America is not immune to natural disasters. But it's not the fires, floods, or earthquakes that are the most devastating. It is a repeated failure to learn from them, prevent them and take responsibility for the damage.
My heart goes out to the families who lost their homes, precious memories, and livelihoods. But if we are to help California rebuild and prevent future disasters, we must face uncomfortable truths about leadership, responsibility, and priorities.
Ironically, in the name of environmental protection, California continues to ignore solutions that protect both the environment and its residents.
While Californians continue to face heartbreaking loss, those with the power to make a difference continue to struggle with the bureaucracy, regulations, and ideologies that do nothing to save lives or protect the land. I'm stuck in a quagmire. result? It continues to burn year after year.
Where did all the water go?
We all know that water is essential for life. When NASA searches for signs of life on other planets, it also looks for water. But California has ignored water infrastructure for decades. The state hasn't built a new major reservoir since 1979, more than 40 years ago. At the time, California's population was about half what it is today. Despite significant population growth, the state's water storage capacity remains frozen and woefully inadequate for current needs.
Additionally, billions of gallons of rainwater flow directly into the ocean each year because there is no infrastructure to capture and store it. Imagine how different things would have been if California had built reservoirs, aqueducts, and desalination plants to provide water during the dry season.
Water is life, but lives and ecosystems are at risk because states do not prioritize this essential resource.
Misplaced priorities and serious leadership failures
This neglect of critical infrastructure is part of a larger failure of vision, and the effects of that failure are on full display in California.
Consider Los Angeles' progressive leadership. The mayor cut the fire department's budget, which funds homeless assistance programs, and funneled money to NGOs with little oversight. Helping the homeless is a worthy cause, but it cannot be done at the expense of protecting life and property from a devastating fire. Leaders must prioritize safety and well-being over political agendas, and that is not happening in Los Angeles.
The same misplaced priorities apply to environmental policy. Progressive leaders have prioritized dead trees over living ones and thwarted wise forest management practices. They reject controlled burning, forest thinning, and other common-sense measures, bowing to activist demands rather than considering real solutions to protect the people they govern.
California's wildfire crisis is in many ways a man-made disaster. Sure, factors like Southern California's dry climate, Santa Ana's strong winds, and little rain play a role, but the biggest factor is poor land management.
The forest is choked with dry brush, dead trees, and plants, and every spark turns into a potential inferno. The crisis could have been alleviated if the state had prioritized forest management and fire prevention.
For example, Finland and Sweden understand the importance of maintaining healthy forests. These countries have perfected techniques for sustainably clearing and thinning trees, turning potential fire fuels into biomass energy. This approach not only reduces wildfire risk but also creates jobs, boosts the economy and improves ecosystems. Yet California continues to ignore these solutions that protect both the environment and its residents, ironically in the name of environmental protection.
We need to stop acting as if catastrophic events like the Palisades and Eaton fires are just “a part of life” and hold our leaders accountable.
Insurance rules put California residents at risk
California faces another important responsibility that is often overlooked when it comes to natural disasters: insurance.
Continuing disasters in California expose the state to uninsurable risks. Insurers are pulling out because the potential for widespread damage is too high. This creates a vicious cycle. When private insurance companies disappear, the government will start subsidizing high-risk areas. This allows people to rebuild in fire-prone areas, perpetuating the destruction. The solution is not more government intervention. It's better decision making.
This doesn't mean leaving people to their fate, but we must address the root of California's problems: inadequate disaster preparedness and poor land management. No amount of insurance or government assistance will be enough to mitigate losses if states continue to resist common-sense solutions such as forest thinning, controlled forest burning, and improved zoning laws. This cycle repeats until the economic and human costs become unbearable. It's time to stop pretending the risks aren't real and start making decisions that reflect California's reality.
What could be the solution? California's government needs to address the harmful political agenda that puts residents at risk. Let's start by managing forests. Conduct controlled burns, remove dead wood, and mow underbrush.
But how you vote matters. California's progressive policies are focused on political correctness and ideology rather than practical solutions that will save lives. Until voters hold their leaders accountable, the cycle of destruction will continue.
I want more glenn beck?Get Glenn's free email newsletter Get his latest insights, top stories, show prep and more delivered to your inbox.
