When did a month become thought of as a long time for electric service to be

[RB TexLa]

restored after a hurricane?


Where does this grotesque sense of entitlement come from?

[Ptah]

1. civilization.

[Zalatix]

98. Where does this grotesque sense of entitlement come from?

So what if the electricity in your area is out for a month. Maybe a few people die because of lack of impacted medical services, hygiene issues and whatnot. They died because they were too grotesquely entitled! And what about communications? Ever heard of smoke signals? Jeez, some kids today. So what if electricity is needed for modern day medicine! Why can't you just uproot and move to another place that has power and hospitals? How many people are we talking about? 10 million, tops? Learn to adapt and move to where all the grotesque entitlement is! Pack up everything you can on your back and march uphill both ways just like I did! It worked for me and my neighbors in New Orleans after Katrina! They hoofed it on foot elsewhere and are grotesquely entitled once again! Okay well they left a whole bunch of stuff behind and are a little poorer now. Hmmmm, maybe my definition of grotesquely entitled is pretty low-bar? But dammit, it's my definition and I'm sticking with it!

[freshwest]

136. +1. And for which they paid for in taxes and utility bills for years. Next!

[liberal_at_heart]

198. +1

We've gotten use to a certain level of comfort. I remember when I was a child living in a mobile home, we had one gas heater in the living room and a gas stove to cook with. In the winter my dad and I both slept in the living room. And there were lots of times where the electric bill didn't get paid and we would have to go a few days or even a week without electricity.

[PeaceNikki]

2. Oh, piffle.

"grotesque sense of entitlement"?

Yeah, we aren't living in 1878 anymore, dude. Our lives depend on electricity a lot more than ever.

All of those assholes on life support and elderly without heat or food should just suck it the fuck up, huh?

[jberryhill]

3. When people began receiving dialysis treatment?

[laundry_queen]

118. Or needing medicine that required refrigeration? nt

[freshwest]

138. Another example, a baby I know that had a birth defect that required a ventilator?

The young boy is now doing fine, but would have died if the electricity was shut off. His mother was in a panic when the lights flickered in a storm. Not everyone has insurance so they can stay in the hospital for months on end...

[warrprayer]

4. you forgot the sarcasm thingie n/t

[cthulu2016]

5. That started around 1920...

A month is an absurdly long time to have power restored, and no, there is no sense of entitlement there.

As we relied on electricity to replace the pre-electric life-style and technology, electricity has been made into a necessity, not a luxury.

And once becoming a necessity it is... a necessity.

[NutmegYankee]

6. You should probably add the Sarcasm icon. nt

[cthulu2016]

7. And don't get me started on antibiotics...

For a million years a life span of 30 was fine for humans, but now we have this entitled notion that we are somehow entitled to wonder-drugs to cure infections.

[MattBaggins]

8. Why are you still here

[Gidney N Cloyd]

9. Since linemen no longer have to get there on foot, walking uphill in both directions in 10' of snow.

[cali]

10. I can see you're not kidding. Too bad.

We are dependent on electricity and it has jack shit to do with a "sense of entitlement", genius.

People suffer and die from the lack of it. Not that the likes of YOU gives a shit.

Fuck this kind of heartless crap.

[RB TexLa]

11. I'm not and so far the replies all appear to be from people who would tell the electricians

working on restoring to power "get back to work, I pay your God damn salary."

[cali]

16. wtf? Not even close- and it has little to do with electricians.

gad. you are truly clueless as well as utterly heartless. Ugh.

[PeaceNikki]

18. No, these are the people who hug, cheer on the electricians and bring them food and water.

You're clearly terrible at assessing people and situations.

[life long demo]

28. I personally disagree with you. I was personally happy to see the

power guys and I clapped for them and thanked them as they were leaving. Those guys also have families they left to work to get other peoples power back on.

[WinkyDink]

110. VERY twisted inference.

[BlueMan Votes]

158. It may take a month to get the job done in whatever backwater you reside in...

But here in the civilized world- we have competent utility workers who get the job done quickly and professionally,and right the first time.

[yardwork]

199. Who said that?

[roguevalley]

204. my nephew is a lineman and he would not agree with you, RB

[dionysus]

12. i don't go without power with you. nt.

[sufrommich]

22. Was that this guy?

I wonder if anyone still has a link to that thread.Hilarious.

[JoeyT]

123. +1

You win the entire internet.

[Tsiyu]

13. Where does this grotesque sense of looking your nose down

on everyone who is NOT YOU come from?




Is one born hating the rest of humanity, and loving the thoughts of the others being "punished?"



Or does one become an authoritarian Old Man Potter because one was excluded from games on the playground when one was a child?

[RB TexLa]

21. We don't have this expection of power being restored in days in Louisiana after such a storm

[Occulus]

24. So obviously, New Yorkers shouldn't expect it either,

which is far easier than getting up off your bitter old ass and doing something about the fact that "We don't have this expection of power being restored in days in Louisiana after such a storm", isn't it?

One of the most consistent things about Republicans is that they want other people who have better than they do to be as badly off as they are, rather than help themselves and the people around them get the better things other people have. I'm so glad to see that you don't share that trait.

Nope. Couldn't say it with a straight face.

