Re-neg. As expected. False statments yet again. How predictable.

RE: Your blatant Islamophobia
FYI:
Pure Islamic religion is good as are all other religions, however the
corrupted extremist forms of it are not good.


On 10/19/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote:
> There is no help for Tom.  He refuses to read, look at the facts, and just
> continues to spew out hatred.
>
> No need to worry about me paying off Tom's mortgage, he hasn't taken the
> time to even read the article(s)!!
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 1:49 PM, dick <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> You keep saying those things and they are all lies.   Saying something
>> without providing proof and when someone calls you on it you just wash,
>> rinse, repeat does not make what you say true - and it is not.   Almost to
>> the point where I just delete your messages as being nothing but BS.
>>
>>
>> On 10/19/2010 01:43 PM, Tommy News wrote:
>>
>>> The GOP created the meltdown, ignored the American people, started
>>> unwarranted wars, took us from a $236 billion dollar surplus to $1.3
>>> trillion dollar deficit, and now tells us they are the ones to fix it!
>>> Even though they have no plan!
>>>
>>> A return to the failed GOP Bush policies is no plan, which will only
>>> fail yet again.
>>>
>>> On 10/19/10, Keith In Tampa<[email protected]>  wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Yes, Tommy, the articles totally debunk the horse hockey that you wrote.
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 12:27 PM, Tommy News<[email protected]>
>>>>  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Thanks for all this.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/19/10, MJ<[email protected]>  wrote:
>>>>>  >  The Myth of Energy Deregulation
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Monday, November 07, 2005
>>>>>> by Adam Summers
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While the initiatives on the upcoming November 8 California special
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> election
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> ballot backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have been receiving
>>>>>> all
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> of
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> the media attention, another initiative that addresses an important
>>>>>> issue
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> is
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> being overlooked. Proposition 80, the so-called "Repeal of Electricity
>>>>>> Deregulation and Blackout Prevention" initiative, would make some
>>>>>> significant ­ and detrimental ­ changes in the state's energy policy.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The fact that even a government regulatory body such as the California
>>>>>> Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is actually against a measure that
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> would
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> increase its regulatory powers should tell you something right off the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> bat
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> about the merits of Prop. 80.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> California energy consumers are currently served by one of three types
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> providers: investor-owned utilities (IOUs), local publicly-owned
>>>>>> electric
>>>>>> utilities, and independent electric service providers (ESPs). Before
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> state's "deregulation" experiment of the 1990s was suspended in 2001
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> during
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> California's energy crisis, customers could choose to purchase their
>>>>>> electricity services directly from ESPs through "direct access"
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> contracts,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> rather than through an intermediary such as the local IOU or public
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> utility.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Proposition 80 Would Reduce Consumer Choice and Increase Costs
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Proposition 80 would permanently prevent all customers receiving
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> electricity
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> services from an IOU from switching to an ESP, effectively eliminating
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> any
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> new direct access (existing direct access contracts would be
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> grandfathered
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> in).[1] Thus, under Prop. 80, instead of having the option to buy
>>>>>> electricity directly from independent producers, consumers would have
>>>>>> no
>>>>>> choice but to buy their electricity from utilities. By effectively
>>>>>> eliminating an entire class of providers, the state has stifled
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> competition
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> (and would continue to do so), thereby leading to higher prices and,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> likely,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> lower-quality service.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The effect of this provision on prices would be significant. ESP
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> customers
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> include hospitals, local governments, the California State University
>>>>>> system, several University of California campuses, community college
>>>>>> districts, and local school districts. The nonpartisan Legislative
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Analyst's
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Office (LAO) estimates that the UC system alone saves about $12
>>>>>> million
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> per
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> year by purchasing its electricity from a lower-cost independent
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> provider.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> According to Mike Florio, an attorney for The Utility Reform Network
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> (TURN,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> one of the chief proponents of Prop. 80 that helped craft the
>>>>>> measure),
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> ability of consumers to purchase electricity directly from independent
>>>>>> service providers "destabilizes the whole business … and we'll truly
>>>>>> be
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> at
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> the mercy of the gods of the free market."[2] How dare people be able
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> choose whom they want to do business with! I suppose TURN hired Mr.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Florio
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> not for his legal expertise, but rather by the sheer providence of the
>>>>>> "free-market gods."
