Texas Trauma

On Friday, I read about an 11 year old boy who died of hypothermia in Texas. It has haunted me ever since. Zach is 11. That boy will have no future. He won't have a girlfriend or boyfriend. He won't have a family of his own. A young life ended too soon. If Texas had been part of the same power grid as nearby states, that boy may still be alive, along with many others. But, that decision wasn't his, and he paid the price with his life. 

Like most people I have been reading a lot about what has been happening in Texas this past week. In sheer republican "anti-regulation and antigovernment" defiance they decades ago decided to design their own power grid. They jumped through hoops so the federal government couldn't tell them how to regulate it. Twice previously, the last time being a decade ago, they were warned to winterize their delivery methods. They stubbornly didn't. Now, over 30 Texans have lost their lives in a long fight for warmth. In nearby states who also lost power the death toll is significantly lower.

The entire state of Texas is suffering severe Trauma right now. The weak butt of a Governor went political and blamed the clean energy source. Wind turbines. There aren't that many in Texas and the bigger problem was from the natural gas power plants. Luckily, he shut up about green energy quickly. 

In trying to avoid having to follow federal regulations, they find themselves heavily relying on the federal government for help right now. The same people that were against helping NJ recover from Tropical Storm Sandy now needs NJ money to help recover from this disaster of their own making. One that could have been significantly less severe if they made better choices. One just has to look at neaby states Louisiana and Oklahoma for proof. 

I am angry at Texas government for stupid choices that led to this disaster. Regulation is necessary for a reason, I blame all you Texas Governors over the last several decades! This grid set up to be cheap power until something like this. Now, prices are rising 300%! Significantly MORE expensive then how things are for the rest of the country. You are not doing your jobs! This was preventable and blame is exclusively on every Texas politician that proudly touted the unregulated grid. 

I am worried for the citizens of Texas. This is genuinely a traumatic event. No heat, little drinkable water. Massive home and property damage. Massive looses of crops and livestock. No one should have to live like this! No one should ever die because they are trying to stay warm over days without heat in freezing temperatures. That 11 yo boy and the 5,8, and 11 yo kids who died with their 75 yo grandma of a housefire are forever etched in my mind. That family kept the fireplace on overnight to try to heat the house. Many more died from carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia, and fires. 

I wish I could snap my fingers and solve all of these problems. A large chunk are just now recovering from Hurricane Harvey. I can't imagine how they must feel right now! They are in my prayers! I hope voters make better choices in future leaders. In the meantime, I hope no one else dies! 

I can't mention Texas without mentioning Ted Cruz and his Cancun escape. I generally try to find something positive in each situation. My positive here? At least he was wearing as mask at the airport! In general though I looked at that and said, "Seriously? Why do so many Texans think he is so great? I don't see it." But, there is a good point. At the Federal level all he can do is ask the President for support. But, he didn't have to ask. For President Biden this was a no-brainer. Of COURSE he'll help Texas wherever he can! But, Cruz still should have been in Texas bringing in supplies from other states to help.