tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post289201451458797382..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Saturday morning musings - issues raised by the Victorian firesJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-27912023220545163262009-02-15T17:16:00.000+11:002009-02-15T17:16:00.000+11:00Hi Winton. I really value positive feedback from b...Hi Winton. I really value positive feedback from blogging peers like you, LE or Neil whom I greatly respect.<BR/><BR/>I fully agree with you on the regulation point. My suggestion for fire rating houses - say a star system like energy efficient fridges - would then bring the insurance marketplace into play. <BR/><BR/>You can build what house you like where you like, but you may not get insurance.<BR/><BR/>Issues that I did not address in this post because I could not see a way of doing so tactfully were the moral hazard/free rider arguments.<BR/><BR/>I say tactfully because so many people have been killed or hurt, so many have worked so hard for the community.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-76632899929640395682009-02-15T11:26:00.000+11:002009-02-15T11:26:00.000+11:00I agree with Legal Eagle. This is a very good post...I agree with Legal Eagle. This is a very good post.<BR/><BR/>The way things are shaping up we might end up with a lot more regulation about what kinds of houses people can build etc. I think this would be unfortunate. But I can't see why insurance companies could not be more active in this area e.g. by refusing to insure houses that local fire authorities consider to be undefendable because of proximity to trees etc.Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-81473292830296866912009-02-15T04:09:00.000+11:002009-02-15T04:09:00.000+11:00Thanks, LE. I meant to pick up the arson issue, Ra...Thanks, LE. I meant to pick up the arson issue, Ramana asked about it, but forgot while I was writing.<BR/><BR/>The difficulty is to make sense of it all..Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-86691136407674680272009-02-14T21:39:00.000+11:002009-02-14T21:39:00.000+11:00This is such a good post, Jim. You don't get into ...This is such a good post, Jim. You don't get into the partisan backstabbing, but you look at the facts dispassionately, and the various factors operating. <BR/><BR/>It does appear that some of the fires were started by human agency, although certainly not all of them. Thus, the other issue I would add is whether we need to have better awareness of people who might be firebugs, and to nip such behaviour in the bud rather than to imprison them after the fact. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, three cheers for you. Bravo.Legal Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096038577529334966noreply@blogger.com