Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
they've cut into the budget at my school pretty well
no summer classes because of lack of funds = the suck
good thing i'm done with school
Sure, electricity deregulation would result in a glut of cheap power if a state wanted to dirty its air just half as badly as Texas.
The point is that Gov. Pete Wilson personally championed deregulation, and got it through Congress. But Davis gets all the blame for having to mop up the mess. Not that Wilson walked away from his governership with his political career intact. He is a major reason why the state GOP is virtually irrelevant (except at blocking any budget resolution progress w/ their 34% representation; not that Democratic state congressmen have done any better). For all his faults, Davis has proposed a painful budget that by virtually all accounts is centrist and will solve the fiscal crisis. Unfortunately, state congressmen are still playing partisan politics as bank accounts (already on borrowed money) run empty.
The point is that Gov. Pete Wilson personally championed deregulation, and got it through Congress. But Davis gets all the blame for having to mop up the mess. Not that Wilson walked away from his governership with his political career intact. He is a major reason why the state GOP is virtually irrelevant (except at blocking any budget resolution progress w/ their 34% representation; not that Democratic state congressmen have done any better). For all his faults, Davis has proposed a painful budget that by virtually all accounts is centrist and will solve the fiscal crisis. Unfortunately, state congressmen are still playing partisan politics as bank accounts (already on borrowed money) run empty.
If it's solely a federal issue, then what does FERC exist for? They should have been dismantled a long time ago then. Obviously, they have a stated goal in policing energy markets (I'd have to research the actual language & responsibilities). You also need to remember that energy isn't like other traded commodities; most of us can live without pork barrels but people die if energy blackouts persist. The fact of the matter is that their was no actual supply-side shortage as you somewhat suggest with your "no new plants" comment. Supplies were very tight (as CA gas supplies are today), but the crisis was a manufactured assault on market prices, not a supply shortage. Multiple schemes were concocted for the sole purpose of generating large profits.
Secondly, I'm not a lawyer, but it's common knowledge that contracts signed under duress created by fraudulent activities are essentially not enforceable. The "force" to negotiate contracts was applied through pricing control that threatened constant rolling blackouts that would have resulted in lives lost. If I hold a gun to your head, I can't force you to sign over your life savings on threat of death. If I did, no court would uphold that contract. What FERC is arguing about now is degree of wrong-doing, statute of limitations as set by law, and also provability of illegal trading (among other factors). I don't expect CA to ever see a single dime in refunds, but you can't simply argue that contracts are iron-clad under all conditions (which is your implication).
Of course Bush did nothing. His friends at Enron and Duke Energy were getting incredibly rich by manipulating California's energy market. He did exactly what he was apparantly elected to do - protect the interests of the very rich. That is what you conservatives wanted, right?
Vic
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- Jun 12, 2001
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The problem with taxes in this country is that there are too many people who don't have to pay them, and a government who capitalizes off that fact every election.Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
they've cut into the budget at my school pretty well
no summer classes because of lack of funds = the suck
I am actually enjoying this.
There are too many people in CA leaching off the state. All the welfare moms in my apt building will be mighty peeved when their benefits are cut.
Hopefully the police services won't be cut too much, otherwise, it's time to get a gun
There are too many people in CA leaching off the state. All the welfare moms in my apt building will be mighty peeved when their benefits are cut.
Hopefully the police services won't be cut too much, otherwise, it's time to get a gun
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