The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Hey, you guys totally ignored this post, and I actually really wanted to know what you all thought of this idea. I know, I know -- it's about the Turkish construction industry, which isn't exactly a subject calculated to grip the imagination, but I really, seriously want to know whether anyone thinks it's a feasible idea. I'm thinking about trying to get this started.
I'm not sure how I'd go about it, and I don't know whether the government would immediately clamp down on it. One of the big problems is that all the major political parties here are in bed with the construction industry, so they'd all have a pretty strong incentive to discourage anyone from taking it on. Still, the idea strikes me as so elegant, so wonderfully free-market. Am I missing something? Is it obviously unworkable? Is there any precedent for something like this working somewhere else?
Also, I need to maintain my reputation here. At this rate I'll be demoted from Queen of Comments to comment commoner. (Mind you, my colleagues don't seem to have noticed my little comment secret, viz., that I write a lot of them myself. I guess I could just debate that one here by my lonesome, if it comes to it.)
But seriously, could we apply the collective Ricochet intellect to that problem? Indulge me; if it's as good an idea as I think it is, it could save a lot of lives.
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May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Can't help you other than to suggest that you post a cute picture of whatever critter pulls the heart-strings of Richard Epstein. He's the man on this one.
Jun '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Good morning, Claire.
I'm all for justice, but I make it a point never to willingly invite lawyers into my life. The need to hire an attorney generally leaves one much poorer for the experience. And I'm more than just a little bit dubious of lawyers who spend their time prospecting for clients. I have all the respect in the world for Messrs. Yoo and Epstein who argue purely in the abstract, but it seems to me that your average courtroom lawyer is more interested in filthy lucre than justice.
As for your promotion to queen, congratulations, but don't let it go to your head. Your realm after all is only a virtual monarchy. Though it occurs to me that the thought of Ricochet as a virtual city-state with a citizenry rather than subscribers has interesting possibilities.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
I think the idea has merit. I like free market solutions to societal problems. As for lawyers pursuing clients, well I do not think that the profit motive is an inherently dirty thing.
Unfortunately, the proposed business is far outside my expertise, as is doing any kind of business in Turkey. Therefore, I cannot comment on the prospects of success of such an enterprise.
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Well, it was a virtual republic back when I was Al Haig, although admittedly one in which no was was all that clear about what the Constitution said or why I was supposed to be in charge.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
The question is if you start advertising on TV for clients, "Brother, has a building fallen on you and your family? Do you worry that some day it might? Call now!" you will have to be willing to work on contingency. This will then only work if you win the cases. So do you have a shot at actually winning the cases?
Failing that, is there no tabloid journalism in Turkey. Could you start a great muckraking investigative report into the corrupt practice of accidentally knocking down buildings while people are still inside and stir up some populist outrage? Might that not yield results as well?
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Trace Urdan: The question is if you start advertising on TV for clients, "Brother, has a building fallen on you and your family? Do you worry that some day it might? Call now!" you will have to be willing to work on contingency. This will then only work if you win the cases. So do you have a shot at actually winning the cases?
Failing that, is there no tabloid journalism in Turkey. Could you start a great muckraking investigative report into the corrupt practice of accidentally knocking down buildings while people are still inside and stir up some populist outrage? Might that not yield results as well? · Jul 23 at 5:52am
Actually, there's lots of tabloid journalism, and no one would have tried harder than me to stir up muckraking investigative reporting into these practices. But they're so commonplace that they're not considered news, and journalists are too afraid, anyway, of getting on the wrong side of the wrong construction company.
As for whether there's a chance of winning -- yes, there's a chance. It depends which judge you get, whether the other side pays the judges off, and so forth.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
First, Claire, how robust is Turkey as a futures market? They really need to understand the concept you're pushing.
Second, you will always be our Queen of the Ottoman Empire. Although, quite frankly, I don't know why anyone would want to be the reigning monarch of an empire totally comprised of upholstered foot stools. Maybe I am having a conceptual problem...
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
The concept isn't that difficult, is it?
