department impose limits on the amount of impervious cover in a development.

Because dirt with grass on it doesn't become totally saturated with thirty inches of rain on it. At least, it doesn't if brave zoning regulators tell it not to.

Anyone else old enough to remember when Newsweek didn't do comedy?

[fisharmor]

Anyone else old enough to remember when Newsweek didn't do comedy?

You're not, either.

[angelatc]

Because dirt with grass on it doesn't become totally saturated with thirty inches of rain on it. At least, it doesn't if brave zoning regulators tell it not to.

Anyone else old enough to remember when Newsweek didn't do comedy?

You know what else is weird? I first saw the link on Facebook and when I clicked through there were roughly 2500 comments righteously raking this bastard over the coals. But when I click through from here, there's hardly any.

[Raginfridus]

Moot point. Had there been more regulations, the rain would not have happened.Bingo. Let's think big picture folks: the sun is too fat, and that's the problem. Earth should decide the seasons, not the solar patriarchy. Regulations on solar mass should be proposed at once, because its exerting waaay too much influence over Earth's orbit and her climate. In all fairness, I'd reach out to the sun for a comment, but its so darn bright and warm, I feel oppressed just looking at it. /Back to my fluorescent-lit dungeon at Newsweek.

[Pericles]

Bingo. Let's think big picture folks: the sun is too fat, and that's the problem. Earth should decide the seasons, not the solar patriarchy. Regulations on solar mass should be proposed at once, because its exerting waaay too much influence over Earth's orbit and her climate. In all fairness, I'd reach out to the sun for a comment, but its so darn bright and warm, I feel oppressed just looking at it. /Back to my fluorescent-lit dungeon at Newsweek.

And whatever you do, you should not check out the history of the Flood Control District created in 1937 after the Houston Flood of 1935.

[Anti Federalist]

You know what else is weird? I first saw the link on Facebook and when I clicked through there were roughly 2500 comments righteously raking this bastard over the coals. But when I click through from here, there's hardly any.

Nah, there's no web censorship.

[Anti Federalist]

So, explain to me, Newsweak, why NYC and NJ and Long Island flooded during Sandy, in what is some of the most heavily regulated and zoning restricted land on the face of the earth?

[angelatc]

So, explain to me, Newsweak, why NYC and NJ and Long Island flooded during Sandy, in what is some of the most heavily regulated and zoning restricted land on the face of the earth?

Racist.

[acptulsa]

So, explain to me, Newsweak, why NYC and NJ and Long Island flooded during Sandy, in what is some of the most heavily regulated and zoning restricted land on the face of the earth?

Are you saying Harvey's just as good as Sandy, you sexist pig?

[Anti Federalist]

Are you saying Harvey's just as good as Sandy, you sexist pig?

Did you just assume genders, cis shitlord?

[Anti Federalist]

Racist.

Nazi.

[angelatc]

Nazi.

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/51280010/i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i.jpg

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/51280010/i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i.jpg

[Anti Federalist]

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/51280010/i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i.jpg

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/51280010/i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i.jpg

I read that in his voice...

[Swordsmyth]

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/51280010/i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i.jpg

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/500x/51280010/i-know-you-are-but-what-am-i.jpg

If you don't know I'm not going to tell you.

[acptulsa]

Did you just assume genders, cis $#@!lord?

Are you saying Harveys who self-identify as female retain more water than Harveys who self-identify as male, you creepy misogynist?

[Anti Federalist]

Are you saying Harveys who self-identify as female retain more water than Harveys who self-identify as male, you creepy misogynist?

The transfluid Harvey menstruated, you transphobic TERF scum.

[dannno]

You know what else is weird? I first saw the link on Facebook and when I clicked through there were roughly 2500 comments righteously raking this bastard over the coals. But when I click through from here, there's hardly any.

Did they remove them or are you trying to say the comments are based on the the originating website?

[Anti Federalist]

https://media.makeameme.org/created/nyc-the.jpg

[Madison320]

http://www.newsweek.com/houston-drowning-freedom-regulations-656087?utm_source=internal&utm_campaign=most_read&utm_medium=most_read3

Full Retard Alert:





Name a freaking city that wouldn't flood with this much rain in this short of a time period.

If that article doesn't annoy you enough, maybe this one will:


"Harvey shows there are no conservatives in waist-deep water"

"Individual responsibility has its limits when we face common dangers"

"There’s nothing conservatives love more than individual liberty. They’ve based their political philosophy around giving individuals responsibility over their own lives. Their hero is the rugged individualist who builds a life, a company, or a whole world with his own two hands.