[Tsiyu]

26. Perhaps you are a time traveller?

And this wonderful thing called electricity is something you don't NEED.

Many people find that they do in fact NEED electricity.

Not for the TV and the popcorn maker, but to keep the babies warm and the O2 machines humming and to keep food from spoiling and to help clean up the disaster areas where they live. To keep the store open and the streetlights flashing. To keep the asthma machine going for the teenager and the insulin cold for the diabetic.

Everyone's life is not the same as yours.

I think people understand that power companies are doing the best they can. We are lucky with our co-ops here in TN. They do an awesome job keeping us in power and the NE is lucky to have all of them who are working up there. But I understand frustration for people who are not used to a long term power outage.

New York could not go a month without power and you know it, even if your little LA burg is fine without it for a while.

Your entire nation would suffer if NY were to go without power for a month. So stop playing the village idiot and think good thoughts for the people of the many states adversely affected by Sandy.


That's what all of us should be doing, rather than piling on people who are already hurting.


Sermon over....

[KamaAina]

201. Also, gas pumps run on electricity

that's a big part of the problem in NY and NJ right now.

[WinkyDink]

112. Bully for you!

[suffragette]

14. When did compassion wither away on DU?

There is nothing "grotesque" in people needing basics of food, water and shelter and other people caring about those in need.

[dionysus]

17. I see you've met RB TexLa...

[suffragette]

190. Yes, noticed that about RB TexLa for some time now, especially in Social Security threads

Yet, that poster is still here and still posting the same crap over and over.

[Generic Other]

15. We live in a time and place where we can provide necessities to our people

In the 1920s, my town ran out of power due to a drought. The USS Lexington provided power for the city for a month.

[freshwest]

139. This is something about the military I never knew until recent threads. Thanks for more info.

[sufrommich]

19. A month is a long time without power in November,

in a cold climate,with no access to heat.I don't think expecting your government to make sure people don't freeze to death as an "entitlement".

[Zalatix]

54. On the east coast, no less.

[RB TexLa]

61. It's a long time in late summer in Louisiana too. But I don't expect everyone to drop everything

else just because I don't have my power.

[Jennicut]

70. Louisiana is nothing like CT, NY, and NJ in terms of the cold.

I have lived in CT my entire life and in November it can start getting into the 20's and 30's at night. Tomorrow in Terryville, CT, where I live it will be 29 degrees. Tuesday night will be about 26 degrees. That is not late summer in Louisiana weather.
I think for some places in NY and NJ a month is reasonable considering the flooding damage. Some people might need temporary housing if it goes about a month or more.

[WinkyDink]

113. Another completely made-up scenario.

[RB TexLa]

116. Really? Parts of Louisiana being without power after a hurricane

is a made up scenario? Okay.

[Occulus]

152. The made-up part is you suffering through it

I don't think you've gone without power a single day of your entire adult life.

[Zalatix]

163. Just nod and say "Cool story, bro."

[former-republican]

121. Can you explain what you mean by dropping everything else?

It's the tree crews job and livelihood to clear trees. Most are working 24/7 because they want to.

It's a lot of cash for them, as to the linemen it's the same thing. I haven't met one lineman yet complain about the overtime.

[freshwest]

143. How can it be an 'entitlement' to get what they've paid to create for years.. the electrical grid?

I hate this word, always said with a sneer by wingnuts.

[BootinUp]

20. A month is pretty damn long but it can vary

quite a bit depending on ones location. I recall after Hurricane Hugo, I lived in Charlotte NC right near a main power substation and had my power back in 3 days. My friends who lived outside of town were without power for approx a month IIRC.

[myrna minx]

23. --- Jack Handy

[Bucky]

177. !!!

[life long demo]

25. I hope you are kidding.

I just spent 5 days without electricity and I never will take it for granted again. No heat, no light, not hot water, no cooking, some people with wells won't even have water. gas stations won't work, restaurants aren't open, unless they have generators. It's not an entitlement. It's a necessity of life that is if you still have a house. Then there are the shelters for people who lost their houses, they need electricity. I really hope this is just sarcasm. It's got to be.

[cali]

27. Alas, it is not. It is a reflection of the OP's world view.

A very ugly one.

[texanwitch]

29. It is the cellphone age, people are lost without their cellphones.

Sometimes you have to wait for something to be fixed.

It is called being an adult.

Try being without power when it is really hot, not even a fan.

Lines of people waiting for ice for coolers.

Lots of trees went down, it takes time to just clear the trees.

I just saw a commerical where the people are complaining about waiting in line at the post office.

So you have to wait in line, how terrible.

It wasn't like there wasn't a warning in advance.

Get a old fashion device called a radio and a few extra batteries.

The dollar store near my house has a little radios for a dollar.

The more electronic toys we get the worse it will get.

It is the I want it and I want it now attitude that is the problem.

Lots of people have been in the same boat, sometimes you just have to wait.

Hurricane Ike was no fun, it was hot.

No power for 2 weeks, I don't think I slept for more then a hour or two a day because of the heat.

[cali]

30. Sickening post. this has jack shit to do with electronic toys

or an I want it and I want it now attitude. YOU seem to want people to suffer because you did. Disgusting.

[texanwitch]

34. No.

I have watched the news, I do feel sorry for the people who lost everything.

