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Original poster

Texas is really, really bloody scary right now

336 replies

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 19/02/2021 13:46

People were struggling with poverty even when things were going well. They've been hard hit by COVID, and now this.

Link here www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/18/texas-food-banks-crisis-storm-freezing-supplies

Terrifying.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 19/02/2021 21:58

That's the one. I haven't checked but supposedly the countries are all the right size.

Kendodd · 19/02/2021 21:58

But I still stand by my 'no way to fairly and accurately represent a global world on a flat map' statement. Because it's true Smile

pallisers · 19/02/2021 21:58

Four days ago my family in Texas was without electricity, under a boil water advisory, and the roads were very dangerous. It was terrifying. They went almost 4 days without any electricity, little food and no safe water.

I'm very sorry for them. The stories and pictures out of Texas are awful.

Their situation has nothing to do with the federal government - which has been explicitly removed from regulation of the energy grid in Texas for years now. It has everything to do with the refusal of politician in Texas at local state and federal level to feel any sense of responsibility to do what they were elected to do - govern and serve.

Kendodd · 19/02/2021 22:03

Turkey looks small as well, and South Africa. I wonder if it's true that the counties are all correctly sized? I hope so.

Lweji · 19/02/2021 22:03

Yes. It is almost as if they were an island, because their chosen leaders turned Texas into one, effectively. Many states around had similar weather and didn't suffer similar consequences.
Spain recently had similar weather and didn't suffer as much.

hannayeah · 19/02/2021 22:05

[quote Roussette]Why judge Cruz and Biden get different measures?

And your comments on AOC who has raised $2M, a Democrat NY Senator who is on her way down to Texas to help?

[https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1362809024480243714?s=19][/quote]
I think it’s great!

I’m not a hypocrite though. I use the same measure to judge everyone.

Lweji · 19/02/2021 22:08

Sorry, wrong thread. Grin

Roussette · 19/02/2021 22:08

Yes, it is great. I wonder if Cruz will carry on with his hate on her

Kendodd · 19/02/2021 22:29

@Lweji
I think you should pop up and post that on every thread. Grin

hannayeah · 19/02/2021 22:35

@Roussette

Yes, it is great. I wonder if Cruz will carry on with his hate on her
I would be shocked if anyone in Washington changed their modus operandi. It is not currentlg an environment where people are kind to the opposition or critical of their own, even when its deserved. It is as if they feel there is something to lose by being honest or fair.
RuledbyASD · 19/02/2021 22:38

Sorry if I sound a bit stupid but I've had a lot going on the past week - can somebody please explain why they lost their power? I'm so confused. Tried looking at us news sites but they don't seem to explain why this happened, just what is happening now

hannayeah · 19/02/2021 22:43

@pallisers

Who is blaming the US federal government?

hannayeah · 19/02/2021 22:48

@RuledbyASD

Sorry if I sound a bit stupid but I've had a lot going on the past week - can somebody please explain why they lost their power? I'm so confused. Tried looking at us news sites but they don't seem to explain why this happened, just what is happening now
Unexpected, unusually bad winter weather put a burden on the electric supply + lack of ability to accept help from outside the state.

This explains the second part nicely

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-set-stage-its-energy-crisis-more-80-years-ago-n1258341

dreamingbohemian · 19/02/2021 22:52

@Kendodd

But it's still third. Could have been first, but it's third. Same as Europe being at the top of the map, and inflated in size. Could have been at the bottom, there's no up in space, but it's not. Could have used a different projection so it wasn't giant, but didn't. These things aren't accidents, they are ingrained prejudice

I prefer 'majority world'. I'm hoping it catches on.
I agree with the top, bottom and 1, 2, 3 thing but in fairness there's no way to fairly and accurately represent a global world on a flat map.
I've never heard 'majority world' used, 'the South' or 'Global South' is often used.

In the 90s people started using developed or developing countries, instead of third world, but that's also really problematic

Today it's usually global North or global South

Mykittensmittens · 19/02/2021 22:59

@countingthestarswithmini

To be fair other states and countries cope really well with -18c temp.
They do.

