Hows that Utopia coming along? (Way OT)

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Messages 21 - 37 of total 37 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
RattyJ

Trad climber
Pine Grove
Topic Author's Reply - Apr 30, 2014 - 04:40pm PT
Well, the quote doesn't basically say that in my mind and wasn't meant to be taken in such an extreme fashion.

Just goes to prove that liberals are just as bat sh#t crazy and over reactionary when it comes to anything perceived to come from the other side as the conservatives are. Just look at Dindolinos post. It's not hard to believe, rather hard to accept that there are a lot of people out there that are actually that stupid.
skitch

climber
East of Heaven
Apr 30, 2014 - 04:47pm PT
Yeah! Building codes SUCK, until you go to buy a house from some dip-shit that never pulled a permit and you find out that the wiring is jacked. . .

This dude is one of the few examples of people that build beyond the code, but for all those people that do home remodels and don't get an inspector to sign it off they are putting themselves, their families and their neighbors in jeopardy.
dindolino32

climber
san francisco
Apr 30, 2014 - 05:02pm PT
my point is that there IS a place for government in our daily lives. People might not like all the rules that go with it, but since we all share the country together, we better abide to those rules as a society. When earthquakes, tornados etc strike, having buildings up to code would be nice. Even though this one guy wants to live by his own rules, (and he may be a great engineer) but even still there will be a thousand other jackass people that try to do the cheap thing and build their own shacks. But that will result in failures that will kill others. That is why we have building codes, and rules. The masses are asses!
Dave Davis

Social climber
Seattle, WA
Apr 30, 2014 - 09:26pm PT
Although Libertarianism and self-sufficiency are in many ways admirable, the fact of the matter is If you crap in your yard and it washes down to mine we have a problem. That is in part what building codes are about, as well as safety and liability issues. The frontier mentality is pretty anachronistic in a world of over seven billion people.
That being said, my nearly forty years in the construction business also gives me a perspective on how capricious building codes can be. What was adequate two years ago suddenly is no longer up to a current re-written code. I've seen a lot of this over the years and much of it has added greatly to the cost of building and created whole new industries that now ensure that the codes are even more restrictive. Most recently the whole air-barrier, building envelope industry(my newest pet-peeve) has added steps, inspections and costs to projects that seem to offer negligible returns. I have no doubt that a lot of what drives changes in the codes are bureaucrats that need to justify their position, but I will have to say the buildings of today are much more structurally sound than some of the crap I was building when I first got in the trade. Anyway I did enjoy the video which has some very good points if one doesn't get too hung-up viewing it through some ideological lense.t
Dave Davis

Social climber
Seattle, WA
May 1, 2014 - 12:13am PT
Did you notice while the inspector was going on about how structurally sound his buildings were, you could see a post set on top of a single rock? Don't imagine that spreads the load out too well. You're right Bruce about a lot of home inspectors, while I've got to say that most of the building inspectors I've dealt with from the city building department are quite knowledgable and reasonable people.
John M

climber
May 1, 2014 - 12:57am PT
I agree we need building codes. I believe sometimes they are nutty. I was interested in what the guy in the video said in relation to the cost of building today. Such as, Is electricity really necessary? I accept that one has to have a reliable and safe septic system for human waste but why is electricity necessary for a human habitat? I accept that if you are going to put in electricity, then you need to do it safely and codes help accomplish that, but why is it necessary? At least in that counties code? Is it required in most county codes.

Just interested. I'm not going to go out there and do something crazy like Bundy.

John M

climber
May 1, 2014 - 01:14am PT
Bruce, what do you see as the "real" problem?
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
May 1, 2014 - 09:28am PT
Whatever the fix, that solution will be the unsustainable problem within a couple decades. The government, corporations, gangs, unions, the clergy, immigrants, Wall street speculators, college regents, social programs, landlords, political parties, insurance companies...will all eventually become toxic cultures.

Is there a red reset button? That would be Utopia.
Lorenzo

Trad climber
Oregon
May 1, 2014 - 11:18am PT
Malaria was a problem, then government solved it for us.


Bill Gates.
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
May 1, 2014 - 11:29am PT
Fred Tomaselli is the best. I can't believe his brother hangs out with us low lifes.


So what's the problem here? More government over reach?

I have spent 53 spins around the sun, in many communities, states and countries.

The US government is by far the best governing body I've come across. Considering the scale of what they have to deal with, it's nothing short of miraculous.

Good ol' Abe the republican was right to give so much power to the fed.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
May 1, 2014 - 12:11pm PT
Building codes are an excellent example of how government takes a mandate to 'look after' us
and turns it into a self-serving bureaucracy which loses all semblance of common sense. Like
'the people' are really served by making me get a permit to build a fence? And I have yet to
actually see an inspector climb a ladder onto a roof to inspect the nailing as he or she is
supposed to. It is all about job security and a nice cushy pension.
Dave Davis

Social climber
Seattle, WA
May 1, 2014 - 10:39pm PT
Yeah Reilly I've seen a few drive-by inspections myself, but I have to say the quality of inspectors I've dealt with in the city Seattle is pretty high and most seem to be quite reasonable and competent people. I can't say that about some of the outlying areas. There are a few inspectors in Bellevue that are notorious power-freaks. I guess, like in anything, personalities can make a huge difference. Also most of the jobs I'm on rely on special inspectors for the bulk of inspections so the city isn't involved too much in the hands-on inspection process.
TGT

Social climber
So Cal
May 1, 2014 - 11:39pm PT
Those that can do.

Those that can't, but know how, become teachers.

Those that can't and don't know how, become inspectors.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
May 2, 2014 - 12:23am PT
Bruce, don't the exceptions prove the rule? I've met far more dickhead inspectors than decent sorts.
And I want to know why 'the people' pay for that crap. Seems to me the insurance industry
should foot the bill.
Dave Davis

Social climber
Seattle, WA
May 2, 2014 - 01:03am PT
Dickheads exist in all walks of life and being one is not a prerequisite to having any particular job. I've been on the project I'm on now for over two years and I've had a great relationship with the building inspectors and the special inspectors. The building envelope "consultants" and inspectors though seem like a superfluous new layer of nonsense. Maybe it's just the curmudgeon in me, but those guys really do seem to be winging it. None of those envelope inspectors seemed to be on the same page and it was difficult to ascertain what they wanted. I honestly believe they didn't know.
Dave Davis

Social climber
Seattle, WA
May 2, 2014 - 01:32am PT
I think the inspectors role doesn't have to be adversarial. A good one realizes you are under scheduling pressures and will help facilitate your project in order to get it done properly. An inspector can still do his job while working with you. He's a public employee-you pay his salary. I'm not saying you've got to be buddies or anything. I'm just saying that I've dealt with enough screaming as#@&%es in this business(including myself )over the years that I've come to realize that a job can get done just fine without all of that.
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
May 10, 2014 - 10:58am PT
Most of it is about liability...The engineer gets sued if things go wrong so they over-engineer..The inspector insures that the bozos with the hammer and cigarettes assemble the components properly to protect the building department from homeowner lawsuits...There's an excess of monkeys and a shortage of bowling balls...
Messages 21 - 37 of total 37 in this topic << First  |  < Previous  |  Show All  |  Next >  |  Last >>
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