Hurricane Ike was no picnic.

A huge area of the Gulf coast took a major hit.

Look on You Tube and type in Hurricane Ike.

It takes time to fix things, four days is nothing.

It takes time to get equipment and people there.

Help came to the New York area pretty damn quick, faster then we got it.

I have noticed more and more people just linked to their cellphones.

They are lost without them.

Sometimes things happen and your life is different.

Being a adult mean you have to wait for things to be fixed.

[RB TexLa]

35. I don't think they have any idea and don't care. They are "By God, entitled" to as little

disruption as possible.

[texanwitch]

39. Distruptions happen.

The weather isn't going to get better.

I don't think a lot of people were paying attention to the news.

I pay attention to the news and weather every summer and fall.

I live inland and afraid of hurricanes.

[Ikonoklast]

191. That premise is a Straw Man invented by you, as is your OP.

And the "I don't think..." part of your response is probably the most truthful thing you've ever posted, the rest as all basically crapola performance art.

[uppityperson]

48. Did that 2 weeks seem like a long time for you?

Would a month have seemed like a long time? That is what OP is talking about. A month. Which is a long time.

[texanwitch]

72. It might have taken longer if Ike had hit Houston directly.

Ike turned a little east before land fall.

Houston is far enough inland but all the the little towns in
between would have been gone.

That two weeks seemed a long time.

[uppityperson]

94. If 2 wks was long, 4 wks is longer. I've had it out for a week in WA, and lived without

power also bu that was voluntary. For the OP's OP, a month without power IS long if you are set up to be using power.

A couple days can be a bit much but expect that if there is a storm or disaster of some sort. A month? that IS a long time.

[Posteritatis]

58. LOL, a Texan lecturing people in the NE about long-term power outages in November. (nt)

[texanwitch]

67. I can lecture about heat in September.

September is still summer here, hot.

We were lucky that Ike didn't happen in August.

I would choose cold over heat anyday.

If it is cold put on some clothes, nothing you can do in summer.

Two weeks in the heat seems like forever.

I didn't really sleep or eat, to damn hot.

[Bucky]

178. I had my Rita stories too.

I thank God it was September & I had A/C at work to go to rather than August.

Remember that the first people to live around Houston without air conditioning were Karankawa--North Americas only cannibals (until the Republicans took over our state in the 80s).

[redwitch]

82. An elderly man in NJ was just found frozen to death.

You'd think that at 93 he would have learned patience.

[texanwitch]

89. The 93 would have killed him to.

The gentleman needed to be in a warm shelter.

Was he living alone, somebody needed to be looking out for him.

I look out for my older neighbors.

[redwitch]

91. Apparently he was living alone.

I think the people looking in on him couldn't get to him due to flooding. We should all look out for our most vulnerable.

[texanwitch]

104. That is so sad.

During Ike we had two generators.

We used them to run two window units for the older people, little kids and the sick.

Houston is really humid, 93 can feel like a 103.

One lady just wouldn't leave her house, we made her.

She would have been found dead otherwise.

I am hoping the power crews get most of the power going by Tuesday.

I feel for the people without power, it just sucks.

The crews are working as fast as they can, it will get done.

[Puregonzo1188]

192. Wait you had two generators and you are lecturing people to suck it up and go without power?

Seriously?

[bvar22]

196. The Cat....

....(Rooooowwwwwwrrrrr) is OUT of The BAG!.

[font size=4]Not ONE, but TWO generators AND Air Conditioning!!![/font]

"Hey! This going without power stuff is EASY!
Just Crank Up the GENERATORS!
I don't understand why so many are whining about how hard this is.
Bunch of cry babies!"

[texanwitch]

115. I think you are sad.

This 93 year old should not have been left alone.

You are making fun of a old man's death.

Shame on you.

You make them go if you have to.

[eShirl]

117. WHOOSH

jesus fucking christ

[texanwitch]

134. He should have been moved to safe place.

Don't make fun of a 93 year old dieing.

It isn't funny.

He was someone's family member.

I have a friend working to restore power somewhere's up there.

He didn't have to go.

He works long hours.

The power will be restored, things will get back to normal.

Yes, someone should have been looking out for this old man.

[Occulus]

184. .

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Facepalm

[roguevalley]

205. forget the fake sympathy. I want to hear about your TWO generators

[boston bean]

169. Bad hide up above, eShirl! Jury done did you wrong on that one! nt

[ronnie624]

189. Bad hide, indeed.

This sort of misinterpretation seems to be happening with increasing frequency.

[Puregonzo1188]

193. The jury had apparently yet to hear of sarcasm.

Or consisted of crotchety posters with generators whining about other people feeling entitled for thinking a month is a long time to go without electricity...

[bvar22]

197. Agree.

Good, appropriate post.
Bad hide.

[Zalatix]

149. RB Tex LA has nothing to say to this.

[HereSince1628]

31. when was a month NOT considered a long time to be without electric service?

Considering the role of electricity in the control systems of almost every f****ing thing in a contemporary house. Why wouldn't we expect people to begin to be discomforted by the absence of REFRIGERATION, HEAT, HOT WATER, COOKING???????????

[DBoon]

32. When some countries became part of the first world

apparently America is busy checking out of this club.

