The power's back on in Texas but the crisis continues [View all]

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

Source: cnn

(CNN)Americans should be able to expect a few simple things from their politicians: Tell the truth, don't be a hypocrite, keep the lights on and the water running But just like mayors get in trouble when streets aren't plowed or trash isn't picked up, governors get blame when the state power system fails, even though the power systems operate largely on their own. Or in the case of most of Texas, entirely on its own.
The government also gets the blame when it can't quickly mobilize to help people who are stuck in a major natural disaster get warm, get fed and flush their toilets. The weather is going to do what it's going to do, but the warnings that climate change will cause more and more freak weather events have been getting louder for years, and it is the job of the government to be ready to relieve these crises.

Taking responsibility. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday he takes responsibility for the failure of his state's unique power system -- formed in 1970, long before he was in politics -- to plan for the catastrophic ice and cold that shut his state down and turned off the lights.
The system commonly known as ERCOT, is more formally, and inappropriately this week, called the Electric Reliability Commission of Texas.
"I'm taking responsibility for the current status of ERCOT. Again, I find what has happened unacceptable," Abbott said, and called on lawmakers to change the system and noted top officials overseeing it were not from Texas.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/politics/what-matters-february-18/index.html