This storm may..

[murray hill farm]

show the whole country the frailty of our old and seriously in need of updating and rebuilding of our infrastructure. The electrical system as not only a serious threat to our security, but another reason to use the money from the wars to nation build at home. Weak and unsafe bridges and roads will not hold up well to this kind of event..or may be further degraded. As scary as this is, may it also be a wake up call to accentuate the need to be prepared and the important role of government is in these at home security events.

[vi5]

1. What you are talking about is predicated on...

a self awareness and introspection of even the smallest amount. Something which we as a country lacks altogether even in the most trying times.

What this will be, like every tragedy or problem or setback our country faces, is "someone else's fault". And as always it will be "other people" who are reaping the best benefits while people fail to see how they are benefiting from a strong central government and a strong infrastructure rebuild.

[murray hill farm]

2. Dang!

I hate it that I think you are right.

[countryjake]

3. I'm looking forward to Gov. Christie welcoming FEMA into NJ...

with all of the yapping that guy has done with his support for Rmoney and all of his idiotic ideas for slashing/stripping the "budget", it will be interesting to see if any distance will now form between those two.

Talk is dirt cheap about eliminating "safety nets" until one really needs to fall into one.

Romney Wants To Disband FEMA- Do You Think N.J. Governor Chris Christie Agrees With The GOP Today?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/10/29/romney-wants-to-disband-fema-do-you-think-n-j-governor-chris-christie-agrees-with-the-gop-today/

[bluestate10]

4. I doubt it.

What is needed is a company that is willing to bite a bullet and launch modern utility build-out, but given that such companies are owned by or run by selfish jackasses, don't expect to see modern utilities any time soon.

[Matariki]

5. Real life example about no money spent on infrastructure -

My sister lives on a street / neighborhood with only two ways in and out. One end of the street is accessed by a bridge which has been closed, even to foot traffic, for a few years now. The city doesn't have money to repair it. The other end of the street, and the only actual way in and out of her neighborhood now seriously floods in heavy rain because of construction which altered the course of a large creek nearby. During storms like they are expecting today there will be no way in or out of the neighborhood - even on foot.

[central scrutinizer]

6. It's also predicated upon the idea of community

something that my parents and grandparents learned during the Great Depression and WWII. Sadly, since 1980 any sense of community has been replaced by Ayn Randian individualism - I've got mine, you get off my lawn. As taxes have been slashed, maintenance has been deferred. Nothing could be more short-sighted or costly in the long fun.