Posted On: May 14, 2008, 2:45 pm CDT

Posted By: Living in the bowl

I don't want to get involved in the name calling or receiving hand outs or the poor grammar that has taken place so far, however, I do think that most of the players so far have points of relevance.

I just moved to the Bowl of New Orleans for personal reasons. Frankly, I hate it here, but for personal reasons I will stay for the time being. Nevertheless, here are my very simple thoughts about the handouts.
1. I live in a bowl. Should I pay higher insurance because of it? Yes.
2. I am one of the responsible ones who has enough insurance in case I lose everything that I own. (Unfortunately it's through Citizens because no one else is writing for the "common man's life", and the NFIP.) However, WHEN it happens again, should I and the other responsible people out there have to pay for those who are not responsible enough to protect themselves? I think not. That is the problem here and in other places, but there seems to be a disproportionate amount of irresponsibility here in NOLA.
3. Does bailing out solve the problem? NO! Bailing out, just like the government is doing in NOLA just perpetuates and enables the irresponsibility that has caused this city to be where it is.
4. I agree that it is wrong that the governmental decisions to bail out big corporations that pay 7 figure salaries to CEOs who wreck companies. I also agree that it's wrong to make taxpayers pay for others' irresponsibility. Children learn not to touch things that are hot by getting burned. How do we achieve fiscal responsibility if we don't hold people accountable and stop rescuing them?
Being responsible is not cheap or easy all of the time. When do those of us who are going to get our reward? Until then, we should stop rewarding those who cannot force themselves to be more responsible.