Many years ago, I happened to see a remarkable sight ~ an amazing collection of wind turbines in northern California. What I never expected to see was an amazing collection of turbines in Iroquois County. (and I'm using the word amazing very loosely)
Last year I was gently encouraged by a co-worker to educate myself about wind farms in general. How could I refuse? One of the first things I did was type wind farm scams into Google. And what followed was an education! In a blur of clicking, reading, clicking, and reading, one thing became clear ~ wind farms benefit the companies subsidized by our elected government. Period.
At some point over the past several years I must have read that parts of Europe were investing heavily in wind farms, so that's where I headed first. Came across a blog with a decidedly different name, The Devil's Kitchen. Read that blog and headed on to a short story in the The Telegraph. Watts Up With That? and the accompanying comments consumed a few minutes worth of time. (the comments section of most anything I read online is usually the best)
Throughout Illinois, hundreds (if not thousands) of land owners have signed leases with various wind energy companies. The leases are kept on record at the court house and may be viewed by one and all. The contracts signed once a turbine(s) will actually go up on a site have these pesky confidentiality clauses in them. And those are definitely NOT kept at the court house for anyone to peruse. Because something so good for all of America must be cloaked in secrecy.
I spent some time this summer at the court house. Looking at leases. While I wasn't able to go through all of them, one thing soon became clear: many of the signed leases were owned by people not living in the county........some didn't even live in the state. "Well, they own it. They can do what they want with it." I'll go along with that ~ to an extent.
Power produced by turbines can't be stored for use at a later time. Use it right away or lose it. Wind conditions have to be favorable for the turbines to produce power. According to the US Department of Energy, Iroquois County is in a marginal wind zone. That puts it one step above poor. So, it's imperative that these turbines be erected to make use of our marginal wind? And what happens when the wind is less than marginal for a day, week, or month? Here comes the really funny part: coal-powered plants still have to run all the time because they can't rely on turbines to provide power when needed. Kind of kooky how that works, huh?
Another thing the wind companies don't like to bring up too soon is the fact that there is no infrastructure to get the power from point A to point B. As you drive in the rural Sheldon area, notice how many farms have turbines on them and how many don't. The ones that refused the wind company largess by signing a lease may still end up losing valued land. For the lines needed to get power from point A to point B. And they won't be given a choice ~ that's where eminent domain enters the picture.
Farm owners are paid for use of their land. They receive the money from wind energy companies. Who, in turn, receive their money from the US government. That's YOU. These aren't companies who so strongly believe in their product that they actually went out and found venture capitalists to fund them. Well, they tried. Turns out there isn't a good return on this particular investment. Luckily for them, our government doesn't ask before spending the money they take from us. Just ask Solyndra.
In my fairy-tale world as Queen for a Year, I would mandate that everyone shower with heated unicorn tears and dry off with the air generated by millions of fluttering butterfly wings. In my real world vision, my name wouldn't be on this wind farm IOU and neither would yours. It's just one more thing to put on the To Be Paid By Future Generations list. Landowners have sold their souls for a few government trinkets and we all get to pay for it, in the words of Buzz Lightyear, "to infinity and beyond!" One of these days, the turbines might actually produce enough wind to blow down the house of cards that our country has become.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
By the light of the silvery moon.....
How many times over the course of your adult life have you found yourself signing your name to a multi-page document, then leaning over towards your spouse/significant other whisper, "Sweetie, let's just read all this stuff at home. There's plenty of time to find out what all that gobbledygook says later."? I'm going to take a guess: 5. Was I close?
That is exactly what your elected congress does each and every time they vote. "Oh no they don't!! They care about me and take the time to review each bill carefully. Because they only want the best for me." When was the last time somebody you voted for called up just to see how life is treating you? Let me take another guess: 0. Did I get it right this time?
Sometimes, you can believe what a politician says. Barack Obama And sometimes, you can't. Bill Clinton But what happens if a person tells a lie long enough? Do they convince themself it is true? Or is it what's behind curtain #2?