I suspect European citizens would look at a month long power outage with horror.

[KG]

33. dumbass

[gollygee]

36. Really?

The longest I've been without it is a week and a half, and it isn't easy. It isn't just fun stuff, it's cooking, and showers, and keeping warm.

[RB TexLa]

41. I'm not saying it's easy to go without. It's the expectation of having it returned so quick

I just picture these people: "I expect the power back on in two days, 5 contractors to have their bids for my repairs to me in three days and I want the work done right, and done now."

[Horse with no Name]

37. We were without electricity for 3 weeks from an ice storm

I will never ever take it for granted again, but we are in a very rural area and understand that the people who live in the larger towns always take preference.

Fixing my line gives ME electricity, fixing the line in town gives 50 people electricity.

I understand very well what triage is.

When the skies turn gray, I get gas and make sure we have non perishables. We also have an alternate heating method, and have a plan to seclude one area of the house, which includes putting mattresses on the floor and basically turning a small area into a house. BUT...this comes from knowing what happened last time and having the time to sit and think about what made us the most miserable last time.

I have to say, that I would expect living in a populated area, that resources would come back a lot sooner than we endured...

But I don't take the suffering lightly. I feel badly for those that are without because it is a nightmare...and when people want their nightmare to end, I get that.

I certainly don't call it entitlement.

In my neck of the woods, I blame it on the electric companies not putting money back into their infrastructure. Not sure how well kept the grid is in the northeast...but it is shitty here in Texas.

[gkhouston]

55. ^^ This. A month is a long time, but not always an unreasonably long time.

It wouldn't surprise me if there are pockets still without power 3 weeks from now. A shit-ton of people don't have power and there's flooding and downed trees and washed-out roads to contend with. There's simply lots of work to be done, even with crews working nearly 'round the clock, even with extra crews from out of state.

[HiPointDem]

38. Preparing us for the 'new normal,' are you?

[TBF]

45. +1 nt

[Zalatix]

57. +1,000!!!

[leftstreet]

87. +1

[aandegoons]

40. Since when did 4 minutes become though of as a long time without oxygen?

Some people can hold their breaths for 5 or 6 minutes for fun.

A month is a long time without electric service it has nothing to do with entitlement but your grotesque post does.

[argiel1234]

42. what in the fuck?

are you fucking joking?

[TBF]

43. Thanks for bringing us the right-wing meme of the day.

[RB TexLa]

47. Saying people shouldn't think everything should be majically cleaned up for them in days

is a right wing meme?

[TBF]

50. I think you would love everything to take months -

including the buildings where folks vote (and the transport to get them there). NY/NJ - Blue.

Fits in very well with the rest of your posting on this site.

[RB TexLa]

66. No

[krispos42]

166. The wires are already there

All the really hard work to setting up a grid is done.


The wires are made... thousands of tons of copper and aluminum, strung out on poles or buried underground, thousands of miles of it. Some of them are broken, but they can be spliced.

The poles are in the ground... most of them. Some are knocked over or broken, but most of them are untouched.

The transformers and substations are there. The land is already purchases, the transformers and towers and insulators and other critical parts are already there. Some are damaged, but that's a repair job, not starting from scratch.

The grid is already designed. Capacity and use is well established already.


In this part of the country at least, it seems to be a matter of removing the tree limbs and splicing the broken wires according to a plan. A plan based on what happened with Irene and the Halloween Nor'easter within the last 14 months.

A week is reasonable for most areas. 2 weeks is reasonable for remote areas. A month is indicative of a major infrastructure crisis.

[Zalatix]

164. It's not right wing meme day, it's RB TexLa hour, also known as

[Honeycombe8]

44. Who said it'd be a month? It's been a few days, so far. There were 5 to 8 Mill.w/o power. Now,

there are about 1M I heard on TV. Is tht right? If so, they're making excellent progress.

[texanwitch]

46. The extra crews are making excellent progress.

It took more then a week for the extra crews to come here after Ike.

Before that it was just the local power company's crews working.

I am hoping the power to most places is back by Tuesday.

The worst hit places will take longer.

I am so thankful we have a President who gave a damn.

[Starry Messenger]

49. I don't illuminate with you.

[Zalatix]

53. "Don't illuminate with you". - DuZY!!!

[flvegan]

150. ^^^^THIS^^^^ LOL!!!

[Comrade_McKenzie]

51. The agrarian anarchy underground is that way. ---> nt

[freshwest]

145. Yes, to the right. The far, far right. Almost there.

[TBF]

173. Exactly. nt

[Posteritatis]

56. Within a year or two of ubiquitous electrical service first becoming a thing? (nt)

[Zalatix]

59. When people start dying because of this, remember you said that.

Electricity is the bedrock of a modern civilization and a major contributor to our longevity and standard of living. If the power goes out that long, lives will inevitably be lost.

Your comments go well beyond insensitive. They are DEADLY.

[RB TexLa]

62. You do realize that we had people living across the country because we didn't have

even livable housing let alone power.

But you would be out there telling to have your power back on in days and anything longer is not acceptable with a finger in their face reminding them that you pay their God damn salaries! You'd let them know, you want and you want NOW!

