Unintended consequences of deregulation

by | Jun 5, 2018 | Editor's Blog, North Carolina | 7 comments

In their fervor to cut regulations and budgets, Republicans forget that most regulations and programs were enacted for good reason. The latest example of reckless repeals came with a steep price. Mudslides in western North Carolina killed five people and damaged numerous homes in the wake of torrential rains.

Back in 2004, when mudslides killed five people in Macon County, the state ordered a geological survey to identify dangerous slopes in the western-most counties of the state. The Republicans cut funding for the project when they took power in 2011. The opponents of the mapping project included developers who wanted to build on the sides of mountains and didn’t want to scare away prospective buyers.

We can’t say for sure whether the mapping project alone would have saved lives. However, it might have given people who lived in precarious areas time to get out or it might have prevented some of the building in the first place. We don’t know how many other houses might be on slopes that will come down in the next downpour.

Now, we’ll probably see a rush to restore funding to a similar program like the mapping project. Republicans will claim victory for trying to prevent future disasters instead of admitting that their negligence and zeal to cut taxes and regulations may have led to this one. Maybe they’ll think more about cutting first and asking questions later.

To be fair, the GOP has a point about regulations. They often become out of date and more bureaucratic than useful. However, almost all were enacted to deal with a problem. If the regulations aren’t addressing the problem, then change them, but if the problem is real, as in the case of mudslides on mountainsides, they should be kept in place. Cutting regulations purely for the sake of deregulation is dangerous policy and leads to serious unintended consequences.

7 Comments

  1. Ebrun

    Friends and neighbors of the couple who were killed in Watauga County by a gas explosion that demolished their home report that the mud slide was caused by the gas explosion. Preliminary reports suggested the mud slide caused the gas leak and explosion, but the neighbors say the gas leak and resultant explosion caused the mud slide.

  2. smartysmom

    One must remember that about half of the population has an “IQ” lower than 100. It really is not reasonable to expect them to be “smart”. So is it not surprising that they govern themselves rather stupidly? And suffer the consequences?

    Not saying that they get what they deserve, of course, or that “god” let them down?

    • Adam

      “Remember, half the people are, in reality, too stupid to know what’s good for them.”

      Do you want more Trump? Because that kind of talk gets you more Trump. Even “stupid” people know when they’re being sneered at and condescended to.

      • pat

        Adam, while I agree with you that labeling people “stupid,” can be counterproductive, it’s important that people not use their precious votes or money to exact some kind of symbolic revenge. Instead, perhaps they should spend their votes and money opposing evil, opposing lies, and opposing injustice. In short, standing up for an America we can all be proud of.

      • smartysmom

        Adam, you put words in quotes that appear nowhere in the post you are commenting on. Huh!?

        There is a vast difference between saying someone is stupid and saying a particular decision was stupid.

    • Ebrun

      D.g, I know you believe the State is omnipotent and government regulations can avert most tragedies, but I doubt the NC General Assembly can do much to to prevent gas leaks or to ensure residents evacuate the premises when a gas leak occurs.

      BYW, the gas had been leaking for several hours and neighbors urged the couple to exit their home until help arrived.

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