California Mudslide. Why Doesn't The State Do Something About That?

I was watching what passes for the national news last night.

In a video from the site of the California mudslide, a woman resident questions Gov. Schwartzenegger about why the state didn't do more to protect them from mudslides. She tells him that they had asked the state to terrace the hillside but the state had said it was too expensive. And just how much money was it costing to come out and try and dig out the bodies now?

That attitude might be understandable in the aftermath of a tragedy such as happened there. But it is the same attitude that blames others for decisions that you make for yourself.
Her feet weren't nailed to the ground. If she thought it was too dangerous to live there, why was she living there? She was living there because she CHOSE to live there. She weighed the possibilities, and bought a home there anyway. NOW since it turned out to be a questionable decision, she is not going to blame herself for making that choice, she is going to blame the government for not protecting her from the consequences of her decisions.

Certainly the state has a responsibility to protect it's citizens, but the costs of that protection must be weighed against the benefits of using those resources in other areas.
Those types of decisions are made by the representatives that chosen by the people.
If they are doing their best to make the right decisions, I think that is the best you can expect.

But in typical knee-jerk fashion, I imagine the State of California will now spend some huge amount of money to take the top off that mountain and move all the threatened homes to Indiana where it's safer.
While the state is at it, maybe they could take a look at that woman's eating and exercise habits to make sure she lives a long and fulfilling life. Make sure she wears a seat belt when she drives too.

We are supposed to gather information and then make rational decisions for ourselves.
I'm sure that before all is said and done, there will be lawsuits filed against the State of California (for not spending a billion dollars to remove the mountainside), the Fire Department (for not rescuing people sooner) and maybe God for not stopping the mud from sliding.

Actually, someone did try to sue God once, but the subpoena could not be served.