Hurricane!

In watching and reading the hurricane coverage, I am like everyone else sympathetic with those that have lost so much. That said, my next thought turns to those I see people being saved off their roof tops, etc. and I get mad.

What you say? Am I nuts?

In most cases those rescue workers, military, coast guard, and volunteers are risking their personal safety and lives because these idiots decided to ignore repeated advance warnings to evacuate.

I have sympathy for those families that have lost loved ones in the storm. But for those lost as a result of their own choice, like those that stayed in their beach front home during the hurricane and died, well maybe some people were just to dumb to live very long. I don’t think is takes a NASA scientist to figure out that if a hurricane is coming to your general area, the authorities can not predict exactly where it will hit. If you are anywhere near the path, the authorities are telling you to get out, AND YOU ARE ON THE BEACH, then get the hell out of its way.

Next, think about the additional taxes you and I are paying to have these people rescued. Not just the people off the roof tops, but also the 20 surfers off the Texas coast a day or two before the hurricane that had to be rescued by the Coast Guard because the rip tides were so strong they were being sweep out to sea.

How about those that choose to put themselves in harms way being charged for the additional services that they cause to be incurred? $10,000 or maybe $50,000 per rescue might eventually get peoples attention, but then again if a hurricane did not get their attention then a penalty probably would not either.

Cruel, heartless, and several phrases I won’t be allowed to include you may call me. I welcome the names, if they get us thinking about the additional costs a not so limited number of people’s actions (200,000 people stay in the New Orleans area) cause the rest of us to bear.