When It Doesn't Rain, It Pours
Episode Number: 1931Publication Date: Monday, November 5, 2007
Every time there’s a fire out west, I think of that ’70s song, “It Never Rains in California.” When I heard, recently, a news reader on NPR say that the fires’ devastation might be good for the local economy, I thought, Man, that song was right: It pours.
Rebuilding all those houses will increase employment amongst carpenters and building supply warehouses and landscapers. But that doesn’t mean “the economy” is better off.
Think of all those people who have lost so much, things that cannot be replaced. These people have suffered, and are suffering. And will continue to suffer. Oh, sure, it’s great that insurance policies will help most of them recover.
But none of the rebuilding makes up for all the fortunes lost. Many, many people — the underinsured — will not be able to build homes as nice as the ones they lost to the fires.
The fact that some people gain as they help the unfortunate regain some of what they lost does not make up for the loss. To speak, even for a moment, about how this could be “good for the economy” is to be callously ignorant.
Remember this when experts say that government regulation and taxation can be “good for the economy.” A new tax hurts a whole bunch of people. Who then try to compensate, enlisting the help of merchants, professionals. What’s good for one isn’t necessarily good for all, or even most.
Disasters really aren’t all that good for us.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
View Full VersionComments(2)
