We Went to the Texas Panhandle: What We Saw Will Shock You

[@beratnabodhi]

The irony of living in a nation that espouses "personal responsibility," then grants "personhood" to corporations, without ever holding those corporations to any kind of personal responsibility.

[@whatisahandle221]

Yep 🤑 Capitalism for the masses. Socialism for the corporations.

[@user-te5po4bu8o]

That’s because that’s not actually a virtue they’re promoting, it’s just a way to dodge their own collective responsibility to other people

[@kaydee9358]

Corporations are not people. If an actual person caused that much damage due to negligence, they would be arrested and be forced to pay for the losses. Then, they would be jailed. Corporations cause damage through negligence daily with impunity because they have deep pockets and teams of attorneys. No one would be jailed. How is this equal? They should not have equal personhood without equal responsibility.

[@Agzilla1999]

This! When corporations were granted rights as people that was the beginning of the end.

[@goofusmaximus1482]

A cover for the real moral code operating in the United States: "There is no sin without punishment."

[@kdavidsmith1]

Until the fines become more substantial and CEOs/Ownership/Shareholders start going to jail this will keep happening.

[@rikkiseddo]

I’m sure Xcel paying Republicans has nothing to do with them not being charged. 😡 www.xcelenergy.com/staticfiles/xe-responsive/Company/Investor/08-26-2022%203.8.pdf

[@potterinhe11]

The only way to hold these companies accountable is to nationalize them.

[@matthewingerson]

Until the corrupt wealthy-class is brought to heel, and their corrupt RW-politics are criminalized, this will keep happening.

[@AlexMakesGames80]

A fire like this shouldn't rightly bankrupt someone billions in fines

[@TheBuddyLama]

​@@potterinhe11THAT is thee stupidest thing I've seen all day, ya fargging Communist! The utility company is at fault, certainly, but "utilities" are enabled and protected by government. Your utility company is likely a monopoly, and only governments can create actual monopolies. Anyone who says diffrently is either lying or uninformed. No real private sector company can get away with such gross criminal negligence! Only government sanctioned monopolies can, because they are protected and backed by government and taxpayers' money. You can try to sue the utility, but they will have government in their corner and fund their defense with money from ratepayers & taxpayers. In the end it is consumers who always get fekked. Government is malevolent. Taxation is theft and slavery. Licensure is slavery and theft.

[@yeahokay1051]

The fact that we're paying utility companies and they're not providing a good SAFE service but still getting government contracts is contemptible

[@qjtvaddict]

Nationalize energy infrastructure like sane countries

[@TheBuddyLama]

​@@qjtvaddictCommunist, much? Fek off.

[@maxanderson8872]

One addendum: you are *overpaying*

[@firebeardlongfellow5295]

Thank your local Republicans. In charge of Texas since forever! They hate you, and will continue to do so! Vote Republican!

[@cubey]

Welcome to capitalism

[@julianeg3035]

This is why our nation's infrastructure is not safe in corporate hands. Corporations have become too powerful

[@TAdler-ex8px]

What do corporations have to do with utilities? Please explain. These are the highest regulated corporations in the country. If you think that the federal government can do it better then I would ask you how much time have you spent on a military base? There is so much complexity to infrastructure. However, all infrastructure is dependent on the commitment to excellence of the culture creating it, and we have made excellence a mere word so that we don’t hurt people’s feelings, not a standard applied for the stabilization for our nation.

[@PantherMom512]

Powerful. Greedy. Lazy. Deliberately ignorant 🤬

[@JoyPeace-ej2uv]

@@TAdler-ex8px Then please point out to me the fort that has had a fire like any of these companies. I have lived on several installations, forts. Not one has had a fire that did not get there from off post.

[@TAdler-ex8px]

@@JoyPeace-ej2uv I think this was a tragic situation, and having been personally affected by the Ruidoso wildfire, I also understand the anger. However, I can confidently say that the Federal government doesn’t hold the answer.

[@anguishedcarpet]

@@TAdler-ex8px It would be state govts handing utilities, not the federal govt, HUGE difference lol

[@voiceofreason4907]

It's sickening to hear about the cattle that were burned and still alive. No living creature should suffer like that.

[@CatCaretakerID]

It breaks my heart - the human species just sucks.

[@lilblackduc7312]

I agree.

[@LMBee00]

"Where's the beef"?

[@anastasioschristoforatos474]

He’s right. If they can’t do business correctly, they shouldn’t do business at all.

[@velvetbees]

The definition of correctly is, sadly, objective. They feel justified to shift risk from themselves to their customers. If you want to know what that is, study what risk management is. It will open your eyes. For the last forty years, risks have been transferred from corporations to the customer to deal with. It's like insurance companies. They manage their own risks by coming up with this and that policy that shifts the costs "risks" to customers. That's really what not honoring preexisting conditions is. It is the most blatant example of shifting risk.

[@djtangable7550]

Says the Republican party who robbed this nation blind, removed the gold standard, hyper inflated the economy, and continually voted against paying a living minimum wage which mind you is slavery. None of you can do business correctly because nothing here is correct. You are asking people to fit square pegs in round holes and wondering why you can't get it to work. Newsflash, this world's been broken and on the brink for hundreds of years, and the real people who do the actual math and learn the truth know that everything is just pivoting on a lie. Nothing really works here bud. Nothing.

[@simplethings3730]

They ARE doing business correctly. THAT is the problem. It is more profitable to pay insurance than it is to replace poles.

[@TheCloudhopper]

I think they do business perfectly correctly. They bill everything to the customers, maximise profits, socialize losses and can not be held responsible for anything. That IS running a business correctly.

