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High property insurance cuts out beach vacation

Sunday, November 8, 2009

(Updated 3:00 am)

State representatives have created a paradox for me. Now that my property insurance has gone up to pay insurance for beach property, I can no longer afford to rent a beach home for my family vacation. I guess I will visit the beautiful North Carolina mountains for the next few years.

Steve Forrest
Summer

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 7:41 am EST

My heart pumps Pepsi for Mr. Forrest. At least he can afford SOME type of vacation, unlike others of us whose salaries have stayed the same while the costs of living and taxes continue to rise. It's been YEARS since we've been to the beach, but we've survived. Count your blessings, Mr. Forrest, and enjoy the beautiful NC mountains. If you have time, please write about your trip because it will be a while before my family can afford to leave Greensboro.

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Yvonne

November 8, 2009 - 8:01 am EST

What a pity party Steve must be having! And how wonderful his life must be that his complaint is that he cannot take his family to the beach for a vacation (which is likely an exaggeration to begin with).

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J.M.W.

November 9, 2009 - 11:08 am EST

Yeah, he's trying to brag without realizing he's contradicting himself.

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J D R

November 8, 2009 - 8:15 am EST

Interesting, the worry about the cost of insurance for beach area property .. a high cost due to high risk even tho' some of that risk is still spread among the rest of the American taxppayers who do not ever get to the beach.

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rightwingnemesis

November 8, 2009 - 11:06 am EST

Mr. JDR,
This is just the type situation whereby folks on the right will cry foul......all the while ignoring the fact that subsidizing beachfront property owners is no different than the government supporting people out of jobs, below poverty, or for other reasons.
I have owned extensive beach property and I always knew the "risks" involved. Mr. Steve Forrest might also want the government to step in to solve the problem of erosion or the lack of sanitary sewer. People should purchase coastal property with their eyes wide open to the natural risks associated with ownership. As to positives made in NC, we have the Coastal Commission which has granted greater public access to our beaches than our sister state to the south. They also have kept construction problems found in SC, out of North Carolina. That type government involvement should be celebrated while financial infusion to those who bought in risky locations should be deterred.

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 12:23 pm EST

"This is just the type situation whereby folks on the right will cry foul..."

Maybe I missed something, but I saw nothing that indicates the politics of Mr. Forrest, did you? Not only are you ASSuming (and you know what they say about assuming) something, but you are generalizing. I thought you were more intelligent.

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rightwingnemesis

November 8, 2009 - 12:30 pm EST

Mr. or Mrs/Ms. Swerdna,
My sentence says "This is just the type situation whereby folks on the right will cry foul". It did not mention Mr. Forrest but rather the generic issue of supplementing the first several rows along the ocean by those inland. Politics of this issue are as old as the issue itself. I saw it after Hurricane Diana in Brunswick County. It is what it is.

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 1:52 pm EST

"My sentence says "This is just the type situation whereby folks on the right will cry foul""

Ok, so you infer he's on the right since he's clearly crying "foul."

"This is just the type situation whereby folks on the right will cry foul."

So, by default, folks on the left believe we ALL should subsidize the costs of everything for those less fortunate when they are physically and mentally capable of doing for themselves just as folks on the left must think it's only right to help pay costs incurred by beach property owners when they suffer losses?

Helping those who NEED help is neither right nor left but rather a responsibility put on EACH of us regardless of our politics. Your generalizaitons simply show how one-sided your vision is.

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danagain

November 8, 2009 - 8:02 pm EST

"Your generalizations simply show how one-sided your vision is."

Naaaaah, anyone named rightwingnemesis couldn't possibly be one-sided.

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 8:31 pm EST

lol How right you are!

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danagain

November 8, 2009 - 8:50 pm EST

"I have owned extensive beach property..."

You are supposed to be impressed.

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rightwingnemesis

November 9, 2009 - 2:08 pm EST

Mr. danagain, I cannot claim authorship of the line, but the more I read of your posts, the more I realize that bloke had you summed up pretty well---he said to you, "You really aren't too smart, are you?"

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J D R

November 9, 2009 - 6:43 am EST

" ... folks on the left believe we ALL should subsidize the costs of everything for those less fortunate when they are physically and mentally capable of doing for themselves ... "

Like the bail-out of Wall Street & Detroit, correct?

"Helping those who NEED help is neither right nor left but rather a responsibility put on EACH of us regardless of our politics."

I do not see the responsibility to help as PLACED on anyone .. unless you either want to be accepted as a member of the Community or want to follow some religious path.