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Proposition 80 Would Impede Innovation and Efficiency
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Another provision of Prop. 80 would prohibit the broader
>>>>>> implementation
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> of
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> "dynamic pricing" of electricity without the consent of the consumer.
>>>>>> Currently, all but the largest energy consumers pay a flat rate for
>>>>>> electricity that does not vary by the time of day. Clearly, energy use
>>>>>> is
>>>>>> not constant throughout the day, however. There are certain "peak"
>>>>>> hours
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> of
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> the day when consumers use lots of electricity, and "non-peak" hours
>>>>>> when
>>>>>> they use very little. The costs of providing electricity vary
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> accordingly.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> As such, the IOUs have submitted proposals to the PUC to charge all
>>>>>> consumers higher rates during peak hours and lower rates during
>>>>>> non-peak
>>>>>> hours. This price discrimination would be accomplished through the use
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> high-tech "smart" meters.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In addition to making good sense ­ one should pay more for something
>>>>>> when
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> it
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> is in higher demand ­ dynamic pricing would encourage conservation via
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> pricing mechanism. Dynamic pricing would be a more efficient system
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> because
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> higher prices would discourage some from consuming such a scarce
>>>>>> resource
>>>>>> while ensuring that those who place the highest value on energy use
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> still able to consume it. Similarly, those who have some flexibility
>>>>>> over
>>>>>> when they consume their energy would be encouraged to utilize it
>>>>>> during
>>>>>> non-peak hours, thus placing less strain on the system.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Allowing the consumer to opt out of a dynamic pricing model would be
>>>>>> like
>>>>>> forcing a hotel owner to offer customers the choice of the nightly
>>>>>> room
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> rate
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> or an average of the nightly room rates throughout the week. Since
>>>>>> significantly more people stay at hotels during the weekend, rates are
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> much
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> higher on Friday and Saturday nights. The average weekly rate,
>>>>>> however,
>>>>>> would be higher than normal weekday rates but lower than normal
>>>>>> weekend
>>>>>> rates. The cheaper "opt-out" weekend rates and higher weekday rates
>>>>>> would
>>>>>> encourage even more people to stay during the weekend and fewer to
>>>>>> stay
>>>>>> during the week. The result would be a shortage of hotel rooms during
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> weekend and a loss of revenue for the hotel owner. No wonder demand
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> strains
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> the electrical grids during hot summer days.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Environmental Issues
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Under current regulations, energy producers must increase the portion
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> energy derived from renewable energy sources ­ such as solar, wind,
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> hydroelectric ­ by one percent per year until 2017, when 20 percent of
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> energy produced must come from these sources. Proposition 80 would
>>>>>> accelerate this deadline to 2010. Interestingly, some
>>>>>> environmentalists
>>>>>> oppose Prop. 80 because a provision requiring a two-thirds vote of the
>>>>>> Legislature to amend the measure could make it more difficult to
>>>>>> increase
>>>>>> the renewable energy standard in the future.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> According to the LAO's analysis, Prop. 80 would also require that "the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> first
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> priority for IOUs in procuring new electricity is to be from
>>>>>> 'cost-effective' energy efficiency and conservation programs, followed
>>>>>> by
>>>>>> 'cost-effective' renewable resources, and then from traditional
>>>>>> sources
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> such
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> as fossil fuel burning power plants."[3] Of course, if renewable
>>>>>> energy
>>>>>> sources and energy efficiency and conservation programs were truly
>>>>>> "cost
>>>>>> effective," producers would already be utilizing them in higher
>>>>>> numbers
>>>>>> because it would make them more profitable. This clearly is not the
>>>>>> case.
