I've read a lot of commentary and rantings lately about how stupid Texans were for not fleeing Hurricane Ike. It's a topic that comes up every few years only the residents and hurricane names change. The commentary usually addresses how idiotic these people are for "hunkering down" in a hurricane which will reign "certain death." Yet, these commentators do not try and delve into the bigger issue: why did these people stay. That's simple. They couldn't leave.

According to SimplyHired.com the median income of households in Galveston was only $28,895. The site goes on to state that Galveston's unemployment are is 10.1%. One could extrapolate from this data that probably at least 10% of the population also does not have healthcare. A whopping 27% of Galveston has a household income of less than $15,000.

These people stand to lose everything they own. And, if they left, have nothing to return to. They do not have insurance waiting for them to take care of repairs. Plus, where would they go were they to leave? Hotels and motels are expensive. And gas prices are at an all-time high. They might be lucky enough to have family within driving distance and safe from the storm but it will still cost quite a bit of gas money to get there. We take credit cards for granted. Not everyone has them. And still, those too need to be paid off.

So yes, it is costing tax payers money to save these victims. But that is indeed what they are. Please show a little compassion. Sure, if you're poor and cannot flee a hurricane Galveston may not be the best place to live but moving is also expensive. And leaving your family and friends behind is a tough decision. Especially for the unknown. And with 81% of the population having not completed college what kind of jobs can they expect to find? Instead of blasting the idiocy of these people try to take a moment and understanad where they are coming from. And be thankful for what you have.