As a FBEBR researcher, I agree with every part of this column except for one.

"professor of economics at Florida State University"

1:22:24 a.m. on June 1, 2007
KELLIE HALE | 06.01.07 - 1:27 am | # |Report as offensive

Having recently helped my daughter apply for Citizens insurance, I am apalled at the absolute stupidity of the building inspection forms. They appear to have been prepared by a 10th grader who has NO idea of how homes are built. If these forms are indicative of how Citizens is run then we are indeed in for a financial disaster.

8:07:26 a.m. on June 1, 2007
BILL FRONDORF | 06.01.07 - 8:12 am | # |Report as offensive

Finally, Kellie... someone who actually "gets it".

8:51:24 a.m. on June 1, 2007
SHAO KHAN | 06.01.07 - 8:56 am | # |Report as offensive

WITH THE PROFITS THAT ARE TAKEN BY THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY EACH YEAR, WHY WOULD IT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REQUIRE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THEM TO BE HELD BACK TO COVER FUTURE LOSSES INSTEAD OF PAYING THEM OUT TO SHARE HOLDERS? THIS WOULD HAVE A GREAT EFFECT ON LEVELING OUT THE HEDIOUS UP AND HARDLY EVER DOWN RATES HOME OWNERS ARE CHARGED.

11:37:43 a.m. on June 1, 2007
JERRY JOHNSON | 06.01.07 - 11:42 am | # |Report as offensive

As many who experienced the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 can attest. The concept of insurance is okay until you actually have to use it, then it is useless. We need legislation to make windstorm optional. Individuals could use the equity they have on their property as a back up.

1:36:29 p.m. on June 1, 2007
FRANK CONIDI | 06.01.07 - 1:41 pm | # |Report as offensive

Citizens exists to support the builders who build things wrong and in areas where they shouldn't be built in the first place. It is a subsidy to the building industry which owns our state representatives.
For profit insurance companies have learned their lessons. Why should we blame them? I would do the same thing. Why insure something that is built in a wetland where a storm surge would destroy it? Builders couldn't build if buyers couldn't get insurance that their mortgage companies require. That is why federal flood insurance was created, and that is why we have Citizens.
The bottom line is, Florida is DOA, it is overbuilt, underinvested in and undercapitalized. We will be just like California, costs are going to skyrocket.
Reinforce your house, get rid of insurance, buy a bike and get rid of one of your cars and tell save lots of money and let somebody else pay for the mess.

6:54:47 p.m. on June 1, 2007
BETTY MURPHY | 06.01.07 - 6:59 pm | # |Report as offensive