The old question is whether someone is determined by nature or nurture? The same can be said of the outcomes of public policy—nature or policy.
- “What the hell was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass doing taking a junket to Ghana after being briefed on the imminent danger her city faced from upcoming weather conditions?
- The State blocking conveyance of water from the Sacramento River delta from being transported to where it is needed by Central Valley farmers and residents of Southern California. Such policies were the result putting the priorities of wacko environmentalists before the needs of residents.
- Bowing to environmental organizations who have opposed forest management intended to reduce fire danger by thinning brush and overgrown trees that fuel disasters like this.
- Allowing court challenges and unneeded environmental reviews from building needed water storage facilities around the State. Not only have these procedures wasted time, but have contributed to excessive construction costs that continue to plague all building done in California.
- There are also other factors such as putting DEI before sound conservation practices and incompetence of government agencies in making a bad situation worse.
More than anything the present situation is a product of the fruits of one party rule in California.
As for me, the facts are clear—policy is the cause of the disasters we face—failure to provide forest management, water, hiring based on DEI not qualifications. Government is the cause of the disasters.
Force Majeure Explained by Richard Eber
Richard Eber, Exclusive to the California Political News and Views, 1/20/25 www.capoliticalnewsandviews.com
Whenever a disaster such as the Santa Anna Winds fueled fires in Los Angeles transpires, an army of attorneys can always be found to sue a deep pocketed sugar daddy for damages.
It doesn’t matter if the event could be defined as “Force Majeure”, an act of God and/or nature. Some ones gotta be on the hook.
Liberal politicians from Washington D.C. to Sacramento appear to be leaning on Climate Change to explain why over 12,000 structures were burned to the ground in Southern California. This resulted in untold billions of dollars in claims filed by injured parties.
Of course no further proof of fault need be required in the court of liberal public opinion. Under this scenario, the liability for the firestorms rested upon stubborn Republicans who resist falling in line with Green New Deal policies. Somehow the arrival of annual seasonal winds is related to excess CO2 flooding the atmosphere..
Climate change must be the culprit!
Based upon historical data, no scientific evidence has demonstrated California’s unpredictable weather is environmentally induced. Going back over 500 years, when only Indians lived in what would become the Golden State, virtually identical Santa Anna conditions prevailed.
The major difference was that a small population found it easier to survive. Thousands of residences were not located in fire prone locales. Native Americans had a much better sense in dealing with their surroundings. Back then, everything was much simpler and easier to explain
.
Force Majeure could be easier understood then. Mother Nature was their master. Fish and wildlife were abundant. So were smelt whose existence has been held responsible for needed water resources not flowing South.
As might be expected Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and the Karen Bass’s of the world have no time right now to reflect on the causes for the disaster .
They are telling the press of being too busy with relief operations to contemplate what went wrong with faulty government response when the fires began? Much like children, Progressives prefer to hide until the smoke clears to avoid scrutiny
They have much to cover-up in dealing with their incompetence in reacting to the crisis. This includes:
- What the hell was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass doing taking a junket to Ghana after being briefed on the imminent danger her city faced from upcoming weather conditions?
- The State blocking conveyance of water from the Sacramento River delta from being transported to where it is needed by Central Valley farmers and residents of Southern California. Such policies were the result putting the priorities of wacko environmentalists before the needs of residents.
- Bowing to environmental organizations who have opposed forest management intended to reduce fire danger by thinning brush and overgrown trees that fuel disasters like this.
- Allowing court challenges and unneeded environmental reviews from building needed water storage facilities around the State. Not only have these procedures wasted time, but have contributed to excessive construction costs that continue to plague all building done in California.
- There are also other factors such as putting DEI before sound conservation practices and incompetence of government agencies in making a bad situation worse.
More than anything the present situation is a product of the fruits of one party rule in California.
Whatever the misdeeds of Governor Newsom or Mayor Bass, the pyro disaster would likely still occurred. Perhaps not as bad but still a case of Force Majeure in action.
As such, the law of the land does not recognize the phenomena. California’s abundant consumer protection laws don’t allow for this.
Attorney’s are always looking for deep pockets to fuel their costly litigation efforts. This has led
to insurance carriers no longer wanting to do business here. The cancelation of thousands of fire insurance policies throughout the state are a product of such folly.
Already suits are being prepared against Southern California Edison blaming the company for the firestorm. Even if they are successful, it will be the customers of the utility who will end up paying the parties who were wronged, while lawyers get richer.
What to do?
- California government needs to focus on taking care of the needs of its constituents rather than be impaired by needing a belt and suspender approach to providing service
- Torte reform is a must.
- Reduce the power of courts and unelected bureaucrats to conduct conveyance of government policies.
- State government needs to stop falling under the influence of lobbyists and special interests who help influence the allocation of resources
- A makeover of how governments on all levels in California conducts business is essential.
In order to implement any of these improvements, the power of those who contribute to political campaigns in Sacramento must be reduced.. This means putting an end to unlimited-complete Progressive power that strangles any meaningful opposition from materializing.
This does not mean force majeure, be it floods, earthquakes, and firestorms, can be avoided. However. the manor we deal with such circumstances can be better dealt with.
If ever a need existed, the firestorm has sent us a message that should be heard loud and clear by all.