But this is the first time in 25 years this state has dealt with it. They are in no way prepared or accustomed.

My parents are there. It’s not fun. They’re now in hotel due to burst pipes, lack of food and water, and power outages. They are the most able and adventurous people (despite being in their 70’s) and they are stoically saying they are okay compared to some.

Tonight they are in a hotel with no water but have intermittent power. They have pot noodle type meals and a kettle. They are lucky frankly. Others aren’t so fortunate.

pallisers · 19/02/2021 23:00

[quote hannayeah]@pallisers

Who is blaming the US federal government?[/quote]
you referenced and compared President Biden and Senator Cruz in your post and asked why Biden wasn't being treated the same as Cruz -I answered.

Mykittensmittens · 19/02/2021 23:02

Also - their heating which is barely needed is now run to maximum. In every house in the state. Their water plants need electricity to work so are unable to due to demand on the electricity network. Lots of homes don’t have dual fuel as we do and the majority are are designed to cool hot Texas houses not warm them up. The whole system is on overload.

pallisers · 19/02/2021 23:03

@RuledbyASD

Sorry if I sound a bit stupid but I've had a lot going on the past week - can somebody please explain why they lost their power? I'm so confused. Tried looking at us news sites but they don't seem to explain why this happened, just what is happening now
Their supply systems - including electricity and water - had not been winterised despite recommendations to do so for several years. They opted out of the national grid so nearby states could not provide power to them.

El Paso Texas opted into one of the national grids and never lost power.

hannayeah · 19/02/2021 23:13

@pallisers

In the US when there is a disaster the President does actually get involved even if the Federal government did not cause the problem. The Feds don’t have to be responsible in order to have a role in the solution.

Biden obviously has much more more power than any one Senator. Ted Cruz being wrong/stupid for leaving doesn’t make the optics of Biden playing video games at Camp David while citizens in the country he governs are at grave risk any less foolish. Even if he does everything that is required to help (and I believe he did), it gives the wrong appearance.

I suppose anything Cruz could really do to truly help he could do from anywhere just like Biden could. I still don’t think he should have gone to Mexico.

pallisers · 19/02/2021 23:26

I live in the US and am a US citizen so I understand the intersection between the federal and state governments.

The president did exactly what he was supposed to do to help Texas- as I explained in a previous post and as Gov Abbott acknowledged.

Biden playing video games is utterly irrelevant and tbh sounds like the kind of play of "but the wind turbines caused all this"

I wish people would take responsibilty for their decisions in the US. Texas chose to be off the national grid and not to invest in winterising their systems. They chose Cruz - I think his actions this week should tell everyone what he is. Biden did what he could. He is not relevant or responsible for what is going down in Texas - god help them. him playing video games with his grandchildren is just such a piece of hocus pocus look over here distraction that I can't even understand how anyone who has had loved ones suffer in Texas has time for it.

pallisers · 19/02/2021 23:28

In the US when there is a disaster the President does actually get involved even if the Federal government did not cause the problem. The Feds don’t have to be responsible in order to have a role in the solution.

And again as you seem to have missed it - BIden DID what the federal government is supposed to do - days ago. From Abbott:

“I thank President Biden for quickly issuing a Federal Emergency Declaration…This disaster declaration provides Texas with additional resources and assistance that help our communities respond to this winter weather.”

apalledandshocked · 19/02/2021 23:52

@hannayeah "Even if he does everything that is required to help (and I believe he did), it gives the wrong appearance."
Surely the "appearance"/"optics" comes a far distant second to actually doing what needs to be done to help. If anything there needs to be less focus on trying to spin any situation to make the president look like a big stable genius hero (naming no names). You can put a shit in a gold plated toilet and its still a shit.

hannayeah · 20/02/2021 00:02

@pallisers

Then I really don’t understand you saying it’s not the federal government to blame.

You and I obviously have different standards about what all elected leaders should be doing during a National crisis. And that’s ok.