[@cpaul9269]

gotta have regulations for that. GOP has controlled the state government for so long and refused to do it, but people keep voting these idiots in, b/c, you know, "own the libs." SMH. Good freakin' luck. Until that state wakes up and realizes the politicains don't give a rat's ass about them, things like this will continue to happen. B/c money.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

why would a company accept responsibility for anything? they shouldn't be expected to, they should be made to.

[@ComradeCatpurrnicus]

The only thing they want to take responsibility for is when profits go up, not the horrible, destructive, and neglectful things they do to make them go up.

[@GabrielHellborne]

We tried; we've been trying for a century or more, but they buy the political process and write their own ticket.

[@fmcg5364]

This is one reason that for profit business is not good for the country. It has gotten so bad that they just come out and say it is not our responsibility to fix or maintain utilities. These for profit companies draining us dry. We the people are going to have to something, we can't just complain about the problem, we need to get into the solution. To be honest I wish I knew a solution, the only thing I can think of is alternatives forms of energy.

[@snarkdragon]

Exactly, they must be FORCED.

[@danpress7745]

But, Xcel is a Union company.

[@danielking2944]

If they can’t afford to build and maintain infrastructure and pay for the damage they caused,then they should not have the right to run poles through my property. The ranchers in west Texas can install off grid solar much cheaper than cleaning up after the infrastructure failures.

[@user-te5po4bu8o]

Right?! That’s a right of way thing. All they need is a law that says you’re financially responsible for your right of way.

[@kathrynw3]

It's Texas, and Texas is pro corporations. They get what they voted for and that would be the useless pro corporate governor.

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@user-te5po4bu8o Laws are great and all, but enforcement of the law is where things get muddy. Not much point in having laws if they aren't going to be enforced, or companies pay off the inspectors to look the other way.

[@MattBuild4]

Not all utilities actually own the polls though.... If you live in a deregulated wholesale market or even some states that run PMAs, the utility that owns the generation may not be the same one that actually owns the distribution of energy.

[@c.t.murray3632]

That idea of solar and wind is an excellent investment. Most companies warranty their solar panels for 20 to 25 years. wind turbines do not need to be huge structures they can be attached to the building's roof at minimal cost and produce great electricity.

[@happyfunjenn]

Don't fool yourself Texas... the Power Company will ask for a rate hike whether they're found guilty or not. Go after them fully. And I'm so so sorry for these families and especially for the lives lost and tormented. No one and no animal should ever have to go through that!!

[@StandorFall13]

Go after them and don't allow anymore out of state companies working on Texas infrastructure.

[@annsanimationaddiction8024]

@@StandorFall13 Texas infrastructure in itself it's shit and degrading because our governor rather spent money on removing regs for said companies.

[@Yowzoe]

This should have 10 million views. Great and necessary investigative reporting - thank you.

[@highrzr]

Time to start jailing executives.

[@kalblu8885]

Do it !

[@jamesmurphy9426]

This is beyond a prison sentence since they have money power and lawyers It's Mark Anthony Time Recall the Purge of the Roman Oligarchy

[@smilingfox8978]

They, just like tRump, are above we the law and personal accountability.

[@trevorclarke9681]

*Scalping

[@harold.one.feather]

They never will

[@mikelee4847]

Socialize the risk, privatize the gains

[@Barskor1]

All by the power and authority of government.

[@JohnnyMotel99]

@@Barskor1 and your Gov is 'run' by corporations...

[@HughJass-313]

*CAPITALIZE* the GAINS *SOCIALIZE* the LOSSES. 🔥🔥😆🔥🔥

[@Seawiz21]

@@Barskor1What government? The State of Texas already said “womp,womp”

[@Barskor1]

@@Seawiz21 OMG can you be more ignorant?

[@Vort_tm]

Amazing how everyone adopts a progressive view on regulation and taxation to keep corporate power in check AFTER something happens to them. It'd be so much easier, cheaper, and more efficient in the long run if we were proactive instead.

[@Praisethesunson]

Being proactive against the interests of short term profits for corporations is communism, and Texas didn't raise no commies.

[@pedecadonstudios714]

That would require leaving our homes and talking to our neighbors and community. Something social anxiety and complacency will never allow. They'll just keep inventing new distractions until the world burns down around us. But they wont be affected in their bunkers, rest assured.

[@07Flash11MRC]

"if we were proactive instead.": Unfortunately too many still believe the American Dream. They feel like they'll be on top some day, so they wanna break rules without consequences as well, but they can't if we are proactive.

[@tryveganplease4586]

Try Vegan Please

[@matthewcaldwell8100]

@@pedecadonstudios714 Conservative stupidity with respect to regulation precedes these problems by generations. This is literally the world they want.

[@ralphrehcok]

This guy is a real American. Kudos on the coverage.

[@jessicabixler1658]

Stop electing people who don't hold them accountable

[@bradleywhite6815]

that us why all this is BS. At the end of the day they will still vote on their culture war issues because they only want the government involved when they can benefit or they were wronged.

[@Cheesyenchilady]

To know a politician is to know corruption. I don’t trust a single one, I’m afraid.

[@fallenseraph5V]

California has the same problem. Would you say that about their officials? 👂

[@onehandonglizzy]

Hemphill county where this town is located is so deep red republican it’s no surprise their farms are getting destroyed but yet we’re supposed to feel bad for them? If reap what you sow was ever applicable lmaooo

[@thishappycrafter272]

@@onehandonglizzyIt still is so sad for the poor cows that have to suffer from the choices (in politicians) made by voters

[@Mischievous_Moth]

Utilities should not be controlled and maintained by private entities. Period.

[@nsbd90now]

Republicans disagree.

[@cliveklg7739]

Private entities are what caused this. Nebraska has some of the cheapest energy costs in the U.S. Why? It's utilities are all PUBLIC utilities. And they regularly inspect poles and replace them because as a public entity they don't have stockholders and giant CEO salaries to pay out so they can afford to. NE utilities are considered some of the most well run in the country. Private companies act for GREED and always will.

