Hi,
The Japanese tsunami was eye opening in a number of ways and should predict some economic changes for America.
First and foremost, a strong earthquake can bring in a wave not only 30 or more feet high but WITH intense increases as it flows its length. In Japan's case the tsunami traveled over 6 miles inland carrying all size houses and buildings with it. Not only did it move forward at 50 mph but it surged backward (as the ocean does) and thrust forward again creating new energy. It was incredible to watch and forewarns of imminent disasters ready to occur the world over.
There was a time in Japan (and may be a time again) when they did not build close to the coastline in the earthquake basin but as more and more citizens desired waterfront property for one reason or another, the building began to take place. This is true on coastlines across the world and of course, very true on our seashores!!!!!!!!!!
California is on a major fault line, the San Andreas fault. It is a good case in point. If the damage in Japan is GOING to cost over $10B, the cost in a California disaster boggles the mind since everything seems to cost more there. Also the buildings being so close together in some areas, or precarious in other areas, become a disaster from earthquakes or tsunamis waiting to happen. Although California, like Japan, has tried to structure major buildings in recent years to withstand earthquakes, one wonders if any structure can easily withstand a disaster of 8.9 or more intensity.
Beside all the death and destruction, the damage to nuclear plants, thought to be secured against such an event, were rocked so badly that their back-up generators were destroyed and the only saving grace were batteries, obviously not able to hold out long. What does that tell us??? Well, look to America's nuclear electricity and figure it out. In areas that are earthquake or even tsunami prone, "we got trouble, brother, RIGHT HERE IN 'NOW' RIVER CITY"!!!!!!!!!!!!
Much will be learned from Japan's disaster and improvements at high cost will be made (much of it paid for in taxes or higher prices) but the most that man can do with natural disasters is attempt to save lives by forewarning systems. And this brings up an interesting point that I have been pondering.
What drives man to seek religions of all sorts and cling to them?
When viewing the recent disaster, it becomes fairly obvious. First, one has to admit that above all MAN SEEKS CONTROL OF EVERYTHING.
But NATURE is always well beyond MAN'S CONTROL. Oh, folks like Al Gore like to pretend that we actually control the elements in a negative way and therefore, we should be able to CONTROL THEM IN A POSITIVE way. Sounds wonderful but it's a FAIRY TALE!!!!!!!!!! About the best man is able to do is to avoid NATURE where possible. Snow storms, floods, hurricane etc., etc. depend primarily on AVOIDANCE AND CLEAN-UP.
It also explains why MAN follows the RELIGION OF COMMUNISM. And I'm not stuttering here. Look at the fanaticism, loyalty, and strategy of increasing membership in Communism and you find a RELIGION OF ATHEISM. BELIEF is an identifiable source of CONTROL that MAN can CLING TO so that the natural disasters have a reason, a source of control in which MAN can believe.
PLEASE, I'm not putting Religion down here. I am saying that there is a strong and crisis invoking need for strong belief and MAN considers one type of religion or another THE CORRECT ONE, AND finds within that scope of that belief, the control and answers needed for MAN'S INABILITY TO DEFEAT NATURAL DISASTERS and/or DEATH.
Think about it!!!!!!!!!In the sixties, WE DECIDED THAT IF WE COULDN'T OVERCOME NATURE, WE WOULD ESCAPE FROM IT!!!!!!!!!We began an exploration of space to see if we couldn't move from planet to planet and find if not the perfect environment, at least, another place to live in the event that nature made things too difficult to bear. TOO BAD, IT DIDN'T WORK!!!!!
Now what?????? Well, psychiatrists say the first step in solving a problem is FACING UP TO IT. Can man do that? It is pretty doubtful. It means shedding layers of all kinds of beliefs that are there for the wrong reasons and donning new beliefs that are there for the right reason. So what does Man do??????????
Wish I knew. I do know this much. The desire to CONTROL NATURE is expensive. Our dollars have gone into all sorts of ventures that haven't worked. We once were studying the atmosphere to reroute or reduce hurricanes important to those who face them yearly. What happened. NADA, ZILCH, NOTHING!!!!!!!!! Nature won again! And there are so many instances of our constant desire to change our natural world that it BOGGLES THE MIND AND THE POCKETBOOK. ECONOMICS IS MORE CONTROLLED BY NATURAL ELEMENTS THAN BY MAN MADE DISASTERS!!!!!!!!!!
I can only offer a simple answer. When folks are asked what to do when confronted by old age, they are often told to accept it and put up with the changes and disasters, to secure the easiest and most comfortable existence. It allows life to continue in a less stressful manner and more productively.
I THINK THE ANSWER IS IN THAT STATEMENT. Confront the problems, seek an acceptance of them (isn't that what most religions recommend?) and live as comfortable an existence as possible.
IS THAT GIVING UP? No, it is GIVING IN because it does not preclude a continuing effort to save lives and perhaps discover new ways to overwhelm ADVERSITY. It is simple acceptance that COMPLETE CONTROL is not the answer or the issue.
If MAN can find the truth in that, he can CONQUER HIMSELF because that's where the real trouble abides.
Cheers, Connie
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