I choose to believe a politician is lying if his/her lips are moving and anything resembling, "to help the American people" comes forth. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It's my responsibility to adjust the bs-meter after the first time. "But everyone deserves a second chance!" Sure they do. However, once they've lied to me, I get to set the terms of the second chance. See how simple that is? An important factor to consider in defining parameters for a second chance is: the scope of the first lie. Sort of a "who" and "what" was affected by the lie. A lie that perhaps takes 5 minutes out of my life to resolve may result in a week's grounding for the unlucky off-spring. And after those 7 painfully long days are finished, said off-spring is free to embark on her second chance ~ with full knowledge of what the next consequence will be for future infractions of truth. A lie that requires you and I to pay and pay and pay for the rest of our lives, well.........you begin to see how the scope matters. And sometimes, the scope of a lie is so huge, the one uttering it should under no circumstances ever be given a second chance to do it again on such a grand scale. Every politician who voted for Obamacare should be impeached. Or given a spin on the Exile/Head in a Basket wheel. There is much to be gained (not for you) by its passage and there is much to be lost (that's where you come in). They could have a second chance at being elected again, but until I saw how they handle a catch pole, I'm not too sure I'd even vote for them if they were running for Dog Catcher.
I don't claim to have the answers for your life. Some days I wonder if I have them for my own. But the one thing I know with every fiber of my being is that we have a better understanding of what impacts our lives than any knucklehead in congress does. If you want to provide healthcare for many, please do. And find as many like-minded people as you can. Just don't ask the rest of us to pick up the perpetual tab.
Of course, this is just my opinion. And as Mom used to say, "Opinions are like assholes........everybody's got one." (yes, she was a laugh a minute) Consider yourself mooned.
That is exactly what your elected congress does each and every time they vote. "Oh no they don't!! They care about me and take the time to review each bill carefully. Because they only want the best for me." When was the last time somebody you voted for called up just to see how life is treating you? Let me take another guess: 0. Did I get it right this time?
Sometimes, you can believe what a politician says. Barack Obama And sometimes, you can't. Bill Clinton But what happens if a person tells a lie long enough? Do they convince themself it is true? Or is it what's behind curtain #2?
I choose to believe a politician is lying if his/her lips are moving and anything resembling, "to help the American people" comes forth. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. It's my responsibility to adjust the bs-meter after the first time. "But everyone deserves a second chance!" Sure they do. However, once they've lied to me, I get to set the terms of the second chance. See how simple that is? An important factor to consider in defining parameters for a second chance is: the scope of the first lie. Sort of a "who" and "what" was affected by the lie. A lie that perhaps takes 5 minutes out of my life to resolve may result in a week's grounding for the unlucky off-spring. And after those 7 painfully long days are finished, said off-spring is free to embark on her second chance ~ with full knowledge of what the next consequence will be for future infractions of truth. A lie that requires you and I to pay and pay and pay for the rest of our lives, well.........you begin to see how the scope matters. And sometimes, the scope of a lie is so huge, the one uttering it should under no circumstances ever be given a second chance to do it again on such a grand scale. Every politician who voted for Obamacare should be impeached. Or given a spin on the Exile/Head in a Basket wheel. There is much to be gained (not for you) by its passage and there is much to be lost (that's where you come in). They could have a second chance at being elected again, but until I saw how they handle a catch pole, I'm not too sure I'd even vote for them if they were running for Dog Catcher.
I don't claim to have the answers for your life. Some days I wonder if I have them for my own. But the one thing I know with every fiber of my being is that we have a better understanding of what impacts our lives than any knucklehead in congress does. If you want to provide healthcare for many, please do. And find as many like-minded people as you can. Just don't ask the rest of us to pick up the perpetual tab.
Of course, this is just my opinion. And as Mom used to say, "Opinions are like assholes........everybody's got one." (yes, she was a laugh a minute) Consider yourself mooned.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Where do rainbows come from?