[Zalatix]

63. Then why don't you move there and be without electricity? Go on, scoot.

What, you like your electricity and your internet access? Yeah, because you are happy to tell others that they should suffer, but you won't put your own skin in the game.

[RB TexLa]

65. I was. New Orleans has electricty now. I'm just saying, sometimes it takes more than a few days

[Zalatix]

68. Cool story, Bro!

Just to spite you I'm going to donate again to the Red Cross to help those 'grotesquely entitled' people over there.

[RB TexLa]

71. I've donated to several groups. I happen to know you are not my brother, so please

refrain. That just rude.

[Zalatix]

76. You mean you donated to help those grotesquely entitled people? Cool story, bro!

It warms my heart to imagine you sending in donations while grumbling about all those grotesquely entitled people wanting their luxury electricity back on. Tell us more!

[RB TexLa]

83. I have been talking about people who do not have realistic

expectations of what can be done. Apparently you think no matter what if you want something you should have it right then and there. Anything less would be unacceptable. Sometimes in the real world you have to wait and you are not able to have everything you want the very second you want it.

[Zalatix]

88. Here's some more realism for you to go along with your faux "compassion".

Every single day that electricity is not turned on, lives are endangered. People want their electricity on right NOW because lives are at risk anywhere that power is down for a long time.

Does this not even COMPUTE with you? It's not about luxury or entitlements. It's about SURVIVAL.

[RB TexLa]

96. We are able to move people where they can have that

we are even able to move them from flooded houses via helicopter. Certainly you have seen that we can do that.

[Zalatix]

171. Really? How did that work out in NOLA?

[OldDem2012]

60. What other "entitlements" do you oppose? nt.

[RB TexLa]

69. It's the sense of entitlement. The person who hears it will be five or four days till their

power is back on and starts saying that it is not acceptable to them and they want something done about it.

[OldDem2012]

108. Just curious, but what percentage of people in bad situations do you believe have this ....

...so-called sense of "entitlement"?

You do realize the media's job is to seek out people making statements like that, don't you?

[former-republican]

125. I agree with you there. It is not an overnight fix

I was out for 4 days and we weren't hit that bad.
The linemen worked as fast AND SAFE as was humanly possible. As did the tree crews

[billh58]

159. You sound like

Mitt's "47%" speech writer. Entitlements = bad. Hardship and struggle = good. Make old people walk up 25 flights because they don't really need an elevator. Tax the poor -- it builds character. Let the marketplace decide who gets power back and when.

You make me sick...

[Raine]

64. "When"? Ever since electricity became a part of life, "entitlement" geesh! WTF nt

[nolabear]

73. *facepalm* Since we gave up fire and horses? Buckets and icehouses? Polio?

Christ on a crutch.

[RB TexLa]

74. You do realize I'm talking about people having unreal expectations

Of how fast it can be done not how hard it is to go without power

[tabasco]

75. Tough guys don't talk tough

You sure talk tough a lot.

[RB TexLa]

77. Nothing tough. I'm just saying people should have realistic

Expectations of what can and can't be done in timeframes after a storm like this.

[riderinthestorm]

78. People will die without electricity. It keeps people alive.

Its not a "grotesque entitlement". Now its a big part of why Americans live - healthier, more productive lives.

Feel free to trade homes however with one of those who don't currently have electricity. I'm sure they'd appreciate that.

[Dorian Gray]

79. In 1923.

Electric Companies are working their asses off in Jersey and NYC, and I see a lot of people being super patient and grateful when their electricity comes on. I have family and friends in Jersey who are expected to be without for at least another week, and they are thankful that they didn't lose more.

There is a reason that the electric companies are working so hard to restore power. It's important to business, health, and general way of life.

[renie408]

80. How long has YOUR power been out?

Why don't you try going that month without power before you look down your nose at people who are distraught over the idea?

[RB TexLa]

85. Not looking down my nose at anyone

[Zalatix]

92. Hey why didn't you tell renie408 that cool story you told me?

You know, that story about how you were in NOLA during Katrina and how it taught you the meaning of "grotesquely entitlements".

[RB TexLa]

97. I don't know you people's usernames

[MadrasT]

105. "You people"?

Interesting word choice.

[RB TexLa]

109. Ok. You persons

[argiel1234]

81. Do you realize how hurtful and rude your post was to people?

Despicable. I have family who have personally suffered from flooding and lack of electricity in New York. He is on oxygen and is permanently disabled due to a work related incident

This by far is one of the most disgusting posts Ive seen so far and I just signed up about a week ago.

H

[freshwest]

147. Really sorry to hear that is happening now. The OP's a slap in the face to all like you.

And to humanity in general. From no fault of his own, your family member is in a bad way. I wish there was something we could do on DU other than offer our best wishes.

[Fumesucker]

84. Don't go changing..

We love you just the way you are.

[libdem4life]

86. What brought this "home" to me was a photo on DU ... from a NY residence with a sign on the fence...

and a power cord with a couple of attached power cords "We have power...come and charge your cell phones" And there were like 10 plugged in. I've never been without power, but that brought it home. Not even a cell phone.

There, but for the grace of God, go I. That's my motto.

[Zalatix]

90. That person is a saint.

Of course, communications with remote places and relatives are probably one of those "grotesque entitlements" that the OP is disgusted with.

