While we expect and demand that our elected officials make decisions with health and human safety in mind, they don't. It's become clear they make decisions like Actuaries.
This was a crazy good and insightful read Eddie. You made the right choices getting your family out of there. Regarding the fact that information isn't shared with the public for the public good, I think you are answering the question you are posing. The people with money and power, don't want to give up the money. The system is just not built to protect everyone the way it is currently designed. Partisan politics, and misinformation aside, we know that privatization of certain industries or services will basically affect the poor the most negatively, additionally insurance companies can also lobby politicians to protect their interests above ours. It fucking sucks. 4 fires at the same time are insane though, it'll be interesting to see how much of certain areas get rebuilt or not.
I agree. What I'm having a lot of trouble with are politicians, journalists, whatever acting sympathetic and continuing to uphold this charade when we are constantly getting fucked by big business. I see it and I acknowledge it and I will navigate it to the best of my ability for my family. I just don't want to be gaslit and act like its not happening anymore because that life is very confusing and not well lived.
The gaslighting is what can put one over the edge. There is enough physical, emotional, financial, etc. trauma and then to be lied to openly witnessing the delusion is a mind F*ck. And they know it. That's Gaza the past 15 months.
Appreciate your lens, glad your family is safe and you trusted yourself. That spinach dip was impressive, but was not meant to be savored.
Really relate to this. My home insurance company keeps telling me that "There hasn't been a flood in NY in 100 years." I'm like, wtf you call people drowning in basement apartments, wading waist-deep through the subway stations, and manhole covers being launched into the sky like this is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Just read your entire piece, big dog - former 91801 // 626 (left in 2013 to Vegas)
The downfall of LA county and it's poorly mismanaged funds, corruption and political shellacking is the direct results of this bullshit cataphoric failure handling these fires.
Imagine your Fire CHIEF yelling into the ether about how much $17.8M would've helped with their ability to fight this fire and Mayor Bass was like.. "nah you playin shawty - aint no thang like a chicken wang"
As a second generation American (Chinese // Indo) wifey and I are doing what our parents did decades ago - moving away from corruption to have a better life (In Asia, in a few years)
America is no longer WE the people - its just a brutalist capitalist country who gives 0 shit about its citizen (42k a year does sound crazy for insurance tho)
This is one of the most insightful things I've read about the disaster. It's also the first substack entry I've read and it's really sold me on the medium.
Happy you got out safe mane. Its incredible the insight and knowledge that you have at your disposal (said ernestly, sorry couldnt reword). Thank you for weaving it in your voice for people like me…the rotten bananas…to understand and feel from these excerpts. I hope you know your voice means a lot to people.
We are thinking of buying this year and have been stymied by the insurance crisis. The liability could render the State insolvent and not sure what Trump would require as concessions should CA require a bailout. Privatization is an intriguing idea but we’ve seen that play out in healthcare and it hasn’t worked out well. Thank you for sharing your personal specifics. Our budget isn’t nearly so large but it does add data we didn’t otherwise have.
CA already contributes more than $80B to the FED more than it takes out. It shouldn't require concessions from them. States are usually responsible for dealing with their issues around insurance. Same thing with Florida, maybe they could have a nationalized insurance system, but the problem is private companies aren't going to keep insuring areas that are high risk. They just won't make the margins they want.
At the end of the day, not all services need to be profitable, and that is what the government is supposed to provide for all of us. The US Constitution talks about ensuring domestic tranquility, common defense, promoting general welfare and all that crap, but private companies unfortunately do not have those same interests for most of the people affected by climate change. Honestly, for any state that sees insurance companies pulling out, this should be a legislative priority for them protecting people's assets and figuring out the insurance protections for people. But no, the culture war nonsense is more engaging to people and puts them on the news. I don't know how these people sleep at night, its like they go to bed every night just hoping the worst doesn't happen. No preparation for the future or worst things that could happen to the most vulnerable.
I agree. Insurance is NEVER going to give us a fair deal here. There's no money to make. The government needs to step in as opposed to handing it off. This is going to happen every where with climate change. We need to step back and think about these problems outside the context of insurance. Using government resources, how do we prevent, how do we properly tax and incentivize, how do we evacuate? Every time the government just makes a deal with the insurance companies and beg them back in. Imagine if we handled other problems and relationships this way? You're just expecting it to fall apart and asking "so how much do I owe?"
I agree 100%, we the people have to demand this of our elected officials. It boggles my mind to hear members of Congress and the Senate who receive aid to their states are threatening to hold up aid to Cali. Fucking ridiculous. We at this point should training people in AmeriCorps to also be firefighters so that they can be deployed quickly in cases like this as well. It's terrible we don't have a nimble response to disasters like this.
Correct on insurance companies. I’ve worked in health insurance for decades. The difference between health and all other types of insurance is that _everyone_, at some point, will utilize their health insurance. Insurance companies don’t like paying claims, even health. This is why for-profit health insurance companies find ways to deny legitimate claims for covered services.
