Monday, January 6, 2014

Like/Dislike? Youdia weighs in on Winter Storm

Not that I expect you Political Warriors to weigh in on the side of criticizing District 204's decision to cancel school today, but people took to their Youdia Soap Boxes to state their claims against their government action to shut down roads, schools and meetings.


Until further notice, NO VEHICLES except police, fire and other emergency vehicles are to be on the road.

Lake County Commissioner and Lake County Sheriff John Buncich have declared a state of emergency for all of Northwest Indiana. Until further notice, only emergency vehicles, law enforcement, medical and highway department vehicles are to be on the roadways.

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To me the closures make sense. But not so much to others. In NW Indiana this morning, INDOT had to "rescue" drivers/cars that went around barricades.

Here were some comments on Facebook:

Garry Szumsky ·
This is NOT a state of emergency. It is a SNOWSTORM. This is the midwest, and it is near Lake Michigan. We get these in Winter. We've been getting them in Winter for hundreds of years. The blizzard of '67 dumped 23 inches of snow on us. Wind gusts were up to 53 mph and drifts were up to 6 feet high. I was almost killed in that one, and no one declared any "state of emergency". In the blizzard of '79 we got 19 inches of snow, which was on top of the 10 inches that were already there. Building were destroyed in that blizzard, and all city trains were disabled. No state of emergency. In '99 we got 22 inches of snow in 2 days, 18.8 in 1 day alone - the single most amount of snow in 1 day ever in Chicagoland. we had 60 mph gusts and lake Shore Drive had to be shut down because of water from the lake freezing the road solid. That blizzard caused 43 deaths, either from exposure or heart attacks while shoveling. No "state of Emergency declared.

Last winter, schools were closing BEFORE a snowstorm even arrived, based solely on the predictions of weathermen. That storm never arrived. Now we have a "state of emergency" over, what? is it up to 6 or 7 inches yet?
Someone wants to make wimps out of all of us. We are being taught to be afraid of everything, even NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS that our parents and grandparents took for granted would happen. This is not only sad, it is a tad frightening.
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Aaron Thomas Gibson · Lansing, Illinois
Ok I'll drive where ever when ever I want!
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Jorge Big-g Urbina · C.e.o/founder and owner at Titanium Productions
Are the county's going to notify our employer's? Btw it's our choice to be on the road. on my way to work or to joy ride . You can't stop us.
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Craig Wilson · OTR Driver at USA Truck
Driving is a privelidge not a right and they do have the right and power to stop you.
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Jeffrey Machado III · Top Commenter · Front Range Community College
At least call it what it is, Martial Law. It may be wise not to go out, but police do not dictate freedom of travel. Now, if someone chooses to go out, they should not expect to get assistance from anyone else. If you are not free to make decisions, even really bad ones, you are not free at all.
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Elizabeth Moore
Don't get me wrong...I'm not going anywhere, but how on earth does the "Lake County Commissioner and Lake County Sheriff" have authority to speak and dictate closures for "all of Northwest Indiana?" Typical Lake County, lol.
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Joe MolonLabe · Top Commenter · Consultant at Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated
Why not just say "No emergency services for drivers" instead? This isn't Nazi Germany, you can't tell people they no longer have the Right to travel.
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Sharon Kelly · Harper High School
The more control we give this darn goverment the more they CONTROL US!!!! Still refuse Obama Care!!!! Sue me then I'll quit my job so i cant pay you!!!
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David E. Artman · · Top Commenter
Yes, Sharon. I can already see the government tanks lined up on 41 to blast you off the road.
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Margaret Center · · Works at Body By Vi - Visalus (Independent Promoter)
Oh My Goodness people maybe they are just tired of digging people out of ditches and other vehicles. Use your heads obviously it isn't safe.
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Alicia Marie Hicks · Photographer at Alicia Marie's Photography
it always amazes me how people can bring Obama into ANYTHING lol
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To be fair, most of the comments supported the County Government's decision to call off road travel and criticized the Soap Box sarcastics. Still, this is more evidence of "Politics (or shooting off your mouth) is Easy, Governing is Hard." And how citizens assess of governments at all levels are spending our money. Not really related here, but graphic below breaks down federal revenues.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is disturbing is not a suggestion (even a very strongly worded one) to stay off the roads, but requiring people to shelter in place is not the role of government.

Aamna G. said...

I think people need to realize that maybe, just MAYBE, the government isn't always to blame. Five minutes of exposure in this kind of weather and we're talking frostbite. You know, as in like loss of fingers/toes? Sorry they made an order that will not only prevent further wastage of resources but also keeps citizens safe and indoors during a time when conditions outside are worse than they've been in decades. And let's be honest, the government basically just told you that you don't have to go to work. I'm sure you're realllllly torn up about it. As for the privilege vs. right thing...if a meteor is barreling towards the earth and the government tells you you have to stay indoors and find shelter, sure, I guess you still have the right to defy that order and go outside and wait for it if you want to. Is it smart? No. Would you probably be better off just calming the heck down and listening to the government for once? Yes.

Ashley Y. said...

I think the government did the right thing. One of the purpose of government is to provide Public Goods. "Public" means the whole nation. The purpose is to provide beneficial services to the society which is what the government did in Indiana. The weather was really bad, so for people's own good that this is a reasonable enforcement. I mean, people can still go out if they'd like to pay for the consequences such as losing a eye/finger or getting into a car accident. People make bad choices, the government's just trying to help. The government declared this state of emergency shows that they care about their people. It's their responsibility to make sure that everyone is safe in this kind of emergency.
Somebody was saying that school shouldn't be closed and people should keep working. That is ridiculous. I'm sure school was closing with many reasons. And, what kind of business owner doesn't like to make money? But, they chose to close business, with reasons!

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