Our tax dollars to "fix" the grid?

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

> 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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