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J D R

November 9, 2009 - 6:47 am EST

"... we have the Coastal Commission which has granted greater public access to our beaches ... kept [coastal related] construction problems ... out of North Carolina. That type government involvement should be celebrated while [public] financial infusion to those who [privately] bought in risky locations should be deterred."

I do not understand why anyone would not be in total agreement with that statement.

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JGALT

November 8, 2009 - 9:32 am EST

I would rather help underwrite the insurance risk for coastal property-- as part of a vibrant, growing, outdoor activity based, tourist economy, than the health insurance risk for fat dumb inactive people.

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Lakeshia

November 8, 2009 - 10:11 am EST

Well said JGALT - not only are overweight people repulsive but also unhealthy - being overweight may well indicate a lack of discipline and personal pride as well as an inability or unwillingness to take responsibility for one's own health and future well being -

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 3:59 pm EST

Lakeshia, very often I agree with you on these boards, but I'm disappointed to hear you be so harsh toward overweight people. Repulsive? Do you have any idea how hurtful your words would be if read by an overweight person? Some can't help their condition, and I know of no overweight person who loves being that way. True, some may not have the self-discipline to control their eating, but some may have eating disorders, medical conditions that prevent exercising, medications that cause weight gain, etc. How about a little compassion instead of criticism?

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J D R

November 8, 2009 - 10:25 am EST

1 - aside from providing you a place to spend your cash purchasing stuff at 3x the normal proce, you do not benefit from coastal tourist economy

2 - you already underwrite the health insurance risk for fat dumb inactive people.

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 12:30 pm EST

"fat dumb inactive people."

Generalizing again, I see!

I am none of the above, but I am compassionate toward those who may not have a choice as to their weight.
- Some people are overweight because of a medical condition.
- Many overweight people are definitely NOT dumb!
- Some overweight people also can't exercise because of medical (e.g. heart, arthritis, asthma, etc.) conditions
- Some overweight people are genetically prone to being so.

Maybe not everyone is as perfect as you are, but is it right to condemn them because of the way they look? Do you condemn blacks because of their color? Asians because of their cultural differences? Gays because of their gender preference? Maybe so or maybe no, but what gives you the right to make such assumptions about a person because of the way they look?

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JGALT

November 8, 2009 - 3:42 pm EST

I can't avoid helping to subsidize the risks of coastal property or fat people. Some of my best friends are fat. I simply said I prefer the property casualty risk of coastal property than the health insurance risk of fat people--- particularly dumb inactive ones.

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J D R

November 8, 2009 - 8:02 pm EST

If you spoke as fervently about subsidizing others' beach homes as you do subsidizing others' health care, I'd believe you, Galt.

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 3:52 pm EST

Sorry, JDR, my post was misplaced and was not intended as a reply to yours.

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J D R

November 8, 2009 - 8:03 pm EST

No prob .. I hope next year you get some time at the ocean .. I love the sound of the waves.

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swerdna

November 8, 2009 - 8:30 pm EST

I do too. Not looking good for next year either though. Things are pretty tight right now. Maybe a CD with ocean waves? hahaha

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J.M.W.

November 9, 2009 - 7:10 pm EST

Andrews, You've made me a fan. The only people I have a problem with are white females who date/marry black males. There's no qualifications. And no competition.

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commonsense45

November 8, 2009 - 1:41 pm EST

I do not feel sorry for anyone who builds, rents or lives on the coast. We have destroyed our nation's coastlines. Let them alone. If you can't afford it, too bad. Lot's of people can't afford things that they would like the luxury to have.

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danagain

November 8, 2009 - 9:33 pm EST

"What a pity party Steve must be having! "

How bout those folks like housekeepers, restaurant servers, hoteliers, bartenders, etc. etc. who depend upon beach tourism for their income? Where's the pity for the little folks Yvonne? As an "hotelier" yourself you should have a bit more empathy for tourists eh?

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Yvonne

November 9, 2009 - 11:32 am EST

I do feel empathy for them. That's the reason I leave a big fat tip for them whenever I visit the coast.

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danagain

November 9, 2009 - 2:47 pm EST

Good for you Yvonne, I do too if the service deserves it.

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truth

November 9, 2009 - 9:58 am EST

Maybe I'm misreading the letter but it sounds like he is saying that his property insurance (at his non coastal home) has gone up to pay for those who have property at the beach.

But that makes the letter make no sense. Hate to tell the man, but mountain rentals don't come cheap either.