[libdem4life]

95. All my relatives at present are unfortunately "remote" and I'd be lost without those

reasurring telephone voices that reassure me...whatever is amiss, we're here.

[Ship of Fools]

93. This is just how it is. Period. From my spouse to all of you:

The company that I work for sent a total of 167 lineman and support teams to help restore power to the people of the northeast who were knocked out of power by hurricane Sandy.

I'm a lineman from Kansas City and have been on many storms across the states--from the tornado in Joplin, MO, to snowstorms in MA. We've been to MD, FL, WV, LA, OK, NE, and many other places. We're a highly trained and very effective crew of professional linemen.

I understand the frustration of being without power. I worked Hurricane Rita in Beaumont, TX, and slept on the ground for several 16-hour days with no showers, eating aging box lunches that weren't refrigerated, etc. I get the fact that it's uncomfortable.

There are some things you need to understand. One is that it's easy to get killed or burned beyond recognition from a downed power line. Actually, there are many hazards that can kill you. One of the worst is customer-installed generators that can back-feed a line. Most people don't realize that when you hook up a generator to a house, you may feed 120 volts to that house. And if you do it wrong, you can feed 7200 volts back onto the line that may be laying in your driveway.

I will explain how electricity gets to your house and how it gets restored.

High voltage power is delivered to the substation in your area. It's usually 161,000 volt lines that feed the substation.
From the substation, 12000 volt lines feed out through the neighborhood to single-phase lines that feed through alleys and property lines.
Transformers take the voltage down to usable voltage in your home (120-240 volts.)
Your service wire goes from the transformer to your house.
The first thing that has to work are the transmission lines feeding the substation. If there is no power to the substation, none can go out.

Then the “backbone” has to become hot. The backbone is 12000 volt lines that feed the laterals that then feed into your neighborhoods and your transformers. Then the secondary wire goes up, connecting the services to you house. If your house is fed off of the backbone, chances are your lights will come on faster than if you're fed from a lateral. If you live at the end of the line, your lights will come on last. That's just the way it works. If you live in a place that has 10000 customers, chances are your lights will come on before someone who lives in an area with 100 customers. If you're the last customer (out in the boonies), chances are you'll be the last one on.

Get the highest density on first. That's just how it is. EVERYONE is important, and we try to get the most people on as quickly as possible.

One thing you should remember: no utility guarantees service; it would simply be impossible to do so. Every utility does its best to keep the meter turning, and that's just good business. There's a good chance that I'll be there next week helping restore your service. Hope I get to meet you.

[libdem4life]

100. Holy Wow ... thank you ... it's like we think the food in our urban grocery stores just appeared

magically, from the delivery truck. The system is robust in structure, but also fragile when the grid is stressed. I hope everyone sends a special blessing for those who have our backs that we don't even know about.

[Ship of Fools]

101. that's my man...

a teavangelical turned liberal, and pissed as hell at me for it.

[riderinthestorm]

122. A million blessings to you and yours. Stay safe out there. nt

[treestar]

102. I don't know but if that is how long it takes, that is just how long it takes

It's too easy to judge other people in the performance of their jobs.

If there is some way to speed it up, I'm sure they will be doing all they can.

[graywarrior]

103. Jay-sus! Like the country's not divided enough!

Can we stop with the judgments and look at the fact that humans are needing help right now?

[texanwitch]

132. A dear friend of mine is working somewhere's up there.

The line crews work really long hours.

He hasn't called me yet so I don't know where he is.

It is tough and dangerous work.

The last time he went he worked 16 hour days, 7 days a week.

The outer islands that were hit will take awhile to be repaired.

Light poles will need to be replace.

Everything just takes time.

The guys get really tired.

Bless the line crews.

[graywarrior]

137. Got this from Anson Mount's fb page (Hell on Wheels)

He's been to Long Island to help out.

(snip)

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY: The devastation from something like this cannot be learned from watching television or listening to a radio report. It is not blocks upon blocks of destruction... It is MILES upon MILES. No single governmental agency can be expected to manage the chaos caused by something like this. The best any can do is to manage it like a gigantic boulder rolling downhill and hope that it comes to a safe rest.

My earlier criticism of FEMA was unfounded and, for that, I apologize. I have never seen anything like this. As I said, one agency cannot do it all and, therefore, we must all kick in and help our neighbors and fellow Americans.

To go further, I've been seeing lots and lots of Tweets and hearing lots and lots of comments attempting to assign blame to one presidential nominee or the other. Ladies and gentlemen, this is NOT the time to be playing team politics. This is the time to roll up our sleeves. Please join me.

[texanwitch]

144. This isn't Bush's FEMA.

They hit the ground running.

This mess will take a long time to fix.

Some of it will never be back.

It is a death.

I miss the beach house Ike took out, and all the people we had as neighbors.

Life will return but it won't be same.

Memories are sometimes all you will have left.

[graywarrior]

146. It's heartbreaking

I had a nightmare last night that some sort of explosion happened on the coastline and thousands of people were being covered by a tidal wave. It was horrifying.

[texanwitch]

148. I know.

When a terrible event happens like this it is hard deal with.

A lot of people have or will have PTSD, and it will need to be dealt with.

There whole world has changed.