[@SamLee-e3b]

Well we could let the government run it that'll be effective 😂 Vietnam, Desert Storm, 20 years in the middle east, 30 trillion in debt, social security, ect. All that's going really well 😂😂

[@Odinarcade00]

@@SamLee-e3byo in states where it’s controlled by the government they don’t price gouge you. Texas energy bills are crazy right now

[@cliveklg7739]

@@SamLee-e3b you don't need to do private or government. Again PUBLIC utilities work. They work better than BOTH of those.

[@innanas]

Paradise, CA was burnt to the ground by utilities. Greed is nationwide. The cost is too high.

[@davidwatson7604]

Ummm, think you mean Pleasure, CA.

[@longbeach225]

PG&E. Company is a disaster.

[@BuddyIsGarbage]

@@davidwatson7604no they mean Paradise. The fire in the area was the worst wildfire to happen in California history.

[@davidwatson7604]

@@BuddyIsGarbage I recall Trump calling it Pleasure, so... Jerry Brown looked so proud.

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@davidwatson7604 Nope. My friends dads family house burnt to the ground in the paradise fire.

[@terriblefrosting]

Dear Texas: California sends its condolences, we deal with this nonsense. All. The. Time. (thanks PG&E) Public utilities should never be run as private profit companies.

[@terriblefrosting]

Pissing off Texan ranchers. Good plan, Xcel, good plan......

[@terriblefrosting]

The movie Civil War had everyone going "why the EFF would Texas and California unite?" ... well, this is why.

[@willieclark2256]

Thank you for pointing out how this isn’t a dem/rep issue. It’s a corporate capture issue

[@cobrafan1403]

@@terriblefrosting California is mostly rural and has a huge history going back to the beginning tied in with Texas

[@terriblefrosting]

@@cobrafan1403 yeah, we've got more in common than most think. Both states are: wildly independent, have HUGE foot prints, are insanely wealthy when it comes to resources, deeply deeply weird, and host some of the most impactful arts and cultural events in the world. .... .... Dang, I think I just exploded my own head. Texas + California = Unstoppable? No wonder both the blues and reds want us disliking each other.

[@goddard9669]

Xcel needs to be held accountable. Most of my family live in that area of Texas, and my aunt's sister's house burned down. I was very worried for some of my family member's safety during all of this.

[@TexasKid747]

Excellent Report! This was NOT covered in the media and I am in North Central Texas.

[@potterinhe11]

Let this be a lesson. These companies are willing to let the world burn down if it means they can make a profit.

[@TheBuddyLama]

Only because your beloved governments not only let them, government facilitates it all.

[@potterinhe11]

@@TheBuddyLama I know all too well, and trust me, these aren't my governments.

[@kathrynw3]

​@@TheBuddyLamaI believe it's your government too or are you from another country?

[@ShermThursby]

They have and are burning the world for us and building bunkers for themselves.

[@tllt4983]

​@TheBuddyLama your comment means nothing.. The sky is blue... yay..

[@kreiner1]

I wish a company would just do the right thing, but they won't. That's why we need regulations.

[@GabrielHellborne]

We've been fighting to regulate these monstrosities for a century and a half. I'm writing from Europe; we've got much better regulations, and they aren't nearly enough. These companies find ways around regs.

[@Boris80b]

Regulations are definitely needed

[@Boris80b]

Regulations are definitely needed

[@C0braChicken2]

@@GabrielHellborne Texas is the only state in the USA thats deregulated, that's what they wanted, and now they lose power for extended time frames, fires, people froze to death from no power... This is EXACTLY what they voted for, and they are now reaping the rewards for that.

[@nmelkhunter1]

I'm not a lawyer, but if you will notice how Adrian Rodriguez worded his statement, I am will to bet they have a contract with the pole inspection company that will keep Excel from being liable if they claim they didn't properly inspect the poles. This is how lawyers earn their slimy paychecks. I think Rodriquez should thank God this isn't Texas 150 years ago. I follow Jason on YT and he and his neighbors are the salt of the earth. Excel is the crap found sewers.

[@BenDjinn]

'He with the gold makes the rules'. Just another example that we're living in an oligarchy and monopoly law is enforced less than jaywalking

[@TXplayneJayne]

Ive lived in the Panhandle of Texas for my whole life and these fires were by far the worse ever that ive seen. And we have had some bad wild fires but this burned millions of acres and burned numerous homes putting hard working families homeless until they can get rebuilt.

[@Masterfinli]

Texans against poor defenseless migrants: 😡, Texans against big evil corporations: 🥺

[@JerryNeider]

Ask your governor how many checks they have sent him.

[@escapeearth2327]

🎯

[@tracymann3005]

Cancun Cruz… he has definitely gone to the dark side.

[@kingtrance307]

I bet that all that extra under the table cash 💰 has bought ole’ Governor Abbot a whole lotta extra 🥩 steak!!!

[@icejohnb]

Especially, his governor.

[@473mec]

Deregulating the utilities was a great idea if you're the owner of a utility company.

[@Zyo117]

Public interest, public owned. Stop privatisation.

[@Barskor1]

Ok you got your wish now the bureaucracy is in charge they don't have the budget to service all the poles and the same bleep happens all the levels of management point fingers committees on it last for years politicians go in and out of office and nothing happens. Simply outlaw the use of wood poles mandate burying power lines and so on.

[@Sparklfoot]

Corporate rules: All the freedom, none of the responsibility.

[@doubled3983]

Hello from Oklahoma! Wow! This is quite the video. It is so maddening! Maybe it's time for the Gov. of Texas or a local politician to propose a Texas state owned electric company. The way I see it, this would alleviate a lot of the problems.. God Bless Y'all!!

