When impacts from climate change occur, as was suggested by Superstorm Sandy, we would then have dedicated funds to compensate victims of catastrophic losses rather than funding highly uncertain returns from currently proposed climate change mitigation programs.

Imagine a vandal doing damage to someone’s automobile. With insurance in place, the car’s owner is somewhat protected from the loss caused by the vandalism. Should the same check for the damages to the auto include funds to help others in the owner’s neighborhood?

For example, should the insurance company also be forced to include funds to help fix a neighbor’s roof or to revamp another neighbor’s sprinkler system? A roof problem and the sprinkler issues have nothing to do with the vandalism to the car, but our Congress is entirely greedy and self-serving and members loaded the Sandy legislation with pork, spending other peoples’ money on getting themselves re-elected.

While the Republicans are really no better than the Democrats when it comes to spending, in this one instance the House Republicans have made a small attempt to block outrageous and piggish spending by the rest of Congress. Unfortunately, none of these shenanigans will end until we enact term limits for members of Congress.

Instead of spending millions of dollars to bring power to the consumers from a system that has so many vulnerabilities, I think it’s time the electrical providers stop wasting money on repairing an antiquated system and start investing in an underground system.

I’m OK with letting my tax dollars support such an effort. In the long run, I’m sure it will be money well spent.