Intrusive government regulations save lives in Japan

[Courtesy Flush]

Japan’s Strict Building Codes Saved Lives
From seawalls that line stretches of Japan’s coastline, to skyscrapers that sway to absorb earthquakes, to building codes that are among the world’s most rigorous, no country may be better prepared to withstand earthquakes than Japan.

Had any other populous country suffered the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan on Friday, tens of thousands of people might already be counted among the dead. So far, Japan’s death toll is in the hundreds, although it is certain to rise.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12codes.html?_r=2&hp

[otohara]

1. Love Your Subject Line

Japan is a well oiled machine. The US, not so much, not at all anymore.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Yup

It seems like for all of 'our' talk of being the most advanced and civilized nation on the planet and a "beacon of freedom and democracy," we are awkwardly behind a lot of other countries in terms of how we actually practice what we preach to other countries and care for our own citizens, especially the poorest among us. It's really quite......depressing to think about sometimes.

[otohara]

4. And Embarrassing

how stupid we must look to visitors from Asia, Europe - no trains,
and then there's the insane GOP Governors turning away the opportunity to build trains.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x616104