The three sweetest words to a conservative are: “I built that.” The sweetest four words are: “There is no society.”

There’s a lot to admire about such a worldview, but there are times — like these — when rugged individualism seems hopelessly naive."


http://www.marketwatch.com/story/there-are-no-conservatives-in-waist-deep-water-2017-08-29

[Anti Federalist]

If that article doesn't annoy you enough, maybe this one will:


"Harvey shows there are no conservatives in waist-deep water"

"Individual responsibility has its limits when we face common dangers"

"There’s nothing conservatives love more than individual liberty. They’ve based their political philosophy around giving individuals responsibility over their own lives. Their hero is the rugged individualist who builds a life, a company, or a whole world with his own two hands.

The three sweetest words to a conservative are: “I built that.” The sweetest four words are: “There is no society.”

There’s a lot to admire about such a worldview, but there are times — like these — when rugged individualism seems hopelessly naive."


http://www.marketwatch.com/story/there-are-no-conservatives-in-waist-deep-water-2017-08-29

Pffft...a true "rugged individualist" would not have found himself waist deep in a flooded city depending on everybody else to help, in the first place.

Voting shows that, by large to vast majorities, there are no conservatives in any megalopolis of millions and millions, where day to day survival, let alone survival in a crisis, is utterly dependent on the efforts and labors and skills of others outside your control.

The few "rugged individualists" that are there, are the ones you see rescuing everybody else.

They also happen to be almost universally men.

In a few weeks, thanks to the efforts of the same people, everything will be pretty much back to normal, and "the hive" can go back to hating on men and "rugged individualists" as is usual.

But there will come a time, when those men and rugged individualists might just decide, "You know what, this isn't worth the effort, especially since all that will happen is heaping more hate and derision on us. Fuck it. You know what, fix it yourself. We're outta here."

[Champ]

Every storm, every natural disaster, every war, every media covered story, and just about all interactions and happenings in the world are used as a justification for "we need more government" or "we need more regulations". What they really mean to say is, "everything that happens is justification for enslaving yourself to government so that we can save you from the world and yourself". Superb lesson to teach people.

[angelatc]

Pffft...a true "rugged individualist" would not have found himself waist deep in a flooded city depending on everybody else to help, in the first place.

Voting shows that, by large to vast majorities, there are no conservatives in any megalopolis of millions and millions, where day to day survival, let alone survival in a crisis, is utterly dependent on the efforts and labors and skills of others outside your control.

The few "rugged individualists" that are there, are the ones you see rescuing everybody else.

They also happen to be almost universally men.

In a few weeks, thanks to the efforts of the same people, everything will be pretty much back to normal, and "the hive" can go back to hating on men and "rugged individualists" as is usual.

But there will come a time, when those men and rugged individualists might just decide, "You know what, this isn't worth the effort, especially since all that will happen is heaping more hate and derision on us. Fuck it. You know what, fix it yourself. We're outta here."

It's been my experience that once the First Responders show up, progress slows dramatically.

I remember a flood from a few years back. The news stories were all about how long it was taking the insurance companies to assess damage. 10 houses, 9 families upset because they couldn't start repairs until an adjustor showed up.

House #10 belonged to a guy that didn't have insurance. He had pulled out the floors, set up fans to dry the framing, and was pulling out drywall when the cameras were rolling. His house was probably going to be back in shape before a single contractor gave a single estimate to the other 9.

I want to be that guy.

[Madison320]

It's been my experience that once the First Responders show up, progress slows dramatically.

I remember a flood from a few years back. The news stories were all about how long it was taking the insurance companies to assess damage. 10 houses, 9 families upset because they couldn't start repairs until an adjustor showed up.

House #10 belonged to a guy that didn't have insurance. He had pulled out the floors, set up fans to dry the framing, and was pulling out drywall when the cameras were rolling. His house was probably going to be back in shape before a single contractor gave a single estimate to the other 9.

I want to be that guy.

Don't get private insurance confused with government assistance. Private insurance is a normal part of the free market. Of course the insurance business has been screwed up by government but that's another topic.

[angelatc]

Don't get private insurance confused with government assistance. Private insurance is a normal part of the free market. Of course the insurance business has been screwed up by government but that's another topic.

But flood insurance is a government entity. As Swordsmyth's link above pointed out, if government didn't subsidize the insurance, it would be cost prohibitive to build in flood zones. Houston's growth would have been kept in check.

[angelatc]

Did they remove them or are you trying to say the comments are based on the the originating website?

They're still there if I click through via Facebook.

