That was a [1] lot of snow getting dumped
in the midwest over the past few weeks.

And of course, natural snowstorms do occur, but with the global climate changes taking place, the rate at which some relatively disastrous snowstorms occur is anticipated to increase. Just like the incidence of drought, the flood level raining etc. The weather patterns are changing here on the small blue planet and that is primarily because of the burning of fossil fuels.
The thing I noticed as I watched the midwest snowstorms was that state and federal emergency systems were able to mobilize [2] helicopters to drop hay to stranded livestock. And I appreciate the efforts to prevent the starvation of these animals. I think it’s right, but it’s a little weird to see how the National Guard and other agencies know how to mobilize to feed cows trapped in a snowstorm, but so few of the agencies in this country could figure out how to mobilize to drop food or water to the human beings stranded in New Orleans after Katrina.

I am sorry to say it, but I think the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the cattle trapped in snowstorms in the midwest are recognized as an economic asset that must be protected where the poor folks in New Orleans just aren’t seen to have much value.

The haydrop to the midwest cattle is a feel-good story except for the fact that these animals are being fed to be slaughtered and sent to packing plants in the near future. I do like a good burger from time to time. I had a good one at the [3] Olympic Club in Centralia earlier this week, and I apologize to the bovine crowd for that weakness and habit.

And that really is key to understanding why and when our national emergency systems work now. We can mobilize when an economic asset is threatened. We talk and do the photo-op flyover when it’s just a disaster that primarily affects non-economic assets. This commercialization of the world shows up everywhere in US policy - in foreign policy and here at home.