The devastating winter weather storms have taken lives and caused lack of electricity, water, and shelter. Damages from the storms are going to cost over $200 billion. These storms have also shown a sense of division between our country’s response to climate change. In Texas there even has been a major disaster declared. Despite this, both parties still have been showing different responses and not much unity.
Texas has had so much trouble with this storm because they choose to have their power grids separate from the rest of the country to avoid federal regulation. This means that many different corporations can make their own choices of what to regulate also. This has caused a lot of outrage looking back after the impact it has had on Texas. Even though many have been claiming that “green energy” is the cause for most of the failures, in the blackouts, Texas’s grid reportedly lost approximately five times as much power from natural gas as from wind, after gas production and pipelines froze. This ties into the battle between climate change and corporations that can be seen far further than just this storm and texas.
There have been many different political reactions to the storm. The two most publicized have been Ted Cruz and Joe Biden. Joe Biden visited Texas on Friday after declaring the national emergency. He also has stated that, “We’re not here today as Democrats or Republicans,” Mr. Biden said. “We’re here today as Americans.” This has become a stark contrast of the outcry of Ted Cruz’s vacation during the emergency. Many have been deeply upset by him leaving his home state when it was in such a state of distraught.
One can hope that this will open more doors to infrastructure change and more talks of unity. Do you think that it is okay for Cruz to go on vacation during this time? Do you think that we need to create infrastructure change to help prepare more? Was Texas at fault for not wanting to have to abide by federal regulations?
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/26/us/politics/biden-texas-storm-recovery.html
https://www.newstatesman.com/world/north-america/2021/02/what-texas-storm-reveals-about-climate-politics-us
I do think that it was very noble and it showed great leadership when President Biden made the statement that they weren't there at that time as "Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans". I like how he said that to bring some kind of peace. On the other hand, Cruz left his home state out to dry but at the same time he was on a family vacation. I do see where he could be in the wrong and I don't think that he is responsible for the way that the weather played out in Texas.
ReplyDelete-Jameson H
I believe President Biden did a great job at reaching past party lines to join a divided nation together. I believe Cruz should have stayed with his state in a time of distress. I believe Biden showed great leadership and Cruz should try to do the same.
ReplyDeleteTexas's situation has been a source of concern for much of America. In fact, Texas has been a great source of controversy overall, with the storms, water crisis, and newly removed mask mandate. In regards to how the storms were handled, I think Biden's decision to confront the situation with words of unity was a good way to go. With all of the tension and division, it was a smart choice to appeal to America as a whole. -Kirstyn
ReplyDeleteI think that President Biden did a good job trying to unite the country in crisis. I don't think Texas is at fault because they had a good reason to have separate power grids. I don't think that going on vacation was a good look. If he was a normal guy it's fine and I don't have a problem with him leaving on vacation. But it probably wont help him win the next election he's in.- Tanner R
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