The finger-pointing escalated this week as some Republicans argued that a major utility company run by Democratic appointees has “woke” policies on diversity and tree-trimming that are the causes of customers’ woes.

There’s bipartisan and widespread consensus that Nashville Electric Service, which serves the city as well as surrounding counties, mishandled the storm, struggling to mobilize enough workers and equipment to quickly clear fallen trees and restore service.

  • grue@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    9 hours ago

    No, he’s complaining that Democrats value trimming trees right (to maintain the long-term health of the tree) instead of indiscriminately butchering them to get them clear of the power lines as quickly and cheaply as possible.

    • RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      9 hours ago

      Tree trimmers are not thinking to themselves “is this how a Republican or a Democrat would trim a tree?” They’re cutting like they were trained to do. Politics could not be less involved.

      • grue@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        7 hours ago

        Yes, except that training to care about tree health instead of only cost/efficiency is a thing Democrats do.

        The training isn’t political, but which training gets chosen is.

          • grue@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            3 hours ago

            You’re the one who doesn’t know how any of this works. Haven’t you ever heard of an arborist? They even have a professional standards organization that offers certifications and everything.

            More to the point, the article references this interview where somebody from the electric company apparently describes their pruning standards. If you think such standards don’t exist, explain WTF you think is going on in the interview!

            • RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              ·
              2 hours ago

              That’s someone describing an occupation that they have no idea about. Arborist is the step above journeyman tree trimmer. There are specific rules about what an Arborist is allowed to do vs. what a regular tree trimmer is allowed to do. Mainly working within certain distances of powerlines. Kinda like how EMT Paramedic is the step above EMT Basic. There isn’t anything “woke” going on in tree trimming. Just like there isn’t anything “woke” happening at paramedic school.

              • grue@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                2 hours ago

                Okay, I don’t think you understand the point I was making.

                I’m not saying I think there’s anything “woke” about tree trimming, or that having certified arborists who know what the fuck they’re doing is somehow a bad thing – the notion is ludicrous.

                What I’m doing is explaining why they (Republican morons) claim there’s something “woke” about tree trimming (i.e. explaining the kernel of truth that they’re twisting out of proportion to form the basis of their lie), and how they’re wrong.

                Going back to the beginning, you wrote…

                “He seems to be saying it’s a Democrat value to do things wrong on purpose?”

                …and I was explaining how, although that’s what the Republican moron might claim, it’s ass-backwards compared to factual reality.

                What he’s actually saying is that it’s a Democrat value to do things right on purpose, and complaining about it. That’s an even more insane and broken mentality than you gave him credit for.

                To continue your EMT analogy, it’s like if Republican morons were bitching and moaning that trained paramedics were a thing, and wanted ambulances to be staffed by quacks doing bloodletting and trying to balance bodily humours instead. (Which, with RFK Jr. in charge, probably isn’t far off!)