[@andrewmiller159]

I don't understand, if my car causes an accident, i am responsible. If a utility company pole causes a fire, why aren't they responsible? Seems only reasonable!!

[@ckcnj9175]

‘Reasonable’ and Texas are oxymorons.

[@samblackstone3400]

You don’t have enough money to pay for the judge’s new Ferrari and the district attorney’s Hawaii vacation. Rookie mistake.

[@brighamrichins3]

They say it in the video. They are relying on insurance to cover costs just as you rely on car insurance to cover costs of an accident you may cause.

[@CalmClamFam]

@@brighamrichins3Yeah but that’s for the OTHER cases they’ve had. In this specific case, they are arguing that the high winds were the sole cause of the pole falling over and igniting the fire.

[@bikedoc4145]

Ted should stop worrying about destroying the Dems and worry about fixing his Broken State 🤔

[@JAM661]

Republicans need to do that on a whole. The boarder bill was a perfect example how Republicans do not want to fix anything. They just want to complain and run on our problems. Well every bill in Congress passed because of Democrats while Republican like MTG voted for nothing that helps the country. All she care about is being the center of attention. So sick of these Mega Republicans. Democrats are more then willing to work with moderate republicans. Yea people need to put out of people person lives and maybe look at themselves why they are not happy. But there was a interesting survey which really shows how social media is mess our head up. 80% of American say they are doing ok. We alway had a lower classes and 20% is about the norm. However when asked what percent of Americans were not doing well they said 75%. This is what happens when people just listen to people whine about everything. Meanwhile the inflation is a WW problem cause by the manufactering crash of the Chinese economy. It is amazing we are doing as well. The war in Ukraine which produced 15% of the world grains, wheat and soybean and lose of Russian natural gas has effect and has caused inflation all over the world. But a several countries that are in big trouble. China, S Africa, Cuba, Russia etc.

[@samblackstone3400]

He can just get a plane to Cancun

[@bikedoc4145]

@@samblackstone3400 That's what he does best lol

[@shaynewalker3248]

It's not one party or the other. It's called uniparty for a reason.

[@OsirisIxchel]

What about the Governor? Start with him.

[@gsmith6595]

Get serious about buyback and CEO "over" pay and shareholders out of control gains and maybe we would have less of these problems. "Texas not in the business of bailout" is a misnomer being that they give huge tax breaks for big businesses and limit regulations 🤦

[@-in-the-meantime...]

Hah.. with their lord and savior Musk reeling in billions in subsidy 🤪

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@-in-the-meantime... Don't forget that 80% tax break for 10 years to operate in TX.

[@ompaloompa4970]

Prayers for all the ranchers going through this disaster 🙏

[@CO-kh5bg]

Dear God help these people. Bless them please

[@Craxin01]

I can't cite a more distinct example of greed destroying everything.

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

BP oil spill, Enron, Blair mountain coal miners union strikes/riots/rebellion(where the term red neck initiated from. The military had to be called in to stop the armed uprising), teapot dome scandal, watergate, 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta Canada. I could go on. Hundreds of towns across the U.S. have been destroyed by oil/utility/corporate greed.

[@Barskor1]

As if you and governments don't have greed?

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@Barskor1 ??

[@Craxin01]

@@Barskor1 I agree with you on governments, but I've never tried to take more than I needed. Not every human being shares the exact same flaws. We're all a big ball of virtues and vices. I'd wager you have virtues I lack.

[@Barskor1]

@@justsomedudeyouknow8372 Can you vote or lobby to receive a subsidy? Yes can you vote to receive universal health care? yes who pays for all that? Other people it is a big ponzi scam that always implodes.

[@jw77019]

When electricity was deregulated the price doubled and it’s now doubled again. Even with all the much more efficient appliances and air conditioning equipment people are paying more than ever.

[@MattBuild4]

With more efficient appliances consumption of electricity has not gone down.

[@rickson50]

More efficient stuff but more stuff and used longer throughout the day. For example, it was one tv per house. Now some people have a television per room. Houses getting bigger too, air-conditioning is very intensive😮 But in some places electrical usage has gone down such as new York city. Extensive investment in infrastructure and building codes has had good results

[@Radhaun]

Sure does feel to me that if the government can seize public assets with very little cause, they should be able to seize private sector assets like this as collateral for damages. In cases like this, where negligent companies directly cause hard to so many people, other businesses, and whole regions, the government should be able to step in and say "You are not responsible enough to have this anymore" and either make a government body to take care of it (like a municipal) or offer to support it while a coop is formed to take it over. But the penalization for the company should be dissolvement, lower level employees could easily just be transferred over, but the entire C-suite and anyone at a decision making level needs to go.

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

Not when lawmakers are in the pockets of the companies.

[@Barskor1]

Simple changing pole materials would fix this bs by law or not you should find out if wood poles are mandated or not.

[@ShermThursby]

​@@Barskor1hi, in California the cost of power can be unaffordable to lower income residents. Profit and executive pay are the reason. They burned an entire town. Nothing substantial changes in D or R run states. The establishment is the criminal.

[@MattBuild4]

I mean what would they do with the assets?

[@Radhaun]

@@MattBuild4 If you mean the infrastructure, I already said that should be handed over either to a (likely new) municipal branch or a co-op. If you mean the profits they've laid claim to, those should be used to pay for the damages caused and setting up the municipality or co-op.

[@wvguy7238]

There was a pole in my neighborhood that started leaning years ago. We notified the power company yearly as it leaned more and more. It was literally more than a slash. Like /// - they never came in years, til it fell over, then was like, oh, there is no way we could have predicted this.

[@KathyPantisano]

My heart goes out for the people who lost so much . Hope they get the help they need and deserve.

[@zimmejoc]

it's texas, they won't.

