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R.I.P., Cape Wind (bostonglobe.com)
schwit1 quotes the Boston Globe: What a long, slow death it has been for Massachusetts's first proposed offshore wind farm. But now, its proponents are finally pulling the plug. While others in the energy industry considered the Cape Wind project dead, developer Jim Gordon didn't quit after losing power contracts he needed for financing in early 2015, or after state regulators yanked permission for a power line connection last year.
Another big blow came later in 2016 when Cape Wind foes worked their magic on Beacon Hill. They successfully lobbied lawmakers to prevent Cape Wind from benefitting from a major energy bill, one that requires utilities to buy large amounts of offshore wind. This was exactly the kind of legislation Gordon needed. But he wasn't being allowed at the party...
We're embarking on a new era. Wind turbines are on their way for deeper waters, south of Martha's Vineyard. They won't be Gordon's. But at least he can take some credit, in his defeat, for being a pioneer.
Another big blow came later in 2016 when Cape Wind foes worked their magic on Beacon Hill. They successfully lobbied lawmakers to prevent Cape Wind from benefitting from a major energy bill, one that requires utilities to buy large amounts of offshore wind. This was exactly the kind of legislation Gordon needed. But he wasn't being allowed at the party...
We're embarking on a new era. Wind turbines are on their way for deeper waters, south of Martha's Vineyard. They won't be Gordon's. But at least he can take some credit, in his defeat, for being a pioneer.
Fine. Let's give them a coal-fired plant as an alternative.
The summary ignores the fact that the anti-wind forces were the super wealthy Dems in Martha's Vineyard who didn't want their views altered.
They're all in favor of renewables as long as someone else (you) has to deal with the negatives while they get all the benefits.
I think wind turbines are beautiful machines.Highly engineered and efficient devices that (mostly) silently turn 24/7 generating power and displacing carbon producing sources contributing to human flourishing. They are a statement that says intelligent creatures live here.
The problem is, you're giving the people the coal fired plant, when it was the politicians that screwed the people in the first place.
It's heartbreaking to watch the deep corruption in politics hold society back while doing direct harm to the citizens with their "wars" on informed personal and consensual choice and their blatant corporate fluffing.
But as long as the voters remain largely poorly educated and gullible, it's going to continue to be corrupt politicians all the way down. Sadly, the people are unable to make the connection between their voting habits and their problems. Not unwilling; unable.
And guess who controls the people's education?
Right.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
When business becomes over intrusive into our lives, who else can you turn to but the government? When business says it's more profitable to lock it's workers into a warehouse with poor ventilation and no fire safety equipment (that costs $$!), who else can you turn to but the government? When business feels they can sell you a product that they know will either kill you or it does nothing at all, and feels it's your problem for buying it, who else can you turn to but government?
Government is what it is because it's been cleaning up Capitalism's messes since we started this country.
So, the only way this would really work is if everyone were required by law to use the product of this company?
Hey, I bet I could make a lot of money making baseball base markers, if everyone in the country were required by law to buy three of them every year!
Slightly more seriously, I don't consider something a good investment if it requires a law making everyone an involuntary customer...
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
You know, the rich Democrats who had this project shot down repeatedly really care about global warming. I mean, you wouldn't want these ugly towers to ruin their views while they're on their yacht or flying their private plane. It's understandable.
Do you have ESP?
And when all the businesses collude to fuck your ass with a rusty nail, to whom will you turn?
Hell, right now that child molester in Alabama is probably going to win, because the majority of voters in that state believe for a child molester to lead than a Democrat.
That would be a Democrat that is in favor of the right to an abortion among a population that sees abortion as murder. This in a state where at the time and place these accused acts of child molestation occurred the age of consent was 14 years of age. It's not "child molestation" if the person is considered old enough to consent.
This is insane.
Yes, it is. It's also politics. You go to war with the army you have. If what you have is the choice between the accused child molester and the known baby killer then people seem to rather go with the accused child molester. One of these two will (barring some unforeseen event) win this election.
This is not right. It's far from perfect. It's also what we got.
We also see Democrats running to defend the acts of sexual abuse by their own. This is documented by pictures, the accused does not deny the charges, because he can't, we have all seen the pictures. If the Democrats had any consistency in their demands for the concerns of women being sexually abused then Al Franken would not be in office right now. That's just one of many Democrats that should be run out of town over sexual abuse charges.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
So if you think having laws to prevent a warehouse full of people from going up in flames actually work, I have a number of recent examples of this not being true, in the USA even.
You get out of Government what you put into it, and frankly, in this country, we stopped putting in about 20 years ago. Listen to yourself, you automatically assume the worst return from it so you don't even bother looking for better from it. Why should we be surprised if inspections don't get performed on businesses if you've cut your tax base to the bone? We could transition from taxes to straight fees and I guarantee you that corporations will complain about them, while simultaneously taking advantage of every subsidy and break to ensure they have a zero burden, just like they currently do. If anyone gets pinched by unfair taxes it's the middle class, who've had to pick up the slack from all the Apple's and Exxon's who avoid their commitments. The amazing thing is all conservatives can chant is LOWER TAXES and not PROSECUTE THE CHEATS.
Corporations SHOULD pay more in taxes, they are a bigger burden on society. They can wipe out the savings of millions overnight, they can send out dangerous products, they need military intervention to protect their supply lines and they drop their used up workers onto the social safety net for everyone else to carry the burden. They destroy the environment, poison our food supplies even as they bring us the products we want.
Also, we live in a nation of 50 individual governments with thousands of governments under them.. some are just gonna be better than others. Maybe they'd improve if people gave a damn and voted on performance rather than who's sleeping with whom and where or if you pray.