>>>>>> Forcing companies to invest significant amounts of their scarce
>>>>>> resources
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> on
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> more costly energy-production methods, which make up a relatively
>>>>>> small
>>>>>> share of total energy production (for good reason), will only ensure
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> costs ­ and, ultimately, consumers' electricity bills ­ remain higher
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> than
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> necessary.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As new technologies and energy-production methods are developed, this
>>>>>> may
>>>>>> change, but for now, it is best for both producers and consumers to
>>>>>> focus
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> on
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> the most efficient means of producing energy. Of course, if consumers
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> demand
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> "cleaner" energy, in a truly free market, producers will have an
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> incentive
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> to provide it. Indeed, after Pennsylvania successfully implemented its
>>>>>> electricity deregulation effort in 1999 (without the pitfalls
>>>>>> experienced
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> by
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> California), 20 percent of consumers chose to switch to suppliers of
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> "green
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> power," despite the fact that they had to pay a small premium to do
>>>>>> so.
>>>>>> Proposition 80 eliminates this choice, instead demanding that all
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> consumers
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> support the higher cost of investing more in renewable energy ­
>>>>>> whether
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> they
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> want to
>>>>>> or not.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Misconceptions Over Electricity "Deregulation" in California
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Some blame deregulation for the rolling blackouts, soaring spot market
>>>>>> prices, and utility bankruptcies that sprang from the energy crisis of
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> 2000
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> and 2001. But this anger is misplaced. California has never
>>>>>> experienced
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> true
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> deregulation. The "deregulation" implemented in 1996 left price
>>>>>> controls
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> in
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> place and created "artificial" markets ripe for manipulation and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> disparities
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> between supply and demand.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> By setting price caps below market prices, California limited the
>>>>>> profitability of the industry. When wholesale energy costs increased,
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> price caps prevented energy producers from passing them on to
>>>>>> consumers.
>>>>>> Wholesale prices rose dramatically for a number of reasons: natural
>>>>>> gas
>>>>>> prices rose, hot weather in the Southwest increased demand, a relative
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> lack
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> of water in the Northwest minimized the production of hydroelectric
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> energy,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> and pollution-control permits, which allow industrial companies that
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> produce
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> less pollution than allowed by regulations to sell the difference as
>>>>>> "credits" to higher-pollution-producing companies, rose ten-fold, from
>>>>>> $4
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> to
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> $40.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The price caps additionally discouraged potential producers from
>>>>>> entering
>>>>>> the market and increasing competition, and they discouraged existing
>>>>>> producers from investing profits in adding capacity, of which
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Californians
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> were (and continue to be) in dire need. As a result of the price caps
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> pressure from politicians and environmentalists, the building of
>>>>>> plants
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> transmission lines slowed dramatically and energy producers were not
>>>>>> able
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> to
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> keep up with demand, particularly in the Silicon Valley, where the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> booming
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> computer and "dot-com" industries led to even sharper increases in
>>>>>> electricity demand.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> After the big three investor-owned utilities ­ Pacific Gas&  Electric,
>>>>>> Southern California Edison, and SEMPRA (San Diego Gas&  Electric) ­
>>>>>> were
>>>>>> forced to sell many of their fossil-fuel-burning generators to private
>>>>>> firms, regulators prohibited them from entering into long-term
>>>>>> contracts
>>>>>> with these firms, forcing them to rely upon the much more volatile
>>>>>> short-term and spot markets. In addition, California forced generators
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> utilities to trade power through the Power Exchange, a state-run pool.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> While that requirement was designed to give every company the same
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> wholesale
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> price for power, it also guaranteed that they would be unable to
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> negotiate
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> lower-priced power on their own. The California rules essentially
>>>>>> barred
>>>>>> utilities from buying power on the futures market, meaning they were
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> unable
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> to lock in supplies and prices.[4]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This is as if Wal-Mart and Marshall Field's were forced to acquire
>>>>>> their
>>>>>> goods from a non-profit, state-run pool that would guarantee that they
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> would
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> acquire the goods for the same price. Wal-Mart never would have been
>>>>>> able
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> to
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> develop its efficient and innovative purchasing and distribution
>>>>>> system,
>>>>>> meaning it could not generate savings to pass on to customers in the
>>>>>> form
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> of
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> lower prices.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At the time of the increase in wholesale prices, PG&E and Edison were
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> still
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> in the deregulation "transition" period, and thus still subject to PUC
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> rate
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> regulations. As a result, PG&E went bankrupt and Edison teetered on
