Originally Posted by
Super_BQ
I'm all for providing help for those that are displaced by the earthquake. But at the same time, i'm not a fan of offering 'free rides' out of Chch without conditions. What Chch needs is support to recover and rebuild - not a campaign to encourage more and more people to leave. Of course in the ideal example, the free ride is to offer those who have lost their job, house, car and got no where to go. But in reality, you will find a fair % would take up on the offer for a free vacation and really don't need it otherwise.
I was not impressed watching TV - 60 Minutes few days ago of a lady that just fled right out of Chch in panic. She documented her trip (mostly her emotions) and came back 5 days later to revisit downtown. I could not make up the intent of the 60 Minutes segment other than to portray a person that was in major fright. Mayor Bob Parker repeatedly said in Chch, "there's lots of food, supply of petro isn't a problem, etc.." but people still over reacted and 1 hour+ queues at the petro station still amounted.
Um - the offer appears to be genuinely letting folk know that they can have a break if they need one. Yep - some folk will take the pi$$ but unless you start means-testing you won't find out. I can just see how THAT would work - exactly what % damage does your house need to have or how depressed or anxious do you need to be on a clinical scale before you get entitled to the offer? Frankly, that's the last thing people in shock and grieving for the loss of their family, friends, city, local amenities, sense of place etc need.
Of course people "over reacted" they were bloody terrified. Just cos you don't appear to be in such a fright for your life doesn't mean that you can go round being critical of folk who react differently. Sometimes, if you haven't got anything good to say it's best to keep quiet. And I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but your post has rubbed me up quite the wrong way and I don't even live in a quake zone.
P