[Madison320]

But flood insurance is a government entity. As Swordsmyth's link above pointed out, if government didn't subsidize the insurance, it would be cost prohibitive to build in flood zones. Houston's growth would have been kept in check.

I totally agree, except that flood insurance is not supposed to be a government entity. It's supposed to be private.

[angelatc]

I totally agree, except that flood insurance is not supposed to be a government entity. It's supposed to be private.

Yes, we're on the same page here. Rich people subsidies.

[acptulsa]

I totally agree, except that flood insurance is not supposed to be a government entity. It's supposed to be private.


Yes, we're on the same page here. Rich people subsidies.

And yet Houston's problems are because of neither too much rain nor too much government flood insurance, but because they don't have as many regulations as the cities in New York and New Jersey that flooded just as badly a few years ago.

Impeccable propag--er, I mean logic.

[Anti Federalist]

It's been my experience that once the First Responders show up, progress slows dramatically.

I remember a flood from a few years back. The news stories were all about how long it was taking the insurance companies to assess damage. 10 houses, 9 families upset because they couldn't start repairs until an adjustor showed up.

House #10 belonged to a guy that didn't have insurance. He had pulled out the floors, set up fans to dry the framing, and was pulling out drywall when the cameras were rolling. His house was probably going to be back in shape before a single contractor gave a single estimate to the other 9.

I want to be that guy.

And are likely to fuck things up even worse.

I was thinking more of citizen in action types, Cajun Navy types.

[TheTexan]

At least 23 dead so far.

Do you just want people to die?

[hard@work]

Name a freaking city that wouldn't flood with this much rain in this short of a time period.

Heracleion.

Your move.

[Swordsmyth]

Heracleion.

Your move.

Heracleion (Greek (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language): Ἡράκλειον), also known as Thonis (Θῶνις), was an ancient Egyptian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt) city located near the Canopic Mouth (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canopic_Mouth) of the Nile, about 32 km northeast of Alexandria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria). Its ruins are located in Abu Qir Bay (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Qir_Bay), currently 2.5 km off the coast, under 10 m (30 ft) of water.[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleion#cite_note-1)


Venice

Venice (/ˈvɛnɪs/ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English) VEN-iss (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key); Italian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_language): Venezia, [veˈnɛttsja] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Italian) (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Loudspeaker.svg/11px-Loudspeaker.svg.png (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:It-Venezia.ogg) listen (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/It-Venezia.ogg)); Venetian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_language): Venesia, [veˈnɛsja] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Venetian)) is a city in northeastern Italy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy) and the capital of the Veneto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneto) region (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_regions). It is situated across a group of 118 small islands[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice#cite_note-whc.unesco.org-1) that are separated by canals and linked by bridges, of which there are 400.[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice#cite_note-UNESCO-2)[3] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice#cite_note-3) The islands are located in the shallow Venetian Lagoon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_Lagoon), an enclosed bay that lies between the mouths of the Po (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po_River) and the Piave (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piave_River) Rivers.

[Anti Federalist]

Heracleion.

Your move.

LOL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AUEjzVQwKo

[angelatc]

And are likely to fuck things up even worse.

I was thinking more of citizen in action types, Cajun Navy types.

Oh yes.

The whole article is a strawman. Conservatives / libertarians aren't necessarily loners. They see something that needs done and they do it. Liberals see something that needs done and they trigger because someone else isn't doing it.

That's a big reason why the whole tone of this is different than the Katrina debacle. There aren't thousands of people in a government hellhole powerless over their own destiny waiting for someone to hand them free stuff - there are thousands of people stepping up and helping other people.

[acptulsa]

Joplin was the same--for a week.

Then FEMA finally showed up, and locked the whole thing down for no particular reason.

If you have a disaster, folks, try to get everyone relief in the first week. After that, your hands will be tied--by federal zipcuffs, if you're stubborn.

Of course, if you're on the east coast, sorry. There, FEMA might actually show up in a timely manner.

[Madison320]

Another way government makes disasters worse is with gouging laws. People are afraid to bring emergency supplies because they're afraid they'll get charged with gouging. It's better to have expensive water than no water.

[Anti Federalist]

Another way government makes disasters worse is with gouging laws. People are afraid to bring emergency supplies because they're afraid they'll get charged with gouging. It's better to have expensive water than no water.

Silence you, water is a human right, to be provided by government only.

[oyarde]

At least 23 dead so far.

Do you just want people to die?

That is actually not high considering a city of millions and 30 to 50 inches of rain .

[acptulsa]

Silence you, water is a human right, to be provided by government only.

Government is distributing water now?

No wonder Houstonians are up to their navels in the stuff while some of the government's biggest fans are in a drought...