Why we should bury the power lines

David Frum, CNN Contributor
3 minute read
Updated 3:11 PM EST, Thu February 13, 2014
Vehicles are piled up in an wreck Friday, February 14, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Traffic accidents involving multiple tractor-trailers and dozens of cars completely blocked one side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike outside Philadelphia.
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Vehicles are piled up in an wreck Friday, February 14, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Traffic accidents involving multiple tractor-trailers and dozens of cars completely blocked one side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike outside Philadelphia.
Matt Rourke/ap
A pedestrian walks through a cloud of steam on a snowy street in New York on February 14. Commuters faced slick roads after a winter storm brought snow and ice to the East Coast.
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A pedestrian walks through a cloud of steam on a snowy street in New York on February 14. Commuters faced slick roads after a winter storm brought snow and ice to the East Coast.
Seth Wenig/ap
A traveler walks through Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 14. Numerous flights were canceled and delayed this week as a result of the snowstorm that pounded a huge section of the country.
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A traveler walks through Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 14. Numerous flights were canceled and delayed this week as a result of the snowstorm that pounded a huge section of the country.
MICHAEL REYNOLDS/epa/LANDOV
People dig out vehicles buried in snow in Albany, New York, on February 14.
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People dig out vehicles buried in snow in Albany, New York, on February 14.
Mike Groll/ap
Chris Starace works to clear snow from his roof in Ossining, New York, on Thursday, February 13.
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Chris Starace works to clear snow from his roof in Ossining, New York, on Thursday, February 13.
Craig Ruttle/AP
Snow and ice cover an Atlanta neighborhood on February 13.
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Snow and ice cover an Atlanta neighborhood on February 13.
John Bazemore/ap
People walk through the snow on February 13 in Brooklyn, New York.
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People walk through the snow on February 13 in Brooklyn, New York.
Ruaridh Connellan/Barcroft Media/Landov
The lower Manhattan skyline is seen behind a pile of snow in Brooklyn on February 13.
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The lower Manhattan skyline is seen behind a pile of snow in Brooklyn on February 13.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
After spending the night at Reagan National Airport, Ernie Harmon of Long Island, New York, watches a movie while waiting for his flight February 13.
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After spending the night at Reagan National Airport, Ernie Harmon of Long Island, New York, watches a movie while waiting for his flight February 13.
Cliff Owen/ap
Snow covers cars in Brooklyn on February 13.
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Snow covers cars in Brooklyn on February 13.
Ruaridh Connellan/Barcroft Media/Landov
Claire Lamborne removes snow from her car in Warrenton, Virginia, on February 13.
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Claire Lamborne removes snow from her car in Warrenton, Virginia, on February 13.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
A snowman is seen in front of a hardware store in Washington on February 13.
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A snowman is seen in front of a hardware store in Washington on February 13.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Don Hammond of Newtown, Connecticut, shovels his driveway as snow continues to fall February 13.
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Don Hammond of Newtown, Connecticut, shovels his driveway as snow continues to fall February 13.
Tyler Sizemore/The News-Times/AP
A long line of travelers winds around the atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on February 13 as people attempt to catch flights previously canceled because of the massive winter storm.
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A long line of travelers winds around the atrium of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on February 13 as people attempt to catch flights previously canceled because of the massive winter storm.
David Tulis/AP
Rescue workers in Oxon Hill, Maryland, attempt to upright an overturned tractor-trailer on Interstate 495 on February 13.
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Rescue workers in Oxon Hill, Maryland, attempt to upright an overturned tractor-trailer on Interstate 495 on February 13.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Snow collects at the base of escalators at the Dupont Circle Metro Station in Washington on February 13.
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Snow collects at the base of escalators at the Dupont Circle Metro Station in Washington on February 13.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
A postal worker makes his delivery rounds through blizzard conditions in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on February 13.
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A postal worker makes his delivery rounds through blizzard conditions in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on February 13.
Chris Post/AP
Motorists push a vehicle on Highway 70 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 13, a day after the worst of the storm struck the town.
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Motorists push a vehicle on Highway 70 in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 13, a day after the worst of the storm struck the town.
Sara D. Davis/Getty Images
A man helps push a car in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on February 13.
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A man helps push a car in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on February 13.
Gerry Broome/AP
Snow blankets a street in Ossining, New York, on February 13.
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Snow blankets a street in Ossining, New York, on February 13.
Craig Ruttle/AP
A traveler kills time as work crews continue to clear snow from the runways at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 13.
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A traveler kills time as work crews continue to clear snow from the runways at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on February 13.
SHAWN THEW/EPA/LANDOV/file
A man in Bethlehem helps push a stranded motorist February 13.
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A man in Bethlehem helps push a stranded motorist February 13.
Chris Post/AP
Lyall MacFee shovels snow in front of Sciortino's Pizzeria in Albany, New York, on February 13.
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Lyall MacFee shovels snow in front of Sciortino's Pizzeria in Albany, New York, on February 13.
Mike Groll/AP
A man digs out a small snowplow that got stuck while clearing snow from a sidewalk in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on February 13.
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A man digs out a small snowplow that got stuck while clearing snow from a sidewalk in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on February 13.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
A man braces his umbrella while walking through the wind and snow in New York City on February 13.
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A man braces his umbrella while walking through the wind and snow in New York City on February 13.
John Moore/Getty Images
Police work to tow a bus that slid off the road in Philadelphia on February 13.
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Police work to tow a bus that slid off the road in Philadelphia on February 13.
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
A man walks along the snow-covered Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington on February 13.
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A man walks along the snow-covered Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington on February 13.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
A woman covers her face while walking in New York City on February 13.
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A woman covers her face while walking in New York City on February 13.
John Moore/Getty Images
A worker clears a snowy sidewalk in Washington on February 13.
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A worker clears a snowy sidewalk in Washington on February 13.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
Cars sit covered in snow on a street in Manassas, Virginia, on February 13.
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Cars sit covered in snow on a street in Manassas, Virginia, on February 13.
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
A man in Philadelphia shields his face from the elements February 13.
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A man in Philadelphia shields his face from the elements February 13.
Matt Rourke/AP
A snowplow removes snow from the sidewalk in Washington's Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, on February 13.
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A snowplow removes snow from the sidewalk in Washington's Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, on February 13.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
People walk through snow February 13 in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York City.
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People walk through snow February 13 in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York City.
Mark Lennihan/AP
People help push a car stuck in the snow February 13 in Alexandria, Virginia.
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People help push a car stuck in the snow February 13 in Alexandria, Virginia.
MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA/LANDOV
Kevin Miller looks out the passenger window of his friend's car as they sit stuck in traffic during a winter storm in Raleigh on Wednesday, February 12.
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Kevin Miller looks out the passenger window of his fri