Originally, I had planned on doing a much different blog tonight. However, inspired by Megan*, I've decided to dive into a topic near and dear to me: personal responsibility.
There are far too many instances when we are subjected to people droning on and on about how life has mistreated them and how it isn't fair. By about the third story, we are seeing the pattern. Midway through the tenth story, we have visions of how to surreptitiously puncture our eardrums so as not to have to listen to one more minute of this drivel. The common denominator in the stories is the person telling them. They, however, don't seem to grasp that a little self-reflection could go a long way towards resolving ever being in such a situation ever again.
I was raised by the most sympathetic mother in the world. Well........that's not exactly true. Or even close to being true. Whining to her about some issue that seemed to be in the end of the world category would usually produce this response. "You want sympathy? Look in the dictionary between sh*t and syphilis." While seemingly harsh, her remark served as a guide. In her own way, she was teaching us to cut through the bs, prioritize, and most importantly...........not clutter up her time listening to the angst of too many daughters. She had been young once. It was we who had no idea what she was going through as an adult.
Perhaps by design, more than likely by accident, she was teaching us that Life wasn't fair and it could often be downright difficult. By not becoming enmeshed in the minutiae of our daily lives, she provided us with many opportunities to become self-reliant. And I thank her for that.
As Queen, I'd like to proclaim that all able-bodied and sound minded adults are required to fully accept the consequences of their choices. Federal safety nets will be a thing of the past. Levels of help can then be established (in order): (1) immediate family (2) extended family and friends (3) community/church (4) state of residence. And at NO time is any person in 1, 2, 3, or 4 required to help. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but "a mistake made more than once becomes a choice." A Queen could never propose that one group of people pay for the lifestyle choices of another group of people. Especially one who only plans for the royal monarchy to last one year or less. Preferably less. The Nanny state should be embraced only after we have irrefutable evidence that unicorns f*rt rainbows. Till then, we need to gird our loins each day in big boy/big girl undies.
*name changed to protect the innocent
There are far too many instances when we are subjected to people droning on and on about how life has mistreated them and how it isn't fair. By about the third story, we are seeing the pattern. Midway through the tenth story, we have visions of how to surreptitiously puncture our eardrums so as not to have to listen to one more minute of this drivel. The common denominator in the stories is the person telling them. They, however, don't seem to grasp that a little self-reflection could go a long way towards resolving ever being in such a situation ever again.
I was raised by the most sympathetic mother in the world. Well........that's not exactly true. Or even close to being true. Whining to her about some issue that seemed to be in the end of the world category would usually produce this response. "You want sympathy? Look in the dictionary between sh*t and syphilis." While seemingly harsh, her remark served as a guide. In her own way, she was teaching us to cut through the bs, prioritize, and most importantly...........not clutter up her time listening to the angst of too many daughters. She had been young once. It was we who had no idea what she was going through as an adult.
Perhaps by design, more than likely by accident, she was teaching us that Life wasn't fair and it could often be downright difficult. By not becoming enmeshed in the minutiae of our daily lives, she provided us with many opportunities to become self-reliant. And I thank her for that.
As Queen, I'd like to proclaim that all able-bodied and sound minded adults are required to fully accept the consequences of their choices. Federal safety nets will be a thing of the past. Levels of help can then be established (in order): (1) immediate family (2) extended family and friends (3) community/church (4) state of residence. And at NO time is any person in 1, 2, 3, or 4 required to help. We are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but "a mistake made more than once becomes a choice." A Queen could never propose that one group of people pay for the lifestyle choices of another group of people. Especially one who only plans for the royal monarchy to last one year or less. Preferably less. The Nanny state should be embraced only after we have irrefutable evidence that unicorns f*rt rainbows. Till then, we need to gird our loins each day in big boy/big girl undies.
*name changed to protect the innocent
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Hope and chains
usury - (n) the act or practice of extracting a rate of interest beyond what is allowed by law.