[@RealityHasAWokeBias]

MPU always coming with the hard hitting journalism. As a Texan I cannot endorse this video more. Thank you so much for everything you do.

[@randomguyontheinterweb]

Perfect example of voting against your own best interest.

[@victoriawalsh3243]

Texas is actually one of the least free states.

[@budrobrother]

Are we assuming he votes republican?

[@jessicasanchez5765]

​@@budrobrotherWell, obviously!

[@budrobrother]

@@jessicasanchez5765 why is it obvious (genuine question) did I miss something in the video that hinted to that?

[@JZYABS]

@@budrobrother common sense and general statistical knowledge. extremely Large parts of the rural texas population vote red

[@wilberwhateley7569]

The ranchers need to sue the living shit out of Xcel Energy - then Xcel needs to be broken up!

[@kathrynw3]

They will tie you up in court until the next millennium, then pay pennies on the dollar in fines.

[@Just_a_Lore]

A "broken up" utility company just means another negligent company will purchase the pieces. They need to be nationalized one by one.

[@djtangable7550]

Act of God. Go read a book.

[@wilberwhateley7569]

@@djtangable7550 Somehow I don’t think any “god” would be involved in poorly-maintained electrical infrastructure…

[@michellewalters4484]

Thank you for speaking out.

[@KaiWatson]

I like this channel because its really, "these are things average people really should be concerned about" without it being a conspiracy theory-class war thing. We have real problems and we can solve them together with reason, solidarity, and care for our fellow countrymen as guiding principles. We can be a light on a hill.

[@TysonIke]

Not so fun fact, Texas has the most minimum wage jobs in the country despite having about 10 million less people than California.

[@UHaulTV]

Whurr cali has $20 minimum wage 2 make life mo affordable

[@DharmaPunk111]

​​@@UHaulTVCalifornia does not have a $20 minimum wage. It's $16 an hour. Most fast food workers make $20 an hour unless it's Panera or McDonald's

[@UHaulTV]

@@DharmaPunk111 April fooz day

[@antcantcook960]

@@UHaulTVstop posting

[@UHaulTV]

@@antcantcook960 *STAPP* tellin peeps wat 2 doez

[@JjBb-sr1ln]

And yet most of those farmers / ranchers don’t look at the leaders that they themselves had elected to office that are supporting the greedy companies. Get mad at the companies, but also get even more angry at the ELECTED OFFICIALS who make it possible for the companies to be greedy.

[@suesmyder]

Well said

[@murraymadness4674]

They vote for the same people over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over just like everyone else. Don't expect anything to improve.

[@kalblu8885]

Their engineers and technicians aren’t properly trained .

[@Try-think]

There are measures that can be taken to prevent and protect against fire. I wonder what this rancher did….in the middle of an extreme dry and hot region?? Especially since there were past fires. Naaaa …. Just keep denying climate change and blame anything else

[@PantherMom512]

🎯 💯‼️ Amen!

[@Bob-cu6uw]

Nationalize all utilities. Leave the corporate investors out to dry for a change.

[@thishappycrafter272]

God, I feel *SO* bad for the cows that can’t escape! How terrifying, how monstrous of Xcel Energy!

[@beefy45]

Corporations get treated like people but dodge consequences…..disgusting

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

And you just know that every energy company that does this fights at least as hard as PG&E to pay as little damages as possible.

[@Barskor1]

Wait till you see how hard government fights and they have guns courts and the swamp of committees to run the clock out over decades. They still have not cleaned up dumping nuclear waste in cities for God's sake!

[@stevengill1736]

Yeah....well at least out here they're upgrading their poles - where we live PG&E is replacing a lot of wooden poles to metal ones....but we live in one of those extremely dangerous wildfire areas...

[@Barskor1]

@@stevengill1736 Better late than never I guess.

[@whiskeyandkittens6999]

I live in the panhandle. It was heartbreaking to see the devastation.

[@qjtvaddict]

Civilized countries don’t allow this

[@adairjanney7109]

name them

[@GabrielHellborne]

@@adairjanney7109 Uhm....well...uhm....gimme a moment here, damn ye....

[@GolemRising]

@@adairjanney7109 Norway, Sweeden, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, the UK (sometimes), France, Germany (Sometimes), thats just off the top of my head.

[@Shredderbox]

Well yeah, but but the US isn’t a civilized nation, it’s 6 corporations in a trench coat pretending to be a country.

[@adairjanney7109]

@@GolemRising You keep living in that fantasy world bud, grass is always greener

[@meyergomes]

Corporations pay politicians to ensure this is a way of life

[@bellabella9181]

why dont they bury the power lines in the ground especially across farmland?

[@NewLeftToday]

This is why we need to socialize utilities and have them democratically managed by the people they serve.

[@bartdoo5757]

Worked well for Flint, Michigan water.

[@NewLeftToday]

@@bartdoo5757 that was definitely not an example of a utility being managed democratically by the people it serves.

[@phillipsandcastle8387]

​@@NewLeftTodaydon't bother trying he def doesn't know what socialism is

[@RRRyouready]

@@bartdoo5757please tell me when Flint socialized their water.

[@deeptoot1453]

That goes completely against most economic theory. Competition usually leads to better, cheaper rand more innovative solutions than non-competition a.k.a. state owned. A simple solution would he mandatory inspection and liability. Not that hard tbh but to go full commy mode on the utility sector is just ludicrous.

[@mnm25479]

Heart-wrenching to watch. I'm glad this issue was addressed out of Texas. Thank you for a well done piece.

[@oliviao2238]

The persistent greed and manipulation of farmers have been ongoing for far too long. It's hard to believe that such greed persists. The sight of cattle being unnecessarily slaughtered is utterly incomprehensible.

[@TexasScout]

I have lived in South Texas Omai life, 70 years, I have never seen a utility company “shave” a power pole. It just doesn’t happen down here.