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Claire in America we have plenty of those companies. They do some good work. Sometimes a case can take 3 or 4 years to get to trial. In the meantime, the injured person has to eat. The company will give them money to live on until the trial in exchange for a piece of the verdict.
You could do it without a contingency case. I assume the suit is still for money even thought the attorney is paid hourly in Turkey? The client could still sell off a piece of the verdict.
It would be a great cause to bring contingency cases to Turkey. Contingency cases are how poor people get to have lawyers without government help.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Why invest in a law firm when you can invest in a construction company with higher standards? The better free market solution would be to create a company that provides quality service and watch as other companies scramble to match the demand.
I had actually read that thread two or three times before and could never muster a response. Sorry, Your Majesty.
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
This is assuming perfect information. It's hard for most people to know whether a construction company is building to code: Most people don't know enough about structural engineering to be able to look at a building and say, "That's sound," and the inspectors here -- another big flaw in the legal system -- are hired by the construction companies. (Really.) Mostly, you know that the company didn't provide quality service after the building they made collapses--which happens often, even without benefit of an earthquake.
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Justified Right:
It would be a great cause to bring contingency cases to Turkey. Contingency cases are how poor people get to have lawyers without government help. · Jul 23 at 7:13am
Yes, the suit is for money (though the courts never award the kinds of damages you see in the US), and yes, yes, yes, contingency suits are exactly how poor people get to have lawyers. I was stunned when I learned that there's no such thing here as a contingency lawsuit.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Most Americans couldn't look at a building and tell if it's built to code, yet the smart ones learn from their neighbors which companies to stay away from. Many complex problems can be boiled down to explanations and demonstrations simple enough for the average Joe (or Kaan, as the case may be) to understand. In Mexico, construction companies mixed styrofoam into concrete to save money. It's easy enough to grab a sample or take pictures of such shoddy work to introduce potential customers to the basic problems. Eventually, if the company can survive its introduction, customers wouldn't need explanations as the durability of the buildings became obvious.
The company could also start out like Habitat for Humanity. Get volunteers involved in construction for the poor, and they'll see for themselves what goes into it.
That Turkish construction companies provide their own inspectors is good news, actually, for this theoretical charity. That makes it easier to get around politicians and other establishment jerks who will try to protect the status quo.
It's not a perfect idea. But it might be better than relying on lawyers in a corrupt legal system.
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Yeah, we've been trying to get Architects for Humanity interested in this problem. So far without a lot of success. But honestly, I don't think Americans are learning from their neighbors which companies to avoid. I think most Americans feel a high level of confidence that the inspectors are doing their jobs. They know that if a company dilutes their cement with sand, say, it would face such grave criminal and civil penalties were this discovered in the aftermath of a building collapse that few companies would ever dream of taking the risk.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
I've been reading up on the Berlinski canon and I came across this in the The First Post (2008):
A mistake by a fuel-laden tanker in the treacherous and and congested straits could lay waste to Istanbul at any moment.
"For those who live in this mega-city, some of these vessels also constitute the ultimate nightmare - an accident involving a ship carrying liquid petroleum gas. Under the right conditions, it could explode like an atomic bomb, destroying the 3,000-year-old city and every living thing within a 50km radius."
At that point building codes are kind of moot. But no wonder the Turks are fatalistic.
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
Yeah, and when you factor in PKK bombings and road fatalities -- have I mentioned that the Turks are the third-worst drivers in the world, if you measure it by road deaths per capita? -- and then add to that the risk of everyone perishing from radioactive fallout in the impending regional nuclear war, you kind of get to the place I find myself, which is actually an underground bunker in an undisclosed location from which I emerge only to check that the rainwater-collection devices are still filtering properly.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
I hope you vetted the construction company that built your underground bunker. Otherwise you are soooooooo screwed. Better file that law suit now.
May '10
Re: The Queen of Comments Demands that Her Subjects Do Her Bidding
@Claire: " One of the big problems is that all the major political parties here are in bed with the construction industry"
Wait, what? You're talking about Turkey? I thought you were talking about Illinois.
BTW, it's more interesting when the string originator dialogs with the commenters, so write away.