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> edge
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> of insolvency. To add insult to injury, when the government stepped in
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> purchase electricity on behalf of the struggling IOUs to try to quell
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> crisis, not only did it do so at the height of the emergency, when
>>>>>> energy
>>>>>> prices were highest, it locked in these prices with long-term
>>>>>> contracts
>>>>>> costing billions of dollars.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Natural Monopoly Justification for Regulation
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The main argument against the full privatization of public utilities
>>>>>> such
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> as
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> electricity and water service is that such industries are "natural
>>>>>> monopolies." That is, they require such high fixed costs (it is easier
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> start a new restaurant than to invest in the infrastructure for a new
>>>>>> electric grid) that it is inefficient for there to exist more than one
>>>>>> producer in a particular location. This, it is feared, will lead the
>>>>>> producer to engage in price gouging.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are several problems with this rationale, not the least of which
>>>>>> is
>>>>>> the notion that "public utilities" somehow constitute a unique set of
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> goods
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> that must be "protected" by government intervention. As economist
>>>>>> Murray
>>>>>> Rothbard noted in Power and Market:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The very term "public utility" … is an absurd one. Every good is
>>>>>> useful
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> "to
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> the public," and almost every good … may be considered "necessary."
>>>>>> Any
>>>>>> designation of a few industries as "public utilities" is completely
>>>>>> arbitrary and unjustified.[5]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> High capital costs certainly will limit the number of actual and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> potential
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> providers, but there is still a profit motive in a free market that
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> creates
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> opportunities for lower-cost producers. In addition, it is important
>>>>>> to
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> note
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> that markets are not static; technological innovations may allow for
>>>>>> additional competition in the future.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Another misconception opponents of free markets have concerns the very
>>>>>> understanding of the nature of competition. Even if there is only one
>>>>>> producer of a certain good or service in town, this does not mean that
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> producer is "gouging" customers through monopolistic practices.
>>>>>> Indeed,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> just
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> because he is the sole supplier today does not mean he will be the
>>>>>> sole
>>>>>> supplier tomorrow. As economist Thomas J. DiLorenzo explains:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If competition is viewed as a dynamic, rivalrous process of
>>>>>> entrepreneurship, then the fact that a single producer happens to have
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> lowest costs at any one point in time is of little or no consequence.
>>>>>> The
>>>>>> enduring forces of competition ­ including potential competition ­
>>>>>> will
>>>>>> render free-market monopoly an impossibility.[6]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> In other words, even if there happens to be only one current provider
>>>>>> of
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> a
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> particular good or service, in a free market that provider is held in
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> check
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> by the mere threat of competition ­ if he charges prices that are too
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> high
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> or provides poor service, there will be an incentive for a competitor
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> come in and take market share from him by offering lower prices or
>>>>>> better
>>>>>> service.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The rules change, however, when government regulation erects barriers
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> entry or otherwise suppresses competition. In addition to the many
>>>>>> government regulations purportedly enacted in the "public interest,"
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> there
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> are numerous instances where private-sector businesses have been able
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> successfully lobby policymakers to use the power of government to
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> establish
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> barriers to competition and protect them from existing or potential
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> rivals.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Unlike the free-market case, there is no possibility of these
>>>>>> monopolists
>>>>>> losing out to lower-cost providers (barring the elimination of the
>>>>>> regulations), and they are able to "exploit" consumers. These are the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> truly
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> harmful monopolies. Thus, the only "bad" monopoly is a
>>>>>> government-created
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> or
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> government-preserved
>>>>>> monopoly.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Conclusions
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Proposition 80 would be a step backward for California. It would
>>>>>> restrict
>>>>>> consumer choice, discourage competition, and impose more of the kinds
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> regulations that got the California power industry into trouble in the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> first
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> place.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As awful as Proposition 80 is, however, there is good news. It is
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> trailing
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> in recent public opinion polls, and even if it should end up passing
>>>>>> it
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> is
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> likely to be discarded by the courts. It was removed from the ballot
>>>>>> on
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> July
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> 22 by the Court of Appeals in Sacramento because the court found that,
>>>>>> according to the state constitution, the PUC's authority can only be
>>>>>> increased by the Legislature, not by initiative. The initiative was
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> restored
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> a few days later by the California Supreme Court, which did not offer
>>>>>> an
>>>>>> opinion on the merits of the case but felt that the public should have
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> chance to vote on the initiative before the legal challenge is heard.
