On this snowy day in January, my thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by the devastating wildfires in California. These tragic events serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of years of failed leadership and mismanagement. Having spent twenty years of my Navy career in Southern California my heart breaks when I see the sheer destruction that is now taking place with no end in sight.
Although the media may be focused on the losses of “celebrities,” many middle-class families whose parents staked their claim in the City of Angels years ago when housing was affordable have lost everything due to the apparent gross ineptitude and negligence of “leadership.” Years of toil have literally vanished in a flash and more than likely they will never be replaced as many insurance underwriters cancelled homeowners’ insurance policies because they were aware of the lack of basic preventative measures by State and local governments to mitigate such disasters.
As citizens, we expect our tax dollars to be directed toward critical services like maintenance, prevention, and mitigation to help reduce the impact of natural disasters. Sadly, the ongoing wildfires highlight the urgent need for better preparedness and foresight not only in Southern California but across the nation as hurricane Helene dramatically taught us this just a few months ago. Many of the residents who lost it all are still living in tents in America’s heartland without the benefit of heat or electricity. This is unsatisfactory for a nation that prides itself on taking care of its own.
If anything, these most recent disasters has illustrated that those public servants seeking to represent us must be thoroughly vetted for their educational background, professional experience, ability to think critically, make sound decisions, and exercise common sense. We must demand accountability and hold our leaders responsible for the decisions that affect our safety, environment, and future.
The nation can no longer afford leaders who make ill-informed decisions and, as it appears on first blush, were selected for positions of responsibility based on qualities other than their ability to make sound and rational decisions. I have yet to see one “leader” on the scene step forward and say, “this was my fault, I will ensure this does not happen again.” My military background tells me that a true leader takes full responsibility for his or her actions vice finger pointing or tap dancing around the issue.
This year we will hold local and state elections for those who, through their actions, or inactions may determine whether we live or die in the face of such tragedies. Choose wisely because as Hurricane Helene and this latest tragedy have taught us, someday your life or those of your loved ones may depend on it.
