What Storm Uri Shows About the Limits of Individualism

 by Ben Millard

In Texas, individualism and freedom are some of the most celebrated values. This week, these values have been put to the extreme thanks to Storm Uri, which left millions of Texans freezing in their homes due to failures in the electricity grid.

Texas, unlike the rest of the United States, has its own independent power grid, known as the Texas Interconnection. In the 1800s, the state decided to go it alone due to its natural wealth in coal and oil which could be used to generate electricity. Since 1970, it has been managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which took control following blackouts in 1965. 

The crucial detail about the Texas Interconnection is that it does not cross state boundaries so it is not subject to federal regulation, which is ideal for a state that cherishes its individuality. The flip side to this is that Texas cannot borrow electricity from the rest of the country if it needs it, which is exactly what was necessary last week.

When the storm hit, residents in Texas turned up their heating which created a huge strain on the electricity grid. This caused the grid to fail and resulted in millions of Texans without light or heating. They were cold, so they pleaded to mayors and governors to do something and help out the citizens in need.

Of course, this being the Lone Star state, the reaction was predictable. “No one owes you or your family anything; nor is it the local governments responsibility to support you during trying times like this!” tweeted mayor of Colorado City, Tim Boyd, reflecting on the individualistic ideals rooted deep within Texan culture. This attitude draws on the traditional American Dream; everybody has the opportunity to create their own prosperity, without assistance from the government or other people. This attitude is a cold reminder of the divides within America between the laissez-faire Republicans and those who welcome federal intervention. 

In this case, I think the Republican attitude has been shown as antiquated and out of touch with modern society. When America was founded there were few tasks that could not be carried out by citizens. This was because there was little specialist equipment needed to curate for a decent life. In modern times, electricity, running water and other commodities are all necessary for a good quality of life. Boyd also says “I’m sorry that you have been dealing without electricity and water; yes! But I’ll be damned if I’m going to provide for anyone that is capable of doing it themselves!” He expects his citizens to be able to generate enough electricity to power their homes without help. 

Not only is this unrealistic but it is totally unfair. The senator of Texas, Ted Cruz, flew to Mexico for a holiday as his state froze because he was “freezing” in his house. So it is possible to provide for yourself, providing you have the money. This then comes back to the role of the local government. They should help those in poverty to be able to fend for themselves and live the American Dream. But instead, Texas left its poorer citizens to freeze and gave them astronomical energy bills, further hindering their hopes of prosperity.