If the power lines were buried underground.

As most of us are painfully aware, the ice storm that hit most of eastern North America, December 21/22, created havoc. Thirty hours of freezing rain meant downed power lines with loss of electricity, heat, and spoiled food in refrigerators and freezers. Public transit was at a standstill as was almost everything else. All of this could be avoided if the power lines were buried underground. however the simple fact is, as usual, it is too expensive and that, under capitalism, people's well-being comes second to shoveling profits in the direction of the owning class. John Ayers