[@simonhadley8829]

I guess Oncor and Xcel have different maintenance practices.

[@don5062]

Yet the executives walk away with a golden umbrella.

[@VirtousStoic]

Sad world😢. Look at trains. They derail so often because Blackrock that owns the largest commercial rail transport company knows it's cheaper to pay for derailment associated costs than to fix all the trains and maintain them so they never derail Ironic isn't it when a trillion dollar hedge fund wants to save millions

[@if2069]

Blackrock isn't Green? Oh my! The environment!

[@VirtousStoic]

@if2069 learn English before you attempt making junk jokes, and if you learned English, well learn harder

[@dominicfucinari1942]

I'm down to questioning what right hedge funds have to exist anymore.

[@VirtousStoic]

@@dominicfucinari1942 they will exist even if a billion humans say no And fyi I hate them more than u do Fyi Blackrock buying residential real estate is part of the cause of rising home prices go Google how much residential real estate they own in billions. Its digusting

[@matthewsmith1275]

In the same area at the town of Panhandle we had a train derail with some crazy chemicals that spilled. The entire town choked on the fumes so no telling what cancers they might end up with.

[@piku5637]

Cooperatives are our future and needed more than ever to phase out profit driven entities.

[@GabrielHellborne]

To begin with, yes.

[@cyclopentadiol2923]

The worst word in the English language is "Shareholders".

[@millenialsmom2214]

Energy and infrastructure should be non-profit and owned by the people.

[@stringlarson1247]

but but but that's soshlist. Universities and hospitals should be NFP IMNSHO.

[@millenialsmom2214]

@@stringlarson1247 And? ✌️😉

[@stringlarson1247]

@@millenialsmom2214 HA. mix in a 'maximum wage'.

[@AnonymousAnarchist2]

Whaaaat, are you suggesting that profit can be a perverse incentive? Why I never, now excuse me I need to go back to the Hitman and lead paint convention.

[@millenialsmom2214]

@@AnonymousAnarchist2 🤣

[@watamatafoyu]

If the energy company didn't properly maintain their electric pole that triggered a devastating fire, then they're negligent. It's as simple as that. Why aren't they paying for all this damage?

[@vincegonzalez463]

Keep Voting Red, Texas. You bring this on yourselves.

[@_DB.COOPER]

😂🤣🤣🤣 xcel is a blue company, democrats poison everything they touch!

[@AtSafeDistance]

That's rich considering how the people in NC and other places victim to the hurricanes have been treated by the current regime. However I am not much more hopeful of the other side but at least DT visited there where as Harris chose to not; and if you are anything close to aware what is going on down there I do not know how you could defend the current leaders.

[@IzzeTim]

Thank you for covering this! The war on the poor continues and we must stay strong and informed.

[@rcl8793]

I don't know if wealthy landowners qualify as the poor

[@IzzeTim]

@@rcl8793 cost a lot to be a cattle farmer especially with losses on that scale. If he wasn't poor before he definitely is now and we're all gonna feel the pain as beef eaters.

[@Robert-lb5st]

​@@IzzeTimExactly,beef and feed prices go up and Abbott will blame it on president Biden and the Democrats

[@turkizno]

Remember folks, rich people are hoarders, and hoarders are not viewed as the most sane people. That also accounts for money hoarders. They are killing us for the next penny. They are addicted to gain that next penny no matter the cost, and the cost right now? is several billion human lives.

[@ma_abbott]

The wealthy are fueled by inflation. Inflation is the monetary foot upon the throats of the masses to keep them/us indentured.

[@philliplamoureux9489]

Thank you!! I tell everyone that the super rich are number hoarders, OCD, and need pity, perhaps disdain, but not power!

[@BOZ_11]

They're no different from the people whose front door is blocked by garbage

[@edwardzignot2681]

I live in Northern California where we have PG&E. The power company that pled guilty to 80+ counts of manslaughter and went on to raise rates by 18% with another 18% increase coming later this year. They hadn't performed legally required maintenance on their lines since I believe the 70's. Idiots killed over 80 people to save a few bucks, and are currently being rewarded with a 30+% increase in their income. I believe they were fined like 100 Million or something, no one went to jail, and the company made record profits last year clearing over a billion dollars. This country is just straight broken. PG&E is also the company the movie "Erin Brockovich" is all about. Movies about the time they poisoned the groundwater in a bunch of towns causing locals to get cancer and die. They're murderers, and continue to be rewarded for their greed.

[@dominicfucinari1942]

@@edwardzignot2681 Worse, there's a possibility that taking measures to spare those people's lives would entail the shareholder having grounds to sue the CEO for making a decision not to overclock returns on investment.

[@cvillefarmer]

Break up this huge utilities, go back to the smaller local/regional utilities that actually fking lived there. Bring back local power co-ops that started in the 1930s.

[@MrJack1992]

Breaking up large companies is a start or even the threat of breakup can be enough to get these companies to behave. The threat of breakup is more powerful than the threat of nationalization as it's a humiliation to see a company siezed and broken up to be sold to as many bidders possible for the lowest price.

[@markvelarde321]

Co-ops aren’t much different than large corporations. They do not maintain poles, energy costs are sky high and ability to control co-ops is dirty based on family power/dynamics in smaller communities.

[@RoxannSnyder]

Wow. I’m from MN & I was not aware of Xcel Energy’s negligence!!

[@DorcasLandry]

Me too!

[@greatestever8976]

I'm in the Twin Cities and live just a few blocks from my twin sister. Xcel forced digital meters on our community a few months ago. I'm furious!!!!!!!!!!

