I’ve just been watching the BBC2 documentary Flooded Britain, which details a new approach to coastal defence – namely not defending it or, euphamistically, “managed retreat”.
For the record, I’m all for it. It seems like a much cheaper approach than spending zillions of taxpayers’ pounds on maintaining sea walls just so some farmers can continue to grow their subsidised crops. If it can generate money by attracting tourists to the wildlife reserves that are created, so much the better. But what struck me was the attitude of some of the people interviewed.
One woman, living on some coastal development in Essex, was asked what she would do if there was another huge flood like the one in 1953. She talked about buying a boat, and ended with, “shouldn’t the government protect us and buy us boats?” So let me get this straight: like an idiot she goes and lives in a house that could at any minute be consumed by seawater, and she wants the government to protect her, with my money?
The oyster farmers who were worried about their yield being affected by the Abbott’s Hall Farm project used similar language. “We need protection” they said. But who do they want to pay for their protection? Me and you.
Mark Dixon, the brains behind the managed retreat idea, says that one of his problems is dealing with the concerns of farmers whose land stands to be flooded. He talks about buying the land off them as compensation. I have a better idea. If they so badly want the sea walls to be maintained, let them pay. Sell, or even give them the sea walls adjacent to their land. I don’t want another penny of my money spent to protect them.
The problem with this country (and I’m about twenty years too young to be using phrases like that) is that people want other people to protect them, when they should be out solving their own problems.
Rob said:
“The problem with this country (and I’m about twenty years too young to be using phrases like that) is that people want other people to protect them, when they should be out solving their own problems.”
Nail. Head. On. The. Hit.
I am shocked at the level of this nearly every single day. “Something must be done” they say. Well go and do it then I say. Not only this but the level of state control that people seem only to willing to accept, if not welcome. Despair!
Its all about the fountain of youth. People have this desire to go back to the carefree days of childhood when they had mommy and daddy to look out for them. They had time to play. They didnt have stress or worry or responsibility. So rather than realizing that 1) life just doesnt work that way and 2) there is a price to pay for that kind of freedom. When you were a child your parents provided for you. They paid the price. Now people want that blissfull life without the price. So they take from the producers, thinking that it will last forever. But it won’t, because eventually the producers won’t pay for it anymore. When you grow up, you gain responsibilty, and you pay the price of living. Along the way, you learn that you can handle it, you can overcome, and there is always a better solution. Its that confidence that these moochers lack. They think “something should be done”, but they dont do it themselves, because they are afraid, and they havent become adults yet. Adults know that they have ability, they merely have to apply it.
I like your hypothesis about the fountain of youth. It explains the expansion of the nanny state well.
“…eventually the producers won’t pay for it anymore…”
Sounds like you’ve read Atlas Shrugged…
Yes I have. I dont take is as pure gospel like some of my peers, but it is definately the most informative fiction novel I have read to date. Its frightening seeing how many events and people from our current times seem to be right out of the pages of Rand’s books.
i think we need 2 bulid sea deffences because if we dont we will lose presouis land ! god gave us land and it about time we cared 4 the planet otherwise we gonna lose it all ! so build sea deffence pretect what god gave you
I think some of the money spent on sea defences should be spent on
other things and less money spent on sea defences.
they shoud spend the money on things like hospitals and schools in areas where they are needed,
maybe even giving some of the money to LEDCs (3rd world countries)
sorry in my last note i spelt precious wrong but my point still stands is any with me ?!?
I dont know why Sarah put about god; she doesnt believe it; however I do
you’re pissing me you know gaylord mothefucker