HAMMURABI: He'd be insulted

I take serious exception to the ridiculous assertion made by Mr. James Crowe in his letter to The Press of April 18. In no way can the Law Codes of Hammurabi be understood as building codes. His codex refers to after the fact of construction, akin to what in today’s culture and language are essentially liability issues, whether or not building codes are in place. Quite to the contrary, building codes focus on prevention, before and during construction.

I am not a lawyer, but my understanding of the current discussion about county building codes does not change the potential liability issues resulting from faulty design and/or construction. It would seem to me that they would remain unchanged under any of the proposed approaches.

My comments in no way reflect my thinking on the building code issue. Rather they provide me with an opportunity to speak on the lack of critical thinking so prevalent in our culture. Such a superficial (one dimensional) approach and their public misrepresentation is a cause for confusion and division. It can have the eventual effect of increasing bureaucracy and its cost to taxpayers.

Further, in the case of Mr. Crowe, with all his noted titles and positions, it can cast doubt on the credibility of the various organizations he mentions. Is this representative of their collective lack of reason in general? More rational thought and homework is advised before picking up the pen.

FRANK ORZELL

Coeur d’Alene