[quote=patb][quote=briansd1][quote=CA renter]
but there is no doubt in my mind that the EQ codes save lives.[/quote]

Yes, but at what cost?

Sometimes the costs aren’t worth the savings. If we save 1000 lives in an earthquake at a cost of hundred of billions in contruction costs, then what benefit did we get? It would have been better to spend the money elsewhere.[/quote]

It’s not the people it’s the economic losses.

A life is worth 2 million, but a. Company can produce billions.[/quote]

Very true, pat.

Also, the buildings and infrastructure that would need to be rebuilt would likely cost far more to rebuild than to have stricter codes when built the first time.

Besides, I think life is not about dollars and cents. IMHO, it’s worth spending money to save a life, even if that person is not “worth” the amount we spend on saving him/her.