I sometimes go to where the beach house was and just sit there.

I think about all the good times we had.

A beach community is really special.

Ike did the same thing as Sandy.

Some wounds never heal, I really loved that old beach house.

Time moves on so must we.

I really don't enjoy the beach as much anymore.

So sorry you had such a terrible dream.

[pscot]

106. This thread is perfect example of something,

[quinnox]

107. Where does the sense of entitlement to be an unfeeling and heartless bastard come from?

better question.

[NCTraveler]

142. That sense clearly resides...

Within this posters heart and mind.

[eShirl]

111. Suck it up.

It's their party and they'll cry if they want to.

[NRaleighLiberal]

114. Wow. Had to check to make sure I was reading DU. n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

119. seriously, you are an embarrassment to this website.

if the admins paid attention, you would have been gone a while ago.

ick.

[RB TexLa]

120. Because I don't think the clean up and restoration process will be

completed in a week?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

124. no, because you think people wanting normal amenities back

shows a sense of entitlement.

because you apparently lack normal emotions like empathy

[RB TexLa]

126. I have empathy for them. But people do have to have understand

that not everything is going to be done with a snap of fingers.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

127. but claiming that this is a sense of entitlement is a shit attitude

try turning off all your electricity for a month and see how well you fare

[La Lioness Priyanka]

133. no matter how much you have suffered there is no reason not to understand

why normal people do not want to live without power for a month

[SomethingFishy]

128. Well I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that

we pay grossly inflated prices for electricity and natural gas... and I'm sure that there are no people who can't survive without power. I'm sure homes that have medical equipment like oxygen machines have no reason to complain. Shit I'm sure my wife could go a month without breathing. And if I can't afford a generator, well then I should be working 100 hours a week instead of 80. What an asshole I am.

Plus I doubt that anyone is angry that we are using an outdated 20th century electrical grid in the the 21st century. It's only been needing an update for 30 years or so. But hey, there are stoners to imprison, brown people to kill, industries and banks to bail out, who the hell can afford a 21st century electrical grid.

Yeah you all need to quit whining because... well because, just BECAUSE. Yeah. So there!

[Iggo]

130. Wow. It's like you're phoning it in anymore.

I'm a little disappointed.

But only a little.

[morningfog]

131. Grotesque? You are such a flame-baiter.

[Codeine]

135. You stopped being funny a long motherfucking time ago.

Now the RBTexLa Show is just sad.

[morningfog]

140. Aw, OP troll is locked out of his own flame bait.

[CreekDog]

141. I was hoping for a better finale than this

I mean, you are trying to get banned from DU, right?

[ChillZilla]

151. A month without power in our age is pretty tough

But I've noticed on these threads that many of those who are less than sympathetic to the plight of Staten Islanders lived though Ike in Houston. I, for one, was without power for three weeks. This will come a surprise to many because as far as I can tell it was pretty much uncovered on the news. Yeah, they covered it in general but compared to Katrina or Sandy, it was a relative non-event as far as the Texas residents were treated; so to see people bemoaning their fate after a couple of days is a little, not so much irritating, but just, well, we're just not that sympathetic. Call back in two weeks when you've been without and we can talk.

I think Houstonians in particular felt nationally slighted after Ike, many people were without power to 3-4 weeks, houses smashed up etc, and the media coverage just wasn't there. Not a sympathetic enough group I guess. Also, we didn't get the major flooding into Houston that accompanied Katrina and Sandy so there was that I guess.

I'll concede that it was different in terms of loss of life as well, but Galveston was pretty much half destroyed, way worse than Staten Island I'll guess at this point. Nowhere near the coverage. Then again, I didn't have TV for about a week so maybe I'm wrong.

And not everyone here was prepared. My neighbors had to wait in line for 6 hours for gas, that cracked me up that that was supposedly a super tragedy in NY. Uh, that happens after every hurricane. That's why you gas up your cars and if you have a generator, if you're smart you'll find and purchase some 30 gallon fuel drums and fill them up before the storm. I did and ran my generator for three weeks without a trip to the store.

I'm fully sympathetic to the plight of those affected by Sandy, but they just need to know people have gotten through worse. Help is on the way, just be grateful for any assistance you get, which everyone seems to be, and you'll get through this. If I was closer, I'd be helping out, just like I did after Katrina, Rita, Ike...and whichever one comes next.

No point hating on folks though, this is uncharted territory for many many people.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

153. when you are in a shit position do you usually think of people who had it worse?

like when you lived through Ike, was your only thought "glad i am not in NO during katrina"

if that were the case then none of us should fuss about anything since clearly Haiti always has it much worse

[ChillZilla]

156. Well, considering that many of us travelled to Louisiana in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita

and had to sleep in the heat, work all day cleaning out rotten houses and refrigerators, cut down endless trees (ok, full disclosure, I didn't clean out houses, just tree clearing, but I know many close friends that did), I'd say yeah, you do realize that it could be worse.

So really, you make an excellent point. We really shouldn't fuss about our situation because somebody's always got it or had it worse. If you can keep that attitude in your life, you're probably going to be a pretty happy person, come what may. If you just focus on yourself and how bad you have it and nobody's ever suffered like ME, then you're probably going to be pretty miserable.

