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okay, well i talked to my barber today and he feels about the same as i do. this trumps your co-worker argument. 
seriously, i am very guilty of over simplifing the california problems. Gray Davis was an incapable twat who had no business in that position of leadership. Sorry if i'm not the liberal you were hoping for on that subject.
but i'm curious how an energy policy that refused to place rate caps on electricity contradicts lay's desire to not have rate caps. I think you got a little ahead of yourself as well.
| quote: | | California, Oregon and Washington were told, in diplomatic but clear terms, that the Bush administration will not offer any meaningful assistance with its short-term energy problems. None of the help needed by the state was offered by the President. For example, temporary price caps were not mentioned. Mandatory requirements that generators sell power were not offered. Financial relief was not proposed. |
okay, i think i remember posting this
now, kenneth lay and company took advantage of an existing consumer price cap in california. this may seem strange to you, but that's okay... i'll explain. again, i'm feeling the need to keep this simple (which isn't good debating, it's closer to educating  )
when consumers are not facing demand-curve pricing for electricity, they tend to not conserve power. when the largest state in the US doesn't conserve, a lot of power is used... generally creating brownouts. or wait... i already posted this stuff.
| quote: | | But, according to federal regulators who studied the issue at length, it is a combination of poor regulation and crooked traders. Those with ill intent were able to capitalize on supply shortfalls and a fatally flawed market design that had curtailed power generation development and required utilities to buy from volatile spot markets. Meanwhile, regulators had capped prices to consumers, which left the state's utilities unable to recoup all of their costs, which skyrocketed with exorbitant wholesale prices. By insulating customers with fixed prices the situation was further exasperated because there was no price signal encouraging customers to conserve during high price periods. |
the part placed in bold is the example of the lack of a temporary price cap. that's where california got fucked. One of Gray's problems was his inability to see clearly during these brownout emergecies. and no, california isn't bankrupt; at least as much a the US isn't bankrupt with bush's operating costs. I was speaking with regards to general business practices. You can't run a successful business with supply costs greater than returns. But you can run a government that way (the details on how we can continue to do this escape me... fuck it, that's for our children to figure out).
well, i think i've at least established that i'm not contradicting myself. this is enough for now, me thinks. I'm tired and want sleep.
| quote: | | can you "fathom" the latest CNN/Gallup poll? |
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
- Winston Churchill
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