Power

The Koch brothers have stopped hiding in the background, they just bought the US House and part of the Senate.

The billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch no longer sit outside Washington's political establishment, isolated by their uncompromising conservatism. Instead, they are now at the center of Republican power, a change most evident in the new makeup of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical." (Thomas Jefferson)

by Barbara Howe
Chair, Libertarian Party of North Carolina

The "voter owned elections" bills currently circulating in the General Assembly will do nothing to end corruption in government. Like most legislation, the title belies the real intent. Rather than insure voter ownership of elections, the bills will strengthen the grip of the Democrat-Republican duopoly that controls our state government.

No doubt many sponsors of these bills are sincere in their desire to end corruption. They're well meaning -- but misguided. In their quest to legislate morality, they entirely miss the real problem.

The problem is not the abuse of power; it is the power to abuse.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical." (Thomas Jefferson)

by Barbara Howe
Chair, Libertarian Party of North Carolina

The "voter owned elections" bills currently circulating in the General Assembly will do nothing to end corruption in government. Like most legislation, the title belies the real intent. Rather than insure voter ownership of elections, the bills will strengthen the grip of the Democrat-Republican duopoly that controls our state government.

No doubt many sponsors of these bills are sincere in their desire to end corruption. They're well meaning -- but misguided. In their quest to legislate morality, they entirely miss the real problem.

The problem is not the abuse of power; it is the power to abuse.

Recently Duke Energy received permission from the State of North Carolina to build a new coal fired power plant in Cliffside, North Carolina. Despite the facts that this new plant could be a major polluter of CO2, mercury, and evaporate 21 million gallons of water each day. You can find all the details here on NC Warn's website.

In recent years, many fellow Democrats have opposed certain Democratic Congress members for not voting liberally enough. I have replied that the best way to get Democrats to move to the left is to give them a solid majority in Congress and solid wins in their districts.

The North Carolina Public Interest Research Group released a study this week which places North Carolina second, behind Ohio, for the highest level of power plant pollutants released into the air in 2004. Come on, Progress. Come on Duke. We can do better. Number 2 is the first loser, right guys?

The 65-page report is long on detail and begins,

Every day in America, industrial facilities release millions of pounds of toxic substances into the nation’s air and water. Many Americans – especially those who live in close proximity to industrial facilities –harbor deep concern about how those toxic releases may affect their health.

Harbor deep concern about those toxic releases affecting their health. Go figure. I mean, it's not like we have County Commissioners and power companies making secret deals to build just such industrial facilities upwind from cities... oh, wait, here in Buncombe County we do. And it is not like industry would lie about their ambitions and facts about their pollution... oh wait, they do that too.

Drinking Liberally, they can be obtained at... here

Thursday, March 1st
Utilities 101: Understanding Utilities and Utilities Reform
A Free Talk by Michael Shore,
Southeast Air Quality Manager,
Environmental Defense
Thursday, March 1, 7 PM
West Asheville Library
942 Haywood Road
West Asheville, NC 28806

If you don't come, Pat McHenry will eat a kitten!

See you there.

You know, it seems as if 10% is a magic number in electric power politics. That number seems to come up all the time... 10% of our capacity, 10% increase in usage, 10% shortfall due to contract problems, 10% limit on run-time.

Well now it appears that 10% of our energy needs can be met with renewable resources. Mountain Express has this bit on Representative Susan Fisher's battle against coal, which is a great thing. They are quoting a N&O article which stated, in part,

The article notes that an energy consultant’s report in December concluded that 10 percent of the state’s energy needs could be met by renewable sources and efficiency programs.

The increasingly disturbing news forecasting an imminent confrontation or war with Iran is of great concern to me...and I'm sure to all of you. From all appearances, George Bush is prepared to plunge us further into catastrophe while he and the rest of the craven cowards in his administration talk about diplomacy as a ruse to disguise their true intent while they prepare to drench the world in blood.

George Bush and Dick Cheney have been corrupted by the power they wield. They need to be removed from office...now! Below the fold are comments on such corruption by one of the most learned people of the 19th century.