Interesting People mailing list archives
Our tax dollars to "fix" the grid?
From: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 17:37:29 -0400
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 08:06:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com> Subject: Our tax dollars to "fix" the grid? To: dave () farber net Dave, It's clear that the energy behemoths will view the blackout as their golden opportunity. What better way to get taxpayers to fund the grid improvements necessary for assuring the firms of continuing lucrative income streams? When the Congressional hearings start, watch for the energy executives to wail how they can't *possibly* take on the task by themselves, and since national security is at stake it's obviously the government's job to pay. That this situation has been largely created by the energy companies' own (in some cases criminal) neglect and manipulation will not be a featured part of their arguments. CNN's site has been running an online poll: "Would you be willing to pay increased taxes to improve the power grid?" The results of that highly-unscientific, self-selected poll are currently at 67% in favor. But scaring taxpayers into (inappropriately) footing the bill shouldn't be hard in any case. The corporate energy beasts are lining up to shaft us all yet again. I discuss some of this in the latest Fact Squad Radio short audio (mp3) feature: "Blackouts and Bush's Buddies" -- playable via: http://www.factsquad.org/radio By the way, I got first word of the blackout via the IP list! Great job! --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein lauren () pfir org or lauren () vortex com or lauren () privacyforum org http://www.pfir.org/lauren Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 Co-Founder, PFIR - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org Co-Founder, Fact Squad - http://www.factsquad.org Co-Founder, URIICA - Union for Representative International Internet Cooperation and Analysis - http://www.uriica.org Moderator, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
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- Our tax dollars to "fix" the grid? Dave Farber (Aug 16)
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