[@wannabetowasabe]

Texas has a unique electric power situation. There are few regulations and there is not an interconnect with power companies outside the state. During the big freeze situation a few years ago, utilities were not required to have emergency contingencies so when one source of power went down the demand exceeded the supply. When that happened the whole system started to crash. They could not borrow or purchase power from outside utilities, that weren't having the problems Texas had, to stem them over during the unusual spike in demand. The down power capacity was not caused by windmills, as Gov. Abbott tried to assign blame, it was so darn cold that shallow pipelines carrying natural gas froze up. The windmills in the southern part of the state were working great as the weather pattern resulted in some good wind along the coast. They provided a greater share of the power production than they normally did. In this poorly regulated electric utility environment, having the power companies be responsible for poorly maintained lines is not likely.

[@TomCrockett-bl1gp]

When South Western Public Service owned those power lines,they were maintained.

[@aceous99]

anything with the world public is communist, Ted Cruise said so.

[@WhatWillYouFind]

As much as conservatives and other people harp about "overpayed government bloat." The LIVED experience of it all is quite a contrast to what was sold to everyone. If you need it to LIVE, it shouldn't be a private asset. Full stop. If it is a service or luxury you can do without . . . have at it. This same problem is happening EVERYWHERE that allowed privatization of their utilities, its not rocket science.

[@Pbav8tor]

We are not allowed to hold corporate interests responsible for anything. I am grateful for my public utility. A neighboring community just swiitched from private to public utility and they are happy too. I feel so much empathy for these folks. You can claw back your utilities.

[@CalamityJay-ez2mq]

The irony of Texan Ranchers suddenly having to face the consequences of the politicians they overwhelming support

[@Krill_all_health_insuranceCEOs]

JUST SAID SAME THING

[@thominaduncanson7596]

Always follow the money-“disasters” happen because they serve a purpose. (Excepting volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis.) Do your own research.

[@CalamityJay-ez2mq]

@@thominaduncanson7596 or they happen because corporations don't want to invest in proper maintenance and safety, Occam's Razor is generally the best bet

[@CalamityJay-ez2mq]

@@thominaduncanson7596 or they happen because corporations don't want to invest in proper maintenance and safety, Occam's Razor is generally the best bet

[@Marynicole830]

@@thominaduncanson7596yeah the money says that replacing stuff that ‘works’ is not cost effective. Better to leave it until something happens even if it’s easily foreseeable. Some things I get suspicious about but you really think it’s unrealistic for companies to cause tragedies due to cost cutting and failing in their responsibilities?

[@uglykarma5233]

Your doing a good job. Thank you for the great video. The problem is corporate greed from deregulation of the electric utility industry in Texas. Texas did not have these problems until it deregulated. I here it from my bosses all the time and I quote " We are a business. " Funny bonus incentive have been good for upper management. Maybe you should do your next report on that.

[@dany_fg]

To them it's not an unmaintained pole, it's profit

[@mamatrain100]

Public utilities are infrastructure. Privately run monopolies are klepyocracy.

[@ummm789]

Absolutely ⟵⁠(⁠o⁠_⁠O⁠)

[@JihouGijutsu]

Imagine being raised to worship a country and culture, then to find out how much of a joke it is and by proxy how much of a joke that makes us.

[@Isaacmantx]

Most Americans don't praise THE country, or THE culture.... but more they praise the IDEAL of what was set up as a goalpost. We have never achieved that ideal goalpost of our founding fathers, which is kind of the point... They set the goalposts FAR beyond their personal time. *"All men created equal"... in a time when some men were enslaved, intentionally setting in stone the leverage to destroy the inequities of their own day.) The way this society is going, however, we absolutely never will exceed their minimum expectations..

[@TheRealSnakePlisken]

Excellent comment!

[@Sunny-oj8xj]

⁠@@IsaacmantxI’ve got my doubts about this, having suffered through the American education system, I really don’t think most people ever learn or even think about what Ideal the founding fathers had in mind. They grow up pledging to the flag before they develop self awareness and those that want to learn about the pledge and what it means before making it usually get punished.

[@jameseverett9037]

While you're right in a way, don't forget it's even worse in most other countries. Corruption is part of humanity. It's also why socialism doesn't work. Socialism is far easier for the corrupt to take advantage of...and you will always have corrupt people to deal with, one way or the other. What you have to realize is that there is only better and worse, but never perfection or even close to perfect. While it sucks, it's still the best humanity has been able to do. It's also why citizens need to be involved in politics, especially at the local level, and hold their officials accountable. You will otherwise destroy yourself with your expectations. Thomas Jefferson said you would need a revolution every 20 years, to keep corruption at a minimum. However, you cannot have a successful revolution EVER unless the citizens themselves are devoid of corruption, and that is not the case today. The war of secession from Britain [what it really was - NOT a "revolution"] of 1776, was the only successful "revolution" in history, as far as actually making anything better for the majority. There is a very sad reason they almost always fail and result in even worse, more corrupt government than before....like Cuba, for example: There was government corruption before, but relative freedom & prosperity for the average person. What replaced it was a cruel socialist dictatorship and poverty for the majority. We have lost our moorings, and left our morals, thinking they're just an unnecessary burden, but they count overwhelmingly in the end, and determine our character and ability to sustain any government that is remotely fair. It takes a population who is honest to the bone, does not take advantage of the system just because it can, works hard and takes responsibility for themselves in every way possible, to sustain a legal system that works even half-way efficiently. It's a miracle it still works as well [or poorly] as it does. You're in for hard times until you learn that lesson once again. You've been spared for awhile by some miracle - you eat, have a place to live, and are somewhat free of runaway crime, but it won't last much longer, as you're beginning to see. Our enemies have convinced us to piss in our own beds and destroy our own society out of boredom and the ingratitude of entitlement, from the delusion that this is the default condition of life on Earth, and it "should" only get better from here. I wish I could say this with more force, but: What you have now is about as good as it gets in this world. I get that you can't believe or accept that, but you will eventually learn it for yourself, if you live long enough.

