Strain Quotations | Page 3

We tolerate, even promote, many things we once regarded as evil, wrong, or immoral. And then we seek "explanations" for an act that seems beyond comprehension. Remove societal restraints on some evils and one can expect the demons to be freed to conduct other evil acts.

Given the massive catastrophe losses absorbed by insurers in nine-months 2005, the increase in income and surplus during the first three quarters of the year is a testament to the underlying financial health of the industry. But we can't afford to lose sight of the fact that, as bad as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were, insurers and the public remain exposed to far more devastating catastrophes that could strain insurers' ability to fulfill their obligations to policyholders. According to PCS, Hurricane Katrina caused a record $38.1 billion in direct insured losses to property. But catastrophe modeling by AIR Worldwide shows we face the prospect of hurricanes causing more than $100 billion in damage. Even as we applaud insurers' success coping with the catastrophes of 2005, we must do more to assure that insurers and the people they serve will survive when even more devastating storms strike.

Many young families today are two-income families. The time constraint that this puts on families makes it difficult for young leaders to be able to commit to being involved in civic life.

To have an antitrust violation, you have to have a contract or conspiracy in restraint of trade." ()

Given what illegal immigration costs each year, given that 30 percent of inmates in our federal prisons are illegal aliens and given the strain illegal immigration puts on our health care, it's a small price to pay.

If the strain is not relieved, it will have highly corrosive and long-term effects on the military.

If we pick the wrong pathogen to develop a vaccine and a new strain comes out, then vaccine development is futile.

If we aren't able to improve the highway and transit systems and if we aren't able to get some more rental housing, there will be a real constraint on our ability to grow and to even maintain what we have.

If such an oil shock occurred, the risk of a hard landing would increase. Fed officials would be faced with conflicting objectives -- on one hand offsetting the restraint exerted by higher oil prices on economic activity, and on the other hand keeping inflationary expectations in check.

If something does happen, there are some restraint moves they are taught.