Ashton Crusher wrote:

Some feel codes are NOT there to protect them or theirs. The codes
exist to:

a) To assuage the moral indignation of those who think they know
what's best for others, and
b) Provide faux jobs for those otherwise suitable only for medical
experimentation.

I'm kinda buying in to that philosophy.


One irritating thing about codes is they are like algae, they start
out small and only focus on real problems but over time all the
do-gooders whine incessantly until the city adds more and more stupid
stuff until the code becomes smothering. If you strictly go by the
code here you can't replace an electric outlet yourself or replace
your own water heater but have to have a licensed electrician or
plumber do it for you. It's always "for the children" type of
thinking. it's BS.

You CAN fight back!

In 1981, my town put forth the idea of zoning. Committees were formed and an
army of volunteers was raised - along with beaucoup private money - to
construct the appropriate city ordinance. Literally tens of thousands of
man-hours were put into testimony and decisions meandering down every block
and by-way, adjusting zoning classifications for every jot and tittle of
land.

As you can imagine, this undertaking was a non-trivial task in having to
deal with six hundred square miles of incorporated area (2080 square miles,
including extra-territorial jurisdiction - larger than the state of
Delaware) and enclosing about four million people.

This beaver-like activity went on for about six months and finally a plan
was put forth (considerably larger than the 1,100 page health-bill now
exercising the country). All of the city's betters endorsed the plan, as did
the business, civic, religious, charitable, neighborhood, labor,
educational, masonic, racial, political, secret, health-care, cosmetology,
and eleemosynary organizations.

Zoning failed four-to-one.

The proponents and workers who invested toil and treasure in the endeavor
were less than sanguine in defeat; they broke roughly into two camps: One
group consisted of those so mad they stabbed each other and another group
whose members became suicidal, turning to drugs for succor.

With all the leaders of the zoning imitative either dead or
institutionalized, the issue has never resurfaced.