Flood line.

[Kaz]

I think we should be far more concerned about flooding here than that abroad though Debih.

Quoting from that Telegraph article

But let’s ponder why our public culture has become so hysterical, forgetful, self-absorbed and short-sighted. Let’s give some thought to the countries where floods routinely extinguish the lives of thousands, and the livelihood of millions. Let’s ponder those voices calling for aid to such places to be stopped. Isn’t it time for some of us to feel a little ashamed?

No I don't feel in the least ashamed of calling for money to be diverted from foreign aid to help our own people! At times like this charity really should begin at home. Why do we have to prop up the rest of the world all the time? £600 million pounds to Pakistan last year! ......I am sorry if that isn't terribly politically correct, but it is how I feel and how an awful lot of others feel too!

Perspective is difficult when water full of crap is pouring though your home, and you have no idea if your insurance will pay out, or f they do this time, whether you will get insurance in future or ever be able to sell your home. The value of many of these places, especially in Somerset, will be wiped out. People's biggest asset now worthless

[Workingman]

I am glad that I have not gone down the road of calling for overseas aid to be cancelled, cut, or whatever, largely because I do not believe that it would make any difference to the help our own victims would recieve. It is not 'money' in the sense of notes and coins where a diplomatic bag is stuffed full and delivered by hand, it is a financial tool and as such operates 24/7 to deal with the ebb and flow of the global economy. On that point, and in order to make his case, Oborne is guilty of the same lack of proportion and perspective he is attacking the media for - Bangladesh v Burrowbridge?

I also think that he is way off beam with his rose-tinted reasoning.

The flooding crisis has been reported, almost universally, as a story of government incompetence. The exact opposite is the case. The story of this winter’s flooding is, with a few exceptions, a case study in the ability of a mature and sophisticated society to anticipate problems and then to handle them when they arise.

There is plenty of evidence coming to light, from many quarters, of a country trying to save a few bob over the decades and then having to be reactive when the totally predictable problems arise. Glossing over the failures of the EA down the decades takes some doing, but Oborne is trying to achieve it. Sorry, but proportion and perspective work both ways.

[debih]

I really do feel for the people who's homes have been flooded but it really does need to be put into perspective.

What has happened to them is not, as the press have reported, similar to living in a third world country. I feel that it is quite shameful to compare their plight to those people in Bangladesh or other such countries whose lives really were destroyed - by the loss lives in huge numbers and by not just a part of their home or garden or high street being under water but their whole homes washed away and their own country having no means of helping them.

Press propaganda again - lets put out ludicrous headlines to sell our papers.

[Kaz]

Well perhaps I am too 'close' to this to be objective, but I find it incredible that we give away so many millions to other countries but can't look after our own victims of flood