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pants_mcgee t1_j1kmtuv wrote

To be expected. People die in extreme weather.

−64

KerPop42 t1_j1kqjam wrote

That's very cold-hearted. They died due to harsh winds and cold temperatures. Each death was avoidable and points to a way we should improve.

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Spetznazx t1_j1l1cii wrote

> exposure, car crashes, a falling tree limb

That middle one points to the fact people need to be smarter with dangerous weather like this. The first one too potentially if it was some drunken idiot who fell asleep outside. And I'm not talking homeless drunken idiot, I'm talking someone with a home to get to but went out drinking in a severe snow storm.

During severe weather storms affecting like 75% of the county 18 deaths is actually amazing, more people die in single tornado strikes.

−8

pants_mcgee t1_j1kr5v8 wrote

That’s life.

We’re privileged enough that 18 deaths in a Winter storm that affects 250 million people is a headline.

−58

KyurMeTV t1_j1kta6l wrote

Ok, so that’s 18 ways to improve next time.

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pants_mcgee t1_j1kunk2 wrote

18 deaths is barely worth the ink on the papers.

If you want to make a difference, keep an eye on your elder neighbors and direct the homeless to shelters.

−52

k4zoo t1_j1kzr6n wrote

Can we do both? Improve survival outcomes for ALL americans and help neighbors and the homeless?

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pants_mcgee t1_j1l0ekn wrote

Sure could, and largely have.

To the point 18 deaths across most of a continent make the headlines.

−3

Whitley2001 t1_j1l3g6j wrote

You really need to get yourself checked for psychopathy, or at the very least, Aspergers. Either that or you’re just an edgy 14 year old.

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KerPop42 t1_j1kus9i wrote

"That's life" is a challenge, not an admission. We can bury our power lines underground. We can improve our warning and help people prepare. We can promote more energy-efficient housing. We can get that number lower.

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pants_mcgee t1_j1kvim7 wrote

The challenge has been accepted and accomplished already. 18 deaths is a rounding error of a rounding error.

For everything else you want, just vote for Democrats.

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KerPop42 t1_j1kwew1 wrote

18 naively is a rounding error. However, power systems across the country failed and had to institute ruling blackouts. Those rolling blackouts can be very dangerous for certain non-negligible portions of the population. That's how the deaths indicate a systemic failure.

Yeah, it's not 9/11. But it's also not "just life"

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pants_mcgee t1_j1kymc2 wrote

It absolutely is life and our new normal.

The weakest/oldest/youngest dying to the elements has been the norm for 250,000 years or longer.

We just got used to our technology and cheap energy over the last 100 years. We’re not even returning to that normal, the stagnation of political will to fix things and the accelerating destruction of the climate humans have evolved in are just making things worse.

We are spoiled to the point that 18 deaths is a headline.

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gryphmaster t1_j1lk113 wrote

Makes sense now, he’s a conservative

−1

YamburglarHelper t1_j1lt4ru wrote

That seems like an inaccurate assumption, actually.

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gryphmaster t1_j1lt9yc wrote

He seems to think democrats are the “get everything you want party”. I would not assume that he’s politically to the left of them

Also the lack of regard for human life is a big tipoff

1