• Please read the Announcement concerning missing posts from 10/8/25-10/15/25.
  • This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Houston is drowning in its freedom from regulations

ataraxia

DP Veteran
Joined
Nov 18, 2016
Messages
62,760
Reaction score
39,811
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Liberal
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?
 
As long as people are free to ignore the consequences of their decisions people will always need to be saved from themselves.
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?


I mentioned this earlier, but some just don't get that Trump is cutting their own throat when they think he's sticking it to Liberals and Obama.

Obama doesn't have Water in his house and neither does Trump ... who's the joke on?
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?





yes because without government, we would drown. oh wait.


Flood Of 'Texas Navy' Private Citizens Help In Houston Rescue Efforts : NPR
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/28/us/harvey-citizens-helping-moments-trnd/index.html
https://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/...vy-returns-to-help-houston-hurricane-victims/

and of course the atlantic, the left wing rag is perpexed how people without government, could possibly help.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/ordinary-citizens-are-first-responders/538233/
 
As long as people are free to ignore the consequences of their decisions people will always need to be saved from themselves.

But first: someone should make a profit off those consequences
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?

Because zoning laws prevent once in a lifetime disasters... :roll:
 
I mentioned this earlier, but some just don't get that Trump is cutting their own throat when they think he's sticking it to Liberals and Obama.

Obama doesn't have Water in his house and neither does Trump ... who's the joke on?

Yes. And the problem is that they are also out adamantly denying climate change science and want everyone to be free to do what they want to do. But when all our homes are flooded, who is going to be there to bail us all out?
 
Because zoning laws prevent once in a lifetime disasters... :roll:

Keep being free and denying climate change science, and these things will be a monthly event.
 
As long as people are free to ignore the consequences of their decisions people will always need to be saved from themselves.

And that is most protected for the aristocracy and Wall Street.
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?

You know, I was JUST saying to myself, "You know what would really help out Texas? Less regulation and less gov't."
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?

This coming from someone that shares the political beliefs of the fools out west that built huge cities on massive faults we KNOW will one day produce an earthquake more devastating than any hurricane.

Right. I'll be looking for your thread on how Government should have prevented building or development in those areas...
 
Because zoning laws prevent once in a lifetime disasters... :roll:

I wonder if leftists realize that living has it's dangers and we could have gov't coming out our asses and it would still be powerless to prevent ALL disasters?
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem.

Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.

So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face.

Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?

Yes, well, that does get to a particularly obnoxious part of conservative-libertarian ideology: they always want to have their cake and eat it too.


They can throw self-righteous fury at the evil liberal concept of a government we formed via union actually doing something to help people, all the while knowing that they can receive and will accept help from the government the moment it's their turn to need it.

They never actually have to pay the price their ideology demands and they know it. Won't stop 'em from opining about how liberals worship government and about how they are so much better than liberals because they disdain it.
 
I wonder if leftists realize that living has it's dangers and we could have gov't coming out our asses and it would still be powerless to prevent ALL disasters?

Paint those words of wisdom on your Forehead and take a few Swimming Laps around Huston. :lamo
 
The libertarian strain runs strong in Texas, and especially Houston. Houston is known as the "city with no limits" because it lacks any zoning laws. Urban sprawl is the only rule. They don't need no stinkin' government to impose zoning laws. Leave it to people to be free to do what they want and face the consequences themselves if there is a problem. Well, now there is a problem. People have built huge skyscrapers on marshland and flood zones. Roads were 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.So now are they going to face the consequences themselves? No, because the rest of the country is going to bail them out. They get the freedom, and we have to bail them out when the consequences blow up in their face. Texans do value their freedom. What do you say we let them face the consequences all by themselves, like real Americans who don't need no stinkin' government and are willing to face the consequences of their own poor decision making do?
The Mayor of Houston is a democrat tho......
 
This coming from someone that shares the political beliefs of the fools out west that built huge cities on massive faults we KNOW will one day produce an earthquake more devastating than any hurricane.

Right. I'll be looking for your thread on how Government should have prevented building or development in those areas...


If I recall building codes in California now account for being in earthquake prone areas. To help mitigate the damage from earthquakes.

In places prone to flooding building codes and zoning restrictions can be used to mitigate flooding damage.

You will never entirely prevent such damage but it can be reduced
 
Keep being free and denying climate change science, and these things will be a monthly event.



I was less than convinced about GW for a long time.

However, I have lived in this region for just shy of 40 years. Every summer we have new heat records set, every winter new levels of rain or snow. The last nine years have had only one where there weren't more wildfires than the year before.

In 40 years I have never heard an air quality advisory, until wild fires last year and this, we have smoke filled skies from our own fires up north running a few weeks. Today we have smoke from fires in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California....that has NEVER happened before in 40 years.

Last night in 33 degree heat the sky was red, and everything was blurred. I knew then that I am not going to like the future....
 
I just hope the partisan hats come off and all those people from Texas that are in Congress that voted "no" and held up on Sandy relief funds actually learn something and it doesn't hurt the people of Texas the way it hurt the people of New York/New Jersey.
 
Because zoning laws prevent once in a lifetime disasters... :roll:

A hurricane hitting Texas is not a once in a lifetime event. It's a several times a year thing. Poor planning made a bad situation worse.
 
This coming from someone that shares the political beliefs of the fools out west that built huge cities on massive faults we KNOW will one day produce an earthquake more devastating than any hurricane.

Right. I'll be looking for your thread on how Government should have prevented building or development in those areas...

Many California buildings are built/designed with inevitable earthquakes in mind. The City of Houston and many other parts of Texas built their infrastructure as if there could never be a Hurricane hitting their state.
 
If I recall building codes in California now account for being in earthquake prone areas. To help mitigate the damage from earthquakes.

In places prone to flooding building codes and zoning restrictions can be used to mitigate flooding damage.

You will never entirely prevent such damage but it can be reduced

Wait till the big one hits, we'll see how effective those regulations really were.
 
Wait till the big one hits, we'll see how effective those regulations really were.

So they should not have any regulations regarding building construction? Where an earthquake of 6 on the richter scale could flatten most of the houses and large buildings, leading to tens of thousands of death.
 
Back
Top Bottom