It’s Time for Red States to Reckon with Their Climate Change Denial

How Blue States Can Stop Subsidizing Climate Denial and Force Accountability on Red States

The fires ripping through Los Angeles aren’t just another tragedy—they are a lesson we’re long overdue in learning. Over 24 lives lost, 12,000 structures destroyed, and 180,000 people displaced. These fires are the predictable consequence of decades of climate denial and inaction, fueled by leaders—and voters—who refuse to confront the reality of a warming planet.

For too long, red states have mocked science, blocked solutions, and relied on blue states to bail them out. Enough is enough. It’s time to stop enabling their irresponsibility and let them face the full consequences of their choices.

The time has come for bold action. Blue states cannot continue to subsidize the reckless irresponsibility of red states. The fires in Los Angeles—and the countless other disasters fueled by climate change—demand accountability from leaders, voters, and the parasitic system that enables denial.

The Parasitic Relationship Between Red and Blue States

For all their rhetoric about self-reliance, red states rely heavily on blue states for economic and disaster support. The truth is undeniable:

• Federal Dependency: Red states consistently take more from the federal government than they contribute. States like Mississippi and Kentucky are at the top of the list for federal aid, while California and New York pay far more into the system than they receive. Blue states are funding red states’ poor choices.

• Disaster Relief: Whether it’s hurricanes in Florida, floods in Texas, or droughts in the Midwest, red states demand federal aid when disaster strikes—aid funded primarily by blue-state taxpayers. Yet these same states elect leaders who deny the climate science behind these increasingly severe disasters.

• Economic Strength: Blue states like California, with its $4 trillion economy, drive national prosperity. Meanwhile, red states often rank at the bottom for wages, productivity, and innovation, relying on blue-state economic output to sustain their budgets.

This imbalance cannot continue. Blue states are leading the way on climate action while red states actively block progress. It’s time for blue states to use their economic and political power to hold red states accountable.

Let Them Have Their FEMA-Free Fantasy

Ironically, many in the Republican base already believe FEMA is part of a massive government conspiracy. They circulate baseless claims about FEMA camps, government overreach, and apocalyptic scenarios. If that’s what they want to believe, then perhaps it’s time to give them what they wish for: no FEMA at all.

Blue states should stop voting to fund FEMA and instead create an interstate emergency fund that serves only states committed to climate accountability. If red-state voters want to deny climate science and mock disaster relief, they can experience the full weight of their choices without blue-state taxpayers footing the bill.

A Bold Solution: A Blue-State Emergency Fund

To build a sustainable future while holding deniers accountable, blue states should take the lead:

1. Create an Interstate Emergency Fund

Blue states can pool their resources into a fund that prioritizes disaster relief for states actively working to address climate change. States that continue to elect climate-denying leaders or pass regressive climate policies would be excluded from accessing this fund.

2. Divest from FEMA

Blue states should redirect their disaster relief contributions from FEMA into their own emergency infrastructure. Let red states, whose voters reject climate science, navigate their crises without federal aid funded by blue states.

3. Invest in Climate Resilience

Use the emergency fund to build climate-resilient infrastructure in participating states, ensuring that funds are spent on solutions that protect against future disasters rather than propping up denial.

4. Economic Accountability

Encourage boycotts and divestment campaigns targeting industries and companies based in red states that lobby against climate action. Hit them where it hurts: their

bottom line.

Accountability for Voters and Leaders

The blame for this crisis doesn’t stop with politicians—it extends to voters who elect them. Every ballot cast for a climate-denying politician is a vote for more fires, floods, and destruction. If red-state voters want to live in a world where climate denial shapes their policies, they should bear the consequences of those decisions.

Rather than continuing to waste resources on states that refuse to act, blue states can take a different approach: redirect funds to empower individuals who want to escape these regressive environments. By creating programs that help non-climate deniers relocate to states with better policies and stronger futures, we can stop enabling denial and start building a stronger coalition for climate action.

1. Relocation Assistance
   Allocate resources from the Blue-State Emergency Fund to provide financial aid for individuals and families who want to leave red states and relocate to climate-progressive states. This could include covering moving costs, helping with housing, or supporting job transitions.

2. Building a Support Network
   Partner with local governments and organizations to ensure relocating families have access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities in their new homes. This approach would make it easier for individuals to escape climates of denial and join communities working toward solutions.

3. Investing in the Future
   Redirect resources away from bailing out states that refuse to solve the problem and toward strengthening the states that lead on climate action. By prioritizing investments in education, renewable energy, and infrastructure in progressive states, we create a future that rewards responsibility and innovation.

This strategy not only holds red states accountable but also offers an escape route for those trapped in political systems that refuse to address reality. It’s time to stop subsidizing denial and start supporting those who want to build a better future.

The Reckoning Is Here

This is no longer just about disasters in Los Angeles, Houston, or the Gulf Coast. It’s about the survival of every community. The time has come for blue states to stop enabling the reckless irresponsibility of red states. By building their own emergency systems, cutting off federal subsidies for denial, and using economic leverage to drive accountability, blue states can lead the way toward a future grounded in responsibility and action.

Let red states pay for their own disasters. Let them live in the FEMA-free world many of their voters fantasize about. And let blue states build a future that works for those who value science, accountability, and sustainability.

California is burning, but the solution is in our hands. It’s time to act—not just for ourselves, but for the generations that will inherit the consequences of our choices. The clock is ticking, and the time for denial is over. Will we rise to the moment, or let the flames consume us all?

The fight for a more equitable, sustainable future is ongoing. If you believe in the vision of the American Manifesto—a movement to build solutions and change minds for lasting progress—you can help. Share this article to spread the message. And if you’re able, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support ensures that this content remains free and accessible to all, helping us reach more people and drive the change we so urgently need.

Together, we can make a difference. Let’s rise to the moment—because the future depends on it.