>>>>>> (Of
>>>>>> course, if voters reject the measure, this will be a moot point and
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> courts will not have to waste their time on it ­ a fact that surely
>>>>>> was
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> not
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> lost on the Supreme Court.)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Politicians and regulators forced a sham of a "deregulation" scheme
>>>>>> upon
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> energy industry in California, and then blamed the free market when it
>>>>>> inevitably failed! The problem was not too much free-market
>>>>>> competition;
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> it
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> was too much regulation (despite the "deregulation" doublespeak). The
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> real
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> solution to California's energy problem is to eliminate price caps and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> all
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> government regulation, thereby removing barriers to entry, fostering
>>>>>> competition, offering consumers maximum choice, and affording
>>>>>> providers
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> the
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> greatest incentives to increase capacity and best serve their
>>>>>> customers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Adam Summers is a policy analyst for the Reason Foundation
>>>>>> ([email protected]). Comment on the blog.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [1] This option was suspended during the electricity crisis of 2000
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> 2001, but is scheduled to be reinstated when the last of the power
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> contracts
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> signed on behalf of the IOUs by the Department of Water Resources
>>>>>> expires
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> in
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> 2015.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [2] Carrie Peyton Dahlberg, "Electricity proposition crackles: Will
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> prices
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> go up? Will it avert an energy crisis? It all depends on who's
>>>>>> talking,"
>>>>>> Sacramento Bee, October 15, 2005,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13717834p-14560232c.html(free
>>>>>> registration required).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [3] California Secretary of State, Official Voter Information Guide,
>>>>>> Statewide Special Election, November 8, 2005, p. 52,
>>>>>> http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/bp_nov05/voter_info_pdf/entire80.pdf .
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [4] Terry Maxon, "Power Woes Unlikely in Texas, Officials Say," Dallas
>>>>>> Morning News, January 19, 2001, cited in Lynne Kiesling, "Getting
>>>>>> Electricity Deregulation Right: How Other States and Nations Have
>>>>>> Avoided
>>>>>> California's Mistakes," Reason Foundation Policy Study No. 281, April
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> 2001,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> p. 18, http://www.reason.org/ps281.pdf.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [5] Murray N. Rothbard, Power and Market: Government and the Economy,
>>>>>> (Kansas City: Sheed Andrews and McMeel, 1977), p. 76,
>>>>>> http://mises.org/rothbard/power&market.pdf. Now integrated into Man,
>>>>>> Economy, and State.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [6] Thomas J. DiLorenzo, "The Myth of Natural Monopoly," The Review of
>>>>>> Austrian Economics, Vol. 9, No. 2 (1996), p. 44,
>>>>>> http://mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/rae9_2_3.pdf.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://mises.org/daily/1954
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
>>>>>> For options&  help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
>>>>>>
>>>>>> * Visit our other community at
>>>>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ <http://www.politicalforum.com/><
>>>>>> http://www.politicalforum.com/>
>>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
>>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
>>>>> Have a great day,
>>>>> Tommy
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>>  Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
>>>>> For options&  help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
>>>>>
>>>>> * Visit our other community at
>>>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ <http://www.politicalforum.com/><
>>>>> http://www.politicalforum.com/>
>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
>>>> For options&  help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
>>>>
>>>> * Visit our other community at
>>>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/>
>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
>>
>> * Visit our other community at
>> http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> * It's
>> active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the
>> latest breaking news, and more.
>>
>
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> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups.
> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum
>
> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/
> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls.
> * Read the latest breaking news, and more.


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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy

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* Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/  
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* Read the latest breaking news, and more.

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