Think about term life insurance policies. Policy holders are betting that they are going to DIE within the specific term of the policy. Life insurance companies are betting that you want to live more than you want to die. You are betting against yourself.
All insurance is a scam. Especially as insurance corporations have gotten greedier.
Eddie this was very powerful! I am so sorry you all are going through this. The northeast needs to start taking this issue seriously as well. If we don’t, we are going to have the same issues in a few years. There have been major fires less than a hour from NYC. During these fires our air quality is horrendous and lives and property have been lost. I worked for a major insurer for over a decade and you are spot on. Please keep pushing this issue so we can follow your lead. Many blessings to you and yours!
Dannnggg... no love for ur O-Town peeps!!... Yeah i trashed our 2nd place tennis trophy too E!... Holla at yo boi...still here in Orlando!... relay my message to Eddie of Congrats with his Mini Him!
Thoughts on the whole SmartLA and Olympics LA 2028 connection to the fires making the rounds on social media? Whether it be validity or skepticism I would like to know your thoughts.
I am sorry for your situation in LA. Looks to me like the paths forward are: Private insurance with prices controlled by the state (we are here now, for example CA capped insurance prices - so unless the state can also force insurance companies to insure, this is really untenable), free market insurance (if insurance can actually charge what the risk entails then we end up pricing everyone except the very rich from coastal areas [and fire/flood zones]), state insurance (only downside of this and/or federal insurance (or even federal bail out of state insurance) is that it is usually unprofitable, so you really end up in a situation where non at-risk states end up paying at-risk states for their uninsurable populations), and no-longer building/re-building in locations that are prone to such dangers (simply not politically viable - you going to tell the coasts they can no longer live by the water? Just tell Florida and Gulf states to pack in up and move inland?). No good options, but out of bad options I think state insurance with federal back-stop and just come to terms we are one country, we are our brother's keepers and yes the center should bailout people who are flooded or burned out of their homes regardless of how far they themselves are from being at-risk.
One of the reasons these fires enrage me so much is because scientists have been solving the alarm about them for YEARS. All of this was predictable and preventable. Thanks for saying all this.
yo that means a lot to me too bro. respect.
This was a crazy good and insightful read Eddie. You made the right choices getting your family out of there. Regarding the fact that information isn't shared with the public for the public good, I think you are answering the question you are posing. The people with money and power, don't want to give up the money. The system is just not built to protect everyone the way it is currently designed. Partisan politics, and misinformation aside, we know that privatization of certain industries or services will basically affect the poor the most negatively, additionally insurance companies can also lobby politicians to protect their interests above ours. It fucking sucks. 4 fires at the same time are insane though, it'll be interesting to see how much of certain areas get rebuilt or not.
I agree. What I'm having a lot of trouble with are politicians, journalists, whatever acting sympathetic and continuing to uphold this charade when we are constantly getting fucked by big business. I see it and I acknowledge it and I will navigate it to the best of my ability for my family. I just don't want to be gaslit and act like its not happening anymore because that life is very confusing and not well lived.
You are speaking the truth man. I feel like that is where most of us are at right now as well...
The gaslighting is what can put one over the edge. There is enough physical, emotional, financial, etc. trauma and then to be lied to openly witnessing the delusion is a mind F*ck. And they know it. That's Gaza the past 15 months.
Appreciate your lens, glad your family is safe and you trusted yourself. That spinach dip was impressive, but was not meant to be savored.
Really relate to this. My home insurance company keeps telling me that "There hasn't been a flood in NY in 100 years." I'm like, wtf you call people drowning in basement apartments, wading waist-deep through the subway stations, and manhole covers being launched into the sky like this is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Separately i bought my kid his first ninja turtle last week
Idk why I read this in the voice of Russell Peters.
BE A MAN DO THE RIGHT THING 😭
Just read your entire piece, big dog - former 91801 // 626 (left in 2013 to Vegas)
The downfall of LA county and it's poorly mismanaged funds, corruption and political shellacking is the direct results of this bullshit cataphoric failure handling these fires.
Imagine your Fire CHIEF yelling into the ether about how much $17.8M would've helped with their ability to fight this fire and Mayor Bass was like.. "nah you playin shawty - aint no thang like a chicken wang"
As a second generation American (Chinese // Indo) wifey and I are doing what our parents did decades ago - moving away from corruption to have a better life (In Asia, in a few years)
America is no longer WE the people - its just a brutalist capitalist country who gives 0 shit about its citizen (42k a year does sound crazy for insurance tho)
also, something that needs to be really talked about.
our military // defense budget is $800 BILLION
if it truly is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and one of your major states is burning - where is the federal military help?
someone will prob say oh that's the different between state v federal - yes, but no.
We are such an embarrassing ratchet country with broke bitch priorities.
America and the American dream, as a concept is still A+
Where else in the world can you start fresh, build a biz, provide for your family and really get it out the mud.
But holy fuck are we a third world country wearing a Gucci bag when it comes to societal good.
Glad you and your family are safe Eddie! You gotta write a book soon.
This is one of the most insightful things I've read about the disaster. It's also the first substack entry I've read and it's really sold me on the medium.
