I spend time; some would assert too much time, listening to podcasts of public affairs/political talk shows.  I listen weekly to the podcast of “Left, Right and Center” produced by KCRW, and this past Friday, during a discussion regarding the California wildfires, Tony Blankley, former staffer for Newt Gingrich, former editorial page editor of the Washington Times, and the current “Right” portion of the program, despaired for a simpler time when natural disasters were just natural disasters where the nation attempted to aid the victims, and not a political Rorshach Test where all manner of issues come up.

Well, Mr. Blankley does not remember history too well, because humans ALWAYS politicized natural disasters in order to fix blame.  In the ancient pagan days the priests and religious classes would demand higher sacrifices (read more money and goods in the temple coffers, and in particularly harsh circumstances even human sacrifice) to assuage the pagan gods whose displeasure caused the natural disaster.  In the more “enlightened” days of early monotheism the “righteous” assumed the victims of natural disasters committed some prior sin that resulted in the wrath of the one God, and this attitude served to justify ignoring the plight of the victims who “brought this upon themselves.”

Similarly, we enjoy an entire buffet of political discussion of similar issues with respect to the wildfires ranging from climate change to rampant development.  But in light of the Katrina Disaster (including the three disasters of the hurricane, floods and governmental reaction) everything now gets examined in the crystal of governmental competence and execution.

Consider the contrast between LA County, Orange County and San Diego County.  In last week’s column I related how within 24 hours the Myers family personally went from the deep concern of a firestorm spreading to a point just three blocks from our house to an astounding total victory by LA County fire and other mutual aid organizations over the worst of the Malibu, Buckweed, Ranch and Magic fires.  Meanwhile, in Orange and San Diego Counties wildfires consumed entire neighborhoods and actually continue to burn, with local Orange County and San Diego County politicians decrying the lack of aid from the state and federal governments to aggressively attack the fire.

Thanks however to reporting by Steve Lopez of the LA Times and the activism of KFI talk radio hosts John and Ken, the media quickly exposed the weakness of Orange and San Diego County preparedness and investment in fire fighting capacity.  During the critical hours on Sunday and Monday, with state and federal aircraft grounded due to wind and bureaucratic conditions, the nervier pilots of LA County, LA City and the Forestry Service continued to attack the LA County Fires.  In the meantime, it came to light that the Orange County Fire Authority possessed only two Vietnam era Huey helicopters to fight the flames.  In the case of San Diego, NO county fire department AT ALL, and a City department with only ONE firefighting helicopter.

The media and public opinion conclusion?  LA County Fire and its mutual aid organizations possessed the resources necessary to turn the fire and executed brilliantly on a well-planned strategy.  In Orange and San Diego Counties heroic firefighters did the best they could to battle the flames, their best efforts frustrated by the tightness of the elected officials.

Why the disparity in resources?  Steve Lopez and others quickly assigned blame to a quasi-libertarian attitude of the Republican politicians who govern Orange and San Diego Counties and their quasi-religious belief that governments can handle essential government services, like fire protection, on the cheap, relying on others to rush to their aid when the “stuff” hits the fan, which it did with 18 major wildfires occurring simultaneously.  (Naturally, when the “stuff” really hits the fan, this negates any meaningful mutual aid and everyone must contend with their own problems.)  Contrast this with the enlightened, primarily Democratic leadership of LA County investing in the resources to turn the fire on their own, without concern for mutual aid.

But this oversimplifies the case.  No one can argue with the conservative Republican bona fides of LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, yet he stood most active with the acquisition of fire fighting assets for LA County, particularly the not inexpensive leases of the Canadian Super Scoopers (nothing cooler than watching them work in tandem) some years ago.  How could Supervisor Antonovich go apostate on this issue of small government?

A subtle distinction.  Supervisor Antonovich realizes his district sits on the edge of wildfire country and he will NOT go stingy on the protection of his constituents.  It only makes sense.

And perhaps therein lies the difference between LA County and the counties to the south.  The availability of good sense!
 

Tim Myers                                                                                                                           Commentary

Tim Myers is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Landscape Development, Inc.  He has been writing on a wide variety of local topics for more than 11 years. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.