Arizona -- commentary

[hyphenate]

There is probably a lot more to the story, I know, but I have a superficial observation.

If the state of Arizona had gotten rid of Arpaio, and had not spent zillions of dollars on hate filled legislation, perhaps it could have invested in some fire fighting technology that could have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars--and acreage--in the past couple of weeks. What kind of legacy is Arizona going to leave? A state broken and battered, with hatred around every corner?

And even more so, after Sarah moves in, what kind of state can we expect to see after that? A state that panders to one small segment, whose chief law enforcement officer defies even the powers in the state capital, a state with the most divisive celebrity in the world, where if you are of Hispanic birth you are not welcomed there, and where the governor creates imaginary corpses in the desert....

I used to enjoy passing through Arizona on my way to California, but now I'd be leery instead. There is now the feeling that once I'd reach Kingman, that it wouldn't be fast enough for me to reach the Calif border.

I know many people who live in Arizona, and to you, my condolences. You are better people than I, trying to live with the onslaught of idiocy, from Jan Brewer, Arpaio, and the newest "resident" Palin. You shouldn't be subjected to their schemes, and now to be in a place where almost 1/2 million acres of land have been burned to the ground, the devastation must be oppressive.

I know I'm only looking at this all from far away as an outsider, but you are all in my thoughts as the madness of the pols seems to be a roadblock to getting anything accomplished about the loss of vegetation and wildlife.

[RandomThoughts]

1. I havn't been to Arizona recently.

So not sure if they have fires.

:shrug:

I am however due beer and travel money.

http://vimeo.com/1764428



Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=407128

Dire Straits - Walk of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838


Constantine - Bring me to life (Evanescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8d3K_hngw

[Kali]

2. meh

it's from decades of shitty management, lawsuits, no lumber industry any more etc. Neglect in the form of "letting nature take care of itself" + drought = catastrophic fires.

[strawberryfield]

3. As a 26 year resident of the Grand Canyon State

Arizona, for about 140 years, is the place that people go to start over. It is loaded with libertarian types who were Ayn Randians before anybody heard of Ayn Rand. The latest version of this are the upper middle retirees who have taken over Phoenix. They are lucky people who had their 401Ks bounce that right way. They have their's and they really don't give a shit about anybody else. They live their little lives in their vanilla track homes and play golf twice a week and bitch about the government. That is pretty much the whole story.