[@JihouGijutsu]

@@jameseverett9037 you’ve never seen socialism. It’s never existed. China is trying to get there now and look at where they are.

[@90klh]

Soooo they more or less made a profit off this? 500 mil in insurance for the electric company, and only 215 mil in lawsuits - am I wrong? That HAS to be wrong....

[@damian99669]

Americans wanted the cheapest power possible so they privatized most of the system. With new infrastructure in good shape this kept the cost down, but the tradeoff was reduced investment and maintenance. Now those decades of cheap power are coming back to haunt us, and it will cost the rate payers a lot more before things are better. Pay now or pay later but always pay.

[@loboalamo]

And no one to build replacement parts, moved plants out of country that build the parts for cheap labor and no taxes.

[@DrDanWeaver]

There's proof upon proof of profit-companies destroying everything yet we keep rewarding them!

[@jimlong8077]

In Texas they wont get near what lawsuits brought in California. Bet on it.

[@MathieuTitoLandry]

Brave rancher for speaking up.

[@thomasshannon6008]

Appreciate you covering this topic. No mention was given on mainstream news.

[@Spencer-wc6ew]

Utility companies shouldn't exist.

[@Barskor1]

We have the tech to simply not need them any more.

[@gamtngirl3655]

Greed is so f…ing heartbreaking.

[@pedecadonstudios714]

Greed forced you to self censor a comment about greed. Lol. Cant make money if its not squeaky clean of bad words and opinions.

[@jsrodman]

Posting comments on youtube is not a money-making activity.

[@BOZ_11]

@@pedecadonstudios714 hah, if posting comments made one rich, i'd be a billionaire. m0r0n

[@Barskor1]

Corporations greed for money or politcians greed for power which has murdered more people and destroyed more property and resources?

[@willcityaway7971]

Welcome to business in Texas. Corporations own the state. Started in the 80s after Saving and Loan Crisis. Business-friendly environment is more important than people. Now Texas, Inc. Not a state. Protected by contractors and subcontractors to shield blame. But they meed more money to protect investors. Infrastructure isn't designed for market solutions. Or you get this. State regulators failed everyone. glad I left Houston decades ago. Everyday news and this makes it the best decision ever.

[@lucindabreeding]

The outrage is absolutely warranted. It's unconscionable for energy companies to rob neighbors and consumers in this way. These people deserve justice and restitution. But to pretend that beef processing isn't cruel and painful, and to promote the fiction that cattle are treated like most people's pets is dishonest. Don't come at me. My dad raises beef cattle. Suffering and fear is part of animal agriculture. Cattle aren't burned alive, but they lead lives you would never choose for your pet.

[@chrishoward8296]

Not only have utility rates gone up, fire has skyrocketed because of these fires in CA. Thanks PG&E.

[@arloalps6215]

There's no ignorance here, this is criminal neglect n

[@Barskor1]

But Sata Clause the corporat spirit is responsible! not the managers of the corporation! That insanity needs to end.

[@mkaltreider5322]

Xcel has had record profits year over year during this time period and up to today. They can afford to make this right and prevent it from happening again

[@joshuameldru4004]

Now imagine an aging infrastructure that is supporting their ridiculous electric car dream! All of us need to be wise to their interests being money, everything else is merely circumstance.

[@loboalamo]

I know. Steam engines and horses work good + you always have a traveling companion.

[@happyfunjenn]

@MorePerfectUnion ... Great reporting. Brought me to tears but it was excellent reporting

[@onmywayout]

That wonderful public private partnership at play in Texas: privitizing the wins and socializing the losses. Private equity is killing all of us.

[@dmedic213]

Sue them collectively. Like they would sue everyone damaging their profits.

[@davidavard8461]

And they will pass the costs of replacing that infrastructure to their customers in the form of a bill increase. Here in Kansas, we’ll be paying for the 2020 Texas freeze (due to the insane increase in natural gas prices) for the next 20 years.

[@jamescurrie2246]

Another corperate greed and irresponsibility disaster. Surprise surprise.

[@XxBrMagicxX]

Instead of saying "i just want that to be digested" that man should have said "Youre wrong and what you say is wrong" If someones tree fell on the line and caused the fire, the company would most definitely be trying to make the tree owner at fault.

[@AlexMakesGames80]

100% by not maintaining the infrastructure their infrastructure failed and caused a fire open and shut case

[@TheBuddyLama]

Poor example because the utility companies have right-of-way to clear trees and such that affect their lines.

[@justsomedudeyouknow8372]

@@TheBuddyLama Not a bad example at all honestly. Sure they have the right of way and all that, but that isn't the point. Point is, if the situation was reversed, the company would sue the hell out of whoever they think caused the fire and would expect them to be held accountable. When its the companies fault then it becomes deflect, lie, blame someone else, don't hold us accountable cuz we will do everything we can to convince you it's not our fault, or tie this up in the courts for so long that nobody cares anymore or it gets too expensive for anyone to fight them.

[@johnterrelljr8057]

Texas needs to get out those forest rakes

[@shanefsr6609]

Texas RANCHERS need to get out those forest rakes, since they demand the government step in MAYBE they need the government to lean on THEM with their LACK fire control practices, BE RESPONSIBLE landowners and get your acreage managed so that fire doesnt wipeout every home that ISNT a rancher, if you cant afford it get into another line of work,

[@fuzzywuzzy8679]

I remember during the Woolsey fire in California (2018), there were people in red states saying that they should have just “let them burn”. It’s bitter sweet to see karma come back and bite them in the ass, but this problem definitely needs to be figured out.

[@blazingarrows6117]

The corporation who failed to maintain its lines and poles need to be held accountable. Otherwise they will do it again.