Lasy year LIPA (Long Island Power Authority) had a massive push to get everyone on LI to save electricity (i.e. use less). They even mailed a CF bulb to everyone on the island claiming if every house replaced just one standard bulb with this CF it would be huge savings of power.

And we (Long Islanders collectively that is) did that and more. We *significantly* reduced our electric usage last year.

Guess what?

This past spring LIPA wanted to **RAISE** electric rate to nearly **DOUBLE** what they were before now!

Reason: People were now using too little electricity and they couldn’t afford to pay expenses!!

So tell me again why I should save energy, go greeen, etc.

pps- Did you send your IRS check yet?

Can you give me an example in history where technology progress has resulted in LESS availability and HIGHER prices?

I’d be glad to “go green” with my electric. Please send me a check to cover the extra cost ’cause I can’t afford it. But since you can and feel it’s so important I know you won’t mind helping me be green too. Thanks in advance!

As for coal being safe, scroll up a bit and clink on the link I provided. Coal is a terrible solution at the present time.

Peace.
Rick Beagle

And you called me “greedy” (go read the other thread) for not wanting to pay an extra $2,000+ in meaningless taxes on some mythical quest to undo something that isn’t being done while the rest of the world does nothing itself. You said I was “greedy” for wanting to hold on to my hard earned money. It’s right there in black&white.

It’s really very simple. I’m only going to explain it one more time:

If you think average American (of which I consider myself, not a “rich” person though I suppose I am since I make over $50,000) can and should pay $2,000 or more in taxes to save the environment I ask you to put your money where your beliefs are and send a check to the IRS right here and now for $2,000. If you do that and send me a copy of the cancelled check by July 31 I will send a check of my own money to charity and post the cancelled check on my blog as proof I did.

I’ll make it even easier for: You don’t seem to mind saying $2,000 is no big deal for me to have to figure out how to pay but I’ll be kind to you. If you send *ANY* amount – $1k, $500, $100, just $5 – to the IRS right now as a tax payment just for the sake of paying more taxes because we all should pay more to help the environment I will send my check to charity too.

That sounds pretty fair to me.

I like you, but I swear some times you get so focused on your perceived issues that you start babbling like an idiot. You are a thoughtful person, and it pains me to see you get your head stuck in the punch bowl.

First of all, I did not say that coal was imported, but rather it’s use was tantamount to putting a bullet to our heads. It is not clean and it is unsafe.

Secondly, I did not say that $2000 wasn’t a lot of money, but what I did say was that people in the highest end of the tax bracket should not have had their taxes reduced (Bush’s infamous tax cuts) when the end result of that action increased our debt with the Chinese. I also stated that increasing local taxes to offset budget deficits might be necessary and should be considered along with service cuts.

It is confusing as to which of these statements put you on your quest for that infamous “Aha moment” that you are looking for, but you are seriously misguided if you think I am sending $2k to the IRS. I am liberal, which despite the right winged rhetoric to the contrary does not equal stupid. Go play your silly game with the bobble heads over at your site…..

And cut back on the koolaid, it is starting to affect that fertile mind of yours.

Peace.
Rick Beagle

I don’t doubt that some amount of coal somewhere is imported. But far and away the majority is American made. Even still, I wasn’t aware we killed people to take their coal.

As for my offer, no grand standing. I’m 100% serious. You think it’s no biggie to for Americans to pay $2,000 (or more) a year in taxes just for the sake of paying it then I expect you to lead by example and send a $2,000 check right NOW to the IRS just for the sake of paying more tax. And if you send me a copy of the cancelled check before July 31st I will send a check of my own money to charity. It’s that simple.

Or is your stances simply typical liberal speak to tell others they should pay more taxes and do all you can to avoid paying it yourself? Be a leader – practice what you are preaching. That’s all I ask.

You are familar with the saying that money talks and Barbara Streisand walks….

You must have missed where I said no. I am intrigued by the offer for you to provide capital to people in need, but your point is? It, like many talking points lately, appears to be some sort of grandstanding exercise wherein the instigator cries, “AHA!”, but no one is quite sure why. Feel free to give money to charity, because you have it, and it is the right thing to do.

As for the Tennessee issue, you must have missed this little tidbit. There are other links, but that should kind of drive home the hidden cost to that coal solution you were touting.

Peace.
Rick Beagle