THISSSS!! Insurance is the biggest scam to plague this country. America should rebrand itself to Scamtina.
Scamtinavia 😭
Happy you got out safe mane. Its incredible the insight and knowledge that you have at your disposal (said ernestly, sorry couldnt reword). Thank you for weaving it in your voice for people like me…the rotten bananas…to understand and feel from these excerpts. I hope you know your voice means a lot to people.
We are thinking of buying this year and have been stymied by the insurance crisis. The liability could render the State insolvent and not sure what Trump would require as concessions should CA require a bailout. Privatization is an intriguing idea but we’ve seen that play out in healthcare and it hasn’t worked out well. Thank you for sharing your personal specifics. Our budget isn’t nearly so large but it does add data we didn’t otherwise have.
Yeah Im def not for privatization. I just think we need to acknowledge what these “leaders” are incentivized by and its money
CA already contributes more than $80B to the FED more than it takes out. It shouldn't require concessions from them. States are usually responsible for dealing with their issues around insurance. Same thing with Florida, maybe they could have a nationalized insurance system, but the problem is private companies aren't going to keep insuring areas that are high risk. They just won't make the margins they want.
At the end of the day, not all services need to be profitable, and that is what the government is supposed to provide for all of us. The US Constitution talks about ensuring domestic tranquility, common defense, promoting general welfare and all that crap, but private companies unfortunately do not have those same interests for most of the people affected by climate change. Honestly, for any state that sees insurance companies pulling out, this should be a legislative priority for them protecting people's assets and figuring out the insurance protections for people. But no, the culture war nonsense is more engaging to people and puts them on the news. I don't know how these people sleep at night, its like they go to bed every night just hoping the worst doesn't happen. No preparation for the future or worst things that could happen to the most vulnerable.
I agree. Insurance is NEVER going to give us a fair deal here. There's no money to make. The government needs to step in as opposed to handing it off. This is going to happen every where with climate change. We need to step back and think about these problems outside the context of insurance. Using government resources, how do we prevent, how do we properly tax and incentivize, how do we evacuate? Every time the government just makes a deal with the insurance companies and beg them back in. Imagine if we handled other problems and relationships this way? You're just expecting it to fall apart and asking "so how much do I owe?"
I agree 100%, we the people have to demand this of our elected officials. It boggles my mind to hear members of Congress and the Senate who receive aid to their states are threatening to hold up aid to Cali. Fucking ridiculous. We at this point should training people in AmeriCorps to also be firefighters so that they can be deployed quickly in cases like this as well. It's terrible we don't have a nimble response to disasters like this.
Correct on insurance companies. I’ve worked in health insurance for decades. The difference between health and all other types of insurance is that _everyone_, at some point, will utilize their health insurance. Insurance companies don’t like paying claims, even health. This is why for-profit health insurance companies find ways to deny legitimate claims for covered services.
Think about term life insurance policies. Policy holders are betting that they are going to DIE within the specific term of the policy. Life insurance companies are betting that you want to live more than you want to die. You are betting against yourself.
All insurance is a scam. Especially as insurance corporations have gotten greedier.
Eddie this was very powerful! I am so sorry you all are going through this. The northeast needs to start taking this issue seriously as well. If we don’t, we are going to have the same issues in a few years. There have been major fires less than a hour from NYC. During these fires our air quality is horrendous and lives and property have been lost. I worked for a major insurer for over a decade and you are spot on. Please keep pushing this issue so we can follow your lead. Many blessings to you and yours!
That’s life under capitalism!
Dannnggg... no love for ur O-Town peeps!!... Yeah i trashed our 2nd place tennis trophy too E!... Holla at yo boi...still here in Orlando!... relay my message to Eddie of Congrats with his Mini Him!
Jon Lo
Orlando FL
Thoughts on the whole SmartLA and Olympics LA 2028 connection to the fires making the rounds on social media? Whether it be validity or skepticism I would like to know your thoughts.
I am sorry for your situation in LA. Looks to me like the paths forward are: Private insurance with prices controlled by the state (we are here now, for example CA capped insurance prices - so unless the state can also force insurance companies to insure, this is really untenable), free market insurance (if insurance can actually charge what the risk entails then we end up pricing everyone except the very rich from coastal areas [and fire/flood zones]), state insurance (only downside of this and/or federal insurance (or even federal bail out of state insurance) is that it is usually unprofitable, so you really end up in a situation where non at-risk states end up paying at-risk states for their uninsurable populations), and no-longer building/re-building in locations that are prone to such dangers (simply not politically viable - you going to tell the coasts they can no longer live by the water? Just tell Florida and Gulf states to pack in up and move inland?). No good options, but out of bad options I think state insurance with federal back-stop and just come to terms we are one country, we are our brother's keepers and yes the center should bailout people who are flooded or burned out of their homes regardless of how far they themselves are from being at-risk.
One of the reasons these fires enrage me so much is because scientists have been solving the alarm about them for YEARS. All of this was predictable and preventable. Thanks for saying all this.