On Edit: I'm only assuming that this has to do with people living on the outer banks. However, my feelings on my statement still hold true. These are probably also the same people who complain about rebuilding the poor parts of NOLA since "it will only flood again".
These places are called "barrier islands" for a reason. They were not meant to be developed at our expense. The taxpayers subsidize these follies. At best, I say that if people want to build sacrificial million dollar houses on these strips of land then someone has to make sure that the taxpayers assume no financial risk.
This is an article detailing how we get stuck paying for the replacement of these houses.
I Was a Millionaire Welfare Queen
How rich bastards like me rip off taxpayers for millions of dollars By John Stossel
Published in Reason magazine, March 2004
Editor's note: John Stossel? The corporate PR flak masquerading as a journalist?! That was my first reaction when a reader sent us this article as a suggested "editor's pick." After reading it, we've got to credit Stossel for openly admitting his participation in one of our country's lesser-known tax scams.
Ronald Reagan memorably complained about "welfare queens," but he never told us that the biggest welfare queens are the already wealthy. Their lobbyists fawn over politicians, giving them little bits of money -- campaign contributions, plane trips, dinners, golf outings -- in exchange for huge chunks of taxpayers' money. Millionaires who own your favorite sports teams get subsidies, as do millionaire farmers, corporations, and well-connected plutocrats of every variety. Even successful, wealthy TV journalists.
That's right, I got some of your money too.
In 1980 I built a wonderful beach house. Four bedrooms -- every room with a view of the Atlantic Ocean.
It was an absurd place to build, right on the edge of the ocean. All that stood between my house and ruin was a hundred feet of sand. My father told me: "Don't do it; it's too risky. No one should build so close to an ocean."
Read more:
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/articles_2004/millionaire_welfare_queen_stossel.html