The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was an unfortunate combination of natural events mixed with the nation's excessive greed. Our country began its westward expansion with the dream of advancing its products from coast to coast. Our ancestors saw what the land had to offer and wasted no time in trying to exploit it to its fullest, thanks to our capitalist economic system. Could this have been avoided? After reading Donald Worster's book, The Dust Bowl, I would argue that the pride of the plains people, their reckless denial of the seriousness of the situation, and the need for reform are what led to our country's greatest ecological disaster . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay “The reaction among the people of the plains went something like this: not anticipating drought, underestimating the duration when it occurs, expecting rain momentarily, denying that they would be hit so hard what outsiders believe, defend the region against criticism, admit that some aid would be helpful, demand that the government act and act quickly, insist that federal aid be given without conditions and when and where local residents wish, vote for politicians who confirm the optimism of the people and reject the need for major reform, who do not like the interference of bureaucrats and who look forward to the return of "normality" when the plans will again advance along the path of constant progress” (Worster 28). This quote from chapter two of Worster's book clearly and concisely summarizes the attitudes of Plains dwellers during the decade of dust storms and "black blizzards" that choked the life of agriculture, breeding and even our own people. However, the negative reputation this gave the area irked its settlers who formed "truth squad vigilantes" (Worster 32) to defend the plains against bad press. These groups of people set out to maintain the dignity of struggling farmers who were not ready to turn their backs on the way of life for which they did backbreaking labor. Denial that it was a Dust Bowl, or even a drought, became the top priority for people in the Plains region. The Truth Vigilants have gone so far as to attempt to pursue, remove, or burn any sources or documentation depicting the Southern Plains in a negative light. In 1936, there was a film being made about the Dust Bowl which was immediately shut down by a member of the Texas legislature declaring the film to be "Libel on the great Texas Panhandle" (The Shamrock Texan, 1). The reporter continued his article by quoting Delegate Eugene Worley, also stating that "the scenes were misleading, an unfair portrayal and that the Texas Panhandle was far from a desert with its rich agriculture and hospitable citizens" (The Shamrock Texan , 1). This continued denial for many years in the 1930s is what deepened the economic depression that was already crippling our country's success. Instead of trying to cover up the situation, these groups should have sought change. Due to the growing desperation of the Plains States, the only option left was to rely on the government to help them out of this disaster. The traditionally democratic Plains states turned to the rest of America by voting for President Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt and his cabinet took into account the ideas of the citizens of every state and country in an effort to find an appropriate solution to resolve the.