Also, the weather after Ike wasn't really that bad, so living without power was not nearly as horrible as it could have been. Most people I know really appreciated that fact and knew that it could have been much worse; so I really didn't hear a lot of complaining. But then again, Texans don't really complain a lot as a general rule, that's been my experience since moving here. Except when it's still 90 in October, which just gets irritating.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

180. no one can keep that attitude because its unrealistic and frankly probably unhealthy

this storm was miserable for many people and they have a right to complain and be upset about it

[JVS]

154. The power companies are well paid for their service and should be competent at restoring it

[ChillZilla]

157. I believe they are but there's only so much they can do

I think some people tend to have unrealistic expectations. I've got to believe they're doing the best they can.

[JVS]

167. One month is plenty of time for them to get their shit together

[NYC Liberal]

160. Why do people need electricity at all?

How dare people be worried about their livelihoods (yes, some people need things like the phone, computer and/or Internet to make their living)?

How dare people worry about food going bad?

How dare people on oxygen worry about not being able to breathe, or people worry about loved ones on life support staying a live?

How dare people worry about heating in November in near-freezing temperatures?

How dare business owners worry about going out of business because they can't open with no electricity?

Where does this grotesque sense of entitlement come from?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

181. +1

[FloridaJudy]

161. When they started building buildings with more than four or five stories

My former MIL lived on the twentieth floor of an apartment building in Manhattan, and that was only half-way up. Some of her neighbors were frail and elderly. Care to ask those folks to hike up and down scores of stairs when the food and water runs out, even if they stocked a week's supply?

What about those whose lives depend on machines? Dialysis patients, or those using electrical oxygen compressors? Diabetics whose insulin needs to be refrigerated? Those folks are likely to die unless the power is restored in a few days. Here in Florida, we have "special needs" Red Cross shelters that we open up for those folks a few days in advance of every hurricane. I used to work them as a nurse before I retired. NYC doesn't have experience of dealing with frequent hurricanes to have such a system in place!

[krispos42]

162. Oh, since it's a critical component to heating our house and our water...

...and refrigerating our food and washing our clothes. You know, minor things that keep us healthy and hygenic and productive and well fed?


Tell you what... why don't you go down to your breaker box, shut down your entire house, and report back in a month? Tell us how great it was being without electricity.

[Egalitarian Thug]

165. It's ugly when the mask slips. Thanks for showing everybody.

[boston bean]

168. The mask you speak of has slipped too many times to count.

makes me wonder how much longer it will be allowed to creep back up only to slip again.

[TBF]

174. This. nt

[LeftishBrit]

170. 'Grotesque sense of entitlement'?

People who are healthy and who have everything else functioning around them may be just about OK - though in many cases they would need to move elsewhere for a while. But if people are sick; disabled; housebound; dependent on medical equipment; elderly; very young; living in homes that are poorly insulated perhaps as a result of other storm damage; etc., a month without electricity can be a big problem, even fatal. Especially in the wintertime.

And apart from all that, the economic damage to a region, that would result from a month without electricity, is likely to be serious.

[Ichingcarpenter]

172. Can I recommend this thread as an example of

being a worthless piece of shit?

We really need a category for that.

[slackmaster]

175. I think most people have felt that way for two full generations, perhaps three

At the price we pay for electric service, I think its reasonable to expect that it be reliable.

[Bucky]

176. Since the TVA, Flintstone. In Houston it took 2½ wks after Hurricane Rita to get my power back.

I managed to get by. It was kind of fun. But I was 44 and my only child was off at college. For others it caused serious problems.

[99Forever]

179. Every time I read a post from you..

... my opinion of you goes lower. I didn't even think that was possible.

Heartless old coots die lonely miserable deaths, you might want to rethink your philosophy of your fellow human beings.

You have my pity.

[Iggo]

182. If this ain't straight up classic trolling, I don't know what is.

[datasuspect]

183. it keeps eyeballs on the site

it keeps refresh rates up, it drives up the number of times that people "hit" the site.

the site has advertising in its monetization model.

advertising requires mindshare. in terms of websites, the number of people clicking on the site, within the site, etc. drives up ad revenue.

the OP is good for DU business. people like the OP definitely contribute to the bottom line.

simple, really simple.

[Iggo]

185. Interesting.

And yet another reason for them not to miss my measly forty bucks a year.

[datasuspect]

187. lots of websites are businesses

there isn't anything wrong with that.

just don't invest too much of yourself in an online community. in lots of cases, the obvious trolls aren't real people.

[Iggo]

188. I know it's a business.

I still polly-anally hoped it was shill-free.

Anyway, that's for the paying customers to worry about.

[wtmusic]

186. Wait a month before your next post

and let us know how it feels.

[Rex]

194. I love it when you post shit like this.

It gets noticed by all the right people.

[datasuspect]

195. it's a gimmick

click hustling.

[Rex]

200. Word.

nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

202. omg...that such a long time.

[LanternWaste]

203. It then begs the question: what is the relevant and precise amount of time to expect restoration

It then begs the question: what is the relevant and precise amount of time to expect restoration of loocal and regional infrastructure, and on what objective measure do you base that on? And why (again, precisely) do you not consider that new number a "grotesque sense of entitlement...""