The law of unintended consequences as applied to congress simply means they have to pass a minimum of 2 laws: one just because it gives them something to do and the other(s) to "fix" problems caused by the passage of the first.
Exorbitant interest rates used to be illegal. One could bring suit against a company for such practices. Then our elected officials took themselves out of the equation (probably about the time they accepted campaignbribes contributions from banks and credit card companies) and decided interest rates could best be set by those in the business of loaning money. After all, everyone knows the best one to guard the henhouse IS the fox.
So you deposit your money in a bank. At one time, they may have even paid 3% back to you. But they charged the borrower 10%. What else could they do but pocket the difference? A bank's business is to make money, isn't it? Now, they could have made money by charging simple interest, but they can make lots more if they compound the interest. Good for them, bad for you. Because wages aren't compounded. Oh sure, you've been told that if you work hard you will succeed. Go to college, get a degree, start your career climb ~ and you, too, will be at the top of the heap........some day.
But the hope is that you will be a lifetimeconsumer debtor. Always working ever harder to pay off the things you are constantly bombarded with needing. Millions combined in the same pursuit are called an asset. When an asset is on your balance sheet, it's a good thing. If loaning entities were honest about the columns in their ledgers, borrowers would be listed under Indentured Servants. And your term of servitude is however long you use credit.
Thankfully, our representatives are always looking out for the little people. Outlawing such things as borrowing money from an unregulated entity (ie parents, grandparents, friends) Everyone knows the wealthy (1%) would take such advantage of such a thing and go completely nuts buying houses for all family members and then only charging them a paltry amount of interest! Those we send to Washington decided this is not fair to those of us who weren't born into a wealthy family (99%). So they constructed laws whereby we (99%) borrow the necessary funds from them (1%). Neat how that works, isn't it?
I'm calling bullsh*t on all of it. As Queen, I would like to bestow on the Land the ability to decide who you want to help or be beholden to. Giving to others is so rewarding ~ when it's my choice of what to give and who to give it to. This is a feeling I'd like many to experience! Oh sure, I may not be able to give on the scale of Mitt, but I'm pretty sure I give Joe a run for his money. And the feeling I get from knowing I truly have done something for an individual is priceless. Until CONgress figures out a way to tax it, that is.
The law of unintended consequences as applied to congress simply means they have to pass a minimum of 2 laws: one just because it gives them something to do and the other(s) to "fix" problems caused by the passage of the first.
Exorbitant interest rates used to be illegal. One could bring suit against a company for such practices. Then our elected officials took themselves out of the equation (probably about the time they accepted campaign
So you deposit your money in a bank. At one time, they may have even paid 3% back to you. But they charged the borrower 10%. What else could they do but pocket the difference? A bank's business is to make money, isn't it? Now, they could have made money by charging simple interest, but they can make lots more if they compound the interest. Good for them, bad for you. Because wages aren't compounded. Oh sure, you've been told that if you work hard you will succeed. Go to college, get a degree, start your career climb ~ and you, too, will be at the top of the heap........some day.
But the hope is that you will be a lifetime
Thankfully, our representatives are always looking out for the little people. Outlawing such things as borrowing money from an unregulated entity (ie parents, grandparents, friends) Everyone knows the wealthy (1%) would take such advantage of such a thing and go completely nuts buying houses for all family members and then only charging them a paltry amount of interest! Those we send to Washington decided this is not fair to those of us who weren't born into a wealthy family (99%). So they constructed laws whereby we (99%) borrow the necessary funds from them (1%). Neat how that works, isn't it?
I'm calling bullsh*t on all of it. As Queen, I would like to bestow on the Land the ability to decide who you want to help or be beholden to. Giving to others is so rewarding ~ when it's my choice of what to give and who to give it to. This is a feeling I'd like many to experience! Oh sure, I may not be able to give on the scale of Mitt, but I'm pretty sure I give Joe a run for his money. And the feeling I get from knowing I truly have done something for an individual is priceless. Until CONgress figures out a way to tax it, that is.
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