LA Rebuilds Fail: Shocking Inaction, Or Just The American Way?
The Independent reports that a year after LA-area wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, a mere handful have been rebuilt. While residents grapple with red tape and rising costs, the media largely frames this as 'bureaucracy' or 'complexity.' (Perhaps they're just too busy covering 'both sides' of other, more profitable, disasters.) This inaction stands in stark contrast to the lightning speed
with which Congress approves billions in military aid. For example, in February 2024, Congress rushed through H.R. 815, a bill providing $14.1 billion in military aid to Israel, just weeks after its introduction. Many of the same politicians who bemoan 'slow-moving' government when it comes to domestic crises like housing, find a miraculous efficiency for foreign military expenditures. One might
wonder if the reconstruction process would move faster if Malibu homes suddenly found themselves in a strategically important war zone? Or perhaps if their constituents started making the same campaign contributions as foreign lobbyists?