It’s snowing today in Washington, which means another day of politicians from states with cold-weather climates bragging about making it into the office:
Of course, it’s fun for people who come from places where the annual average snowfall is quadruple the national average to brag about how tough they are. But getting snow in D.C. is nothing like getting snow in Pennsylvania or Nebraska or even Alaska, where four-wheel drive and snow tires are standard and the public-transportation systems are either nonexistent or not equipped to handle inclement winter weather. By contrast, D.C. is terrible at keeping the roads clear, and its drivers are among the worst in America — 109.3 percent more likely to be involved in a crash than the national average.
But it’s probably easy to miss this crucial context if getting to work on a snow day in D.C. only requires you to pull on your Minnetonkas and walk a few blocks in the cold.
