wildfires and politics

POSTED BY: mal4prez
UPDATED: Sunday, August 9, 2026 14:08
VIEWED: 27581
PAGE 2 of 15

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NEXT PAGE

MAL4PREZ

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 5:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Wishimay:

There will still be natural disasters WITH or WITHOUT government.

Indeed. Yet we are capable of doing something about them. There are a thousands of people in CO (and other states) watching fires approach their houses, and we have the means to help them. We do not need to live like seven billion separate entities.

And if you really think "they" are doing nothing about this, you're insane. Watch the shots of houses burning in the hills right now: all around are the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. People are risking their lives to help strangers. You don't have to give up your freedoms to support the people taking these risks. You can support them by supporting government programs like firefighting, police, etc.

It is ALL FUCKING RIGHT for organizations to exist without PROFIT being their primary goal. This is what kills me about the political right - they're blinded by this fracked up idea that only organizations that exist for money are morally all right. Backasswards 100%. The point of govt is that it can support things that do nothing but help, which is better for everyone in the long run.

Or do you really think we should just let Colorado Springs burn? And just hope that morally upstanding libertarians take the high road and stop by their neighbor's house with a bucket? How in the hell will it help to have uptrained, un-prepared folks to "keep walkin'(and try ta help out those that can't.)"? You think you can face what those firefighters are dealing with right now?

Meantime, I can't tell where the fire is going. The evacuations are moving steadily east.

MAL4PREZ

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 5:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
Mal4

" ... my parents are in their home 6 miles away from the fire with their car packed, ready to go ..."

I live in a suburb very close to a national forest. In the last 6 years I’ve twice had major wildfires come (from different directions) within a mile of the house. Both times I've come through OK. It can happen. So I wish your parents the best of luck. Please let us know how things are going.

Thanks Kiki. I can't really think that the fire will get to them. If it got that far, half the city would basically be gone.

But man, what a change today. I worry about more winds tomorrow.

RIONAEIRE

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 5:59 AM

Wishing your parents safety. This has to be really scary and unpleasant for you, its in your family's stompin' ground and that's scary.

Government: As annoying as they can sometimes be, the good they can do is not something I'll ever be able to overlook. Government's job should be to help the people and aiding in natural disasters is something that definitely qualifies. This, and social programs of course, is why I could never be a libertarian, sometimes neighbors helping each other just isn't enough. Let us know what's happening there.

I have Kathy Bates on speed dial, mwa ha ha ha (in exaggeratedly evil voice)

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya.

YINYANG

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 6:47 AM

Holy shit! I thought things were bad up where I am (near the High Park fire). While there has been a lot of property damage, the vast majority of the fire is burning trees. Waldo Canyon is threatening a lot more homes.

Keeping the people of Colorado Springs in my thoughts.

if the grass is greener on the other side, it's only because I'm not attending mine

MAGONSDAUGHTER

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 6:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
I'm glued to the online broadcast of the fire in Colorado Springs. It hasn't hit the wider web yet, but you can get the local news here:

http://www.krdo.com/news/WATCH-LIVE-KRDO-NewsChannel-13/-/417220/14776
454/-/12eydmxz/-/index.html

The western suburbs are burning, 32,000 are evacuated, my dad's office building has burned down, my parents are in their home 6 miles away from the fire with their car packed, ready to go.

Setting aside my own grief and worry, I'm shaking my head at the politics that are already started about this. They just had a news conference and some yahoo was already at it, trying to set this disaster up as the fault of the federal gov't "getting in the way" or something. (All the people actually fighting the fire flat-out set him straight about that.) Yet, this is also the feds' fault for not doing enough. Never mind the extremely dry conditions, the multiple days of 100+ degree heat, or the 60 mph winds that whipped up at exactly the wrong time this afternoon.

I'm trying not to let my shock and worry lead me to saying mean things, but I need to ask our conservative friends if they really want to get rid of the federal govt and leave every community in the country to battle disasters like this on their own. You can't have it both ways. You can't cut everything back, then demand instant and unlimited help when you need it. You can't say you want the feds the hell out of your life, then blame them when they don't swoop down and save you in a near impossible situation.

So many other issues related to this. Climate change, for instance... ?

Anyway, please discuss. I'll be up all night anyway, checking to see which way this thing goes.

I know what you are going through.

Take care of yourself and stay safe.

YINYANG

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 7:12 AM

I'm watching this live stream right now. Seems like reporters always ask evacuees the stupidest questions.

http://www.kktv.com/video/live

if the grass is greener on the other side, it's only because I'm not attending mine

PHOENIXROSE

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 7:18 AM

Seems like this whole damn state is burning I heard today that the Springs fire is the number one fire priority in the nation because so many homes are at risk. So there's that one, the High Park fire (currently the most destructive in state history) that I'm seeing smoke from every day, and the brand-new fire in Boulder county that I could smell smoke from today, and I think there are something like five others throughout the Front Range. We've had two or three thunderstorms, and the lighting just sparks more fires, and I don't think there's been a day this week where the high temp was less that 100; record-setting heat has been typical. They've stopped a bunch of them, too! I can only imagine what it would be like if all the fires that have started were still burning. We'd probably have fifty of them.
Oh! And authorities are chasing down some crazed arsonist who is lighting even more fires! Up in Teller county, they think someone has lit at least a dozen wildfires. Just what we need.

In terms of politics... I have to say that if I were a campaign strategist for the president, I would tell him to just run footage of all these wildfires interspliced with Romney saying we don't need more firefighters. Considering the amount of devastation and the definite and undeniable need for firefighters here, I think it would make Romney pretty unpopular in Colorado. Maybe I'm wrong, but there are now thousands of firefighters in this state risking their lives, and I'm just... I'm totally on their side.

What reason had proved best ceased to look absurd to the eye, which shows how idle it is to think anything ridiculous except what is wrong.

KWICKO

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 11:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
Wish

"heaven and earth are not humane"

And that's why people should be.

QFMFT.

MAL4PREZ

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 12:37 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by YINYANG:
Holy shit! I thought things were bad up where I am (near the High Park fire). While there has been a lot of property damage, the vast majority of the fire is burning trees. Waldo Canyon is threatening a lot more homes.

Keeping the people of Colorado Springs in my thoughts.

I've seen some news from people out there near Boulder, maybe closer to where you and PR are. Fires all around. This is just crazy. Such a complicated situation, because with efforts focused on the Springs I hope other fires aren't neglected. Never mind the new ones!

There's total rage against careless smokers going on. Some commenter was ready to lynch a guy last night because he didn't chase down someone else who threw a butt out their car window. Nuts!

Anyway, I'm hoping for good news in the morning updates, and wishing the best for all you living out west.

WISHIMAY

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 3:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:

There will still be natural disasters WITH or WITHOUT government.

Indeed. Yet we are capable of doing something about them.

Or do you really think we should just let Colorado Springs burn? How in the hell will it help to have uptrained, un-prepared folks

I support Firefighters, as I wouldn't allow one to risk THEIR life for my stupid house.
As for being un-prepared...If you live in Indiana, you SHOULD expect tornadoes, if you live in one of those areas in California you should expect mudslides...live near a forest in summer, prolly outta expect a fire could happen... We had some tornadoes in this area last year. WE didn't get federal aid because people got off their butts and cleaned it up themselves. That's the way it should be...

Life is unexpected. If you have an interest in your own, might wanna plan for the unexpected.

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NEXT PAGE