Forwarded from: Einar Olsen <fountains...@gmail.com <mailto:fountains...@gmail.com>>
All, In response to a fairly successful and knowledgeable person questioning the value of the meeting with the Deputy Atty General today, here are the very good benefits I could think of that came from today's meeting: Thank you so much for coming if you came - Hi, Janet forwarded this to me, I work with and help FFSM sometimes, a) It was and is very important and good that the Deputy Atty General of Iowa and their Consumer Fraud expert saw a large crowd who felt strongly about this matter. This, added to the the activities of other groups around the country that they will learn about if they do even a little homework, will help them become informed and influence others. They talk. They know people. Their attention is NOT a waste of time because of conversations they may have with very influential people, soon, and in the future. Plus, there is the quantum mechanical effect, that increase in knowledge and awareness 'here' influences attitude and decisions 'there.' Especially if vip's are involved. So getting the word out to vip's is usually worthwhile, and if 'the word' involves a lot of Sidhas who feel strongly, that 'word' is far stronger, more penetrating into the collective consciousness via VIPs awareness. Before this meeting, those two vips had not the faintest idea of what this issue is about. They are somewhat influential in this state. For them to find this into out, and to see all the people, was enough to make this meeting alone worthwhile. The Deputy Atty General of this state even said, 'If Alliant knows that harm can be caused by this technology, and is rolling it out anyway, that is crime.' That statement alone from the Deputy Atty General of Iowa was wroth the meeting. But there was much more to feel good about, as follows - b) There is a lot that needs to be clarified, wrong things that Alliant has done, that Ed did not discuss because there is no excuse for Alliant. Why didn't he mention them? , this meeting was earthshaking and created a completely different path and hope for us. Because before this meeting, and if that meeting had not taken place, Ed had told us firmly and repeatedly that he was not going to try to get Alliant to offer us analogs. Due to the turn out, and due to the high quality of what you said, this meeting changed Ed's mind. Because our turn out was so many, and so strong in views and plans, he realized that he shouldchange his policy and instead, try to get Alliant to offer us analogs. I mentioned court to him and it was clear he strongly wants to avoid a court case/s with Alliant. So this meeting, especially the turn-out, was of very great importance in moving Ed's plans from not trying to get analogs for us, to try to get analogs for us. This was by far the most important meeting result that has come from any meeting about smart meters thus far. A big, substantial change in the whole many-month project. Ed had stopped going to bat for us, and decided to reverse and go to bat for us. This alone was worth the whole meeting and the time of all who came. c) We had no idea what the Atty General Office was going to say or do, there was no easy way for us to know, and is it fair to take us to task for this? As it turned out, it turned out to be an especially keydecision to do as much as we could to encourage as many people as possible to attend. d) This was by far, imho, the best succinct presentation on why to avoid smart meters that has taken place in our community. I felt the previous two events could have been far stronger, especially in the science, and a more balanced presentation of all the many reasons to avoid smart meters - not just the health reason. Although much more could and should be done with communicating the many other reasons. In fact, in other areas of the country, people have gotten much more traction with other reasons than with the health reason - especially the privacy point. In Michigan, the most traction has been through Republican legislators concerned about privacy. Not that health does not matter but we have to hit all the issues and 'do what works.' Partisanship is not the point. e) It was a great rallying meeting that significantly increased togetherness and coherence for this project. For everyone to see all the others concerned, which is easy to forget about otherwise. And numbers are HIGHLY important in this matter. Political people are highly influenced by this, not just arguments on both sides. Most politicians nowadays seem to care more about numbers and passion than arguments and science (May that balance out). f) KTVO TV from Ottumwa/Kirksville came, filmed the event and interviews, and is going to show them all over the region. This alone was worth the meeting. Tens (hundreds?) of thousands of people all over our area are going to have their consciousness raised. g) Andy Hallman, the editor of the Ledger, and Hilary Kurtz, editor of the Reader, both came and Andy is probably going to do a story. This also is a very good effect from the meeting. h) Ed and I spoke after, and this, plus a conversation I had with Andy Hallman, created a breakthrough in understanding about why Ed Malloy and we have been on different pages prior to this. I don't have time to get into details, but there have been some very important misunderstandings and different interpretations between Ed and us, and two of the most important were cleared up as a direct result of this meeting. I hope the above eight points help you feel better about the meeting and our invitation, And thank you so much for speaking up as you did - that was very helpful and admirable. JGD, Einar
