Snow job...

Snowing Us

Becky Akers

Here’s Your Intrepid Reporter, having survived “Snowmageddon” and all the dire forecasts of the “storm of the century’s” dumping over three feet of snow on New York City. (What, do they think this is Buffalo?). In reality, about 8 or 10 inches fell.

I’m not surprised at the prediction’s errors. First, laughable inaccuracy characterizes forecasts here; if I had a nickel for every time the weather gurus—and the politicians, who, though unskilled at reading clouds and winds, apparently believe that winning elections endows them with such expertise—solemnly assure us a monstrous storm is about to hit only for it to bypass us, I could single-handedly support the Mises Institute. (His lack of training didn’t prevent New York State’s buffoon of a governor from pontificating ex cathedra from his bellybutton: he called “the blizzard … part of ‘a pattern of extreme weather that we have never seen before…’ .” Really, you despicable moron? How would you know? Where did you earn your degree in meteorology?)

And second, the National Weather Service is as incompetent as the rest of the government. I suspect (but do not know: I’ve never researched this) that its silliness infects most if not all forecasts on American weather. Several friends emailed me early yesterday, asking if we were OK given the approaching storm, and I told them that not only were we fine but greatly amused: on Sunday, the forecasts called for 38 inches of snow; by Monday morning, that had dropped to 24 inches; I predicted that we’d actually see 6 inches or so. Maybe I’ll open a “weather service”; I was certainly closer to the mark than the one Our Rulers force us to sponsor.

Ah, but never let a crisis, even a fake and manufactured one, go to waste. Inclemency is the State’s newest excuse to increase its control of us; “Juno,” exaggerated and hyped, perfectly suited that purpose. Both New York City’s mayor, Bill “Commie” de Blasio, and New York State’s governor, Andrew “No Room In My Fiefdom For Anyone Who Disagrees With Me” Cuomo, eagerly issued diktats and curfews, forcing drivers off the roads for which their taxes pay with threats of arrest and fines of $300 (wonder if we’ll receive rebates for the time that Our Rulers denied us the use of the streets), shutting down New York City’s subways (first time ever for snow; indeed, closing the subways for a “natural disaster” is a novel manifestation of dictatorship, dating only to 2011. One marvels that folks in the ten previous decades of the subway’s existence braved these underground trains regardless of blizzards, hurricanes and the odd earthquake), and in effect ordering private businesses to decamp as well. No, neither tyrant actually commanded companies to close, but when you decree a “travel ban,” prohibiting workers and customers from driving and suspending the subways, you have pretty much destroyed that day’s commerce.

Naturally, Commie couldn’t resist a potshot at entrepreneurs while dispensing his cowardly advice: “’He … asked employers to not be ‘cheapskates’ and let employees go home before all roads, bridges and mass transit shut down at 11 p.m.” And “No Room In My Fiefdom” announced, “I’d rather err on the side of caution. I don’t even think it’s a tough call…” Of course it isn’t when you’re making other people’s decisions: you don’t pay the price for a bad one nor must you cope with the consequences.

Politicians obtain their pay from our pockets no matter what. But many of New York’s poor work jobs for hourly pay. One of the city’s biggest industries, restaurants, employs an army of waiters who served no patrons and received no tips last night. Meanwhile, consider the vast disruptions the sociopathic Commie and No Room imposed on their hapless subjects: what of the vacationers or salesmen driving home, who arrived at the George Washington Bridge at 11:15, too late to cross since Our Rulers closed it at 11 and prohibited all private cars from the streets? What of the daughter whose elderly mother called at 11:30 PM to say, “Honey, I think I’m having a heart attack”? How would she reach her mom to comfort and help her? Alas, the serfs’ mundane concerns never trouble Our arrogant Rulers.

Nor are we hearing apologies from either despot now that they stand exposed for the foolish wusses they are. Indeed, No Room was already bleating this morning about his wise decision on our behalf, immobilizing, inconveniencing and impoverishing us.

None of the gutless media are blaming or criticizing, either. Not a single one has asked how bad the snow can be if you must compel your villains to stay home.

Give me a blizzard rather than a politician any time. Storms are far less heartless, vain, and thuggish.

Link:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/snowing-us/#more-533458