I think we are spoiled rotten. Hurricane prediction has made amazing progress in my lifetime, and the loss of life has been reduced accordingly. Remember Galveston? Now we are quibbling about a few mph - I doubt I could tell the difference between 73 and 75 mph - the "all important" distinction between a killer Hurricane and an insignificant, insipid tropical storm.

Now if we could just do as well with earthquake prediction. Upon which political group do I place the blame for the lack of progress in this area? It must be someone's fault........