Thursday, December 05, 2013

Giving Conservatives a bad name

First, what is it to be a conservative. Well, it means that we want hard proof before we embrace a policy. If we can't point to definitive science, then we want predictions that are able to be examined. No one knows how Global Climate Change happens, they can't get an accurate computer model to manage it. No one knows what the future will bring, but they're certain it's happening. Mostly because they want to believe it. They have faith after all.

Conservative does not mean we believe in the superiority of a race. There is no scientific evidence that one race is superior to any other. Therefor there is no foundation for the belief that one race is based upon genetics, superior. Individuals may be superior, but that is based upon gifts from God to the individual, not the race in general.

Conservative does not mean we worship the world of big business. We do not believe that the sole purpose of Government is to clear the field for big business. It does mean we recognize and admire innovation, and we respect those who create a winning business model or product that the people like. We respect Bill Gates for creating Microsoft, we don't think he should be placed upon a pedestal and worshipped or that he is entitled to special legislation.

We do not believe in punishing those who find a way to help themselves. We believe in rewarding such activity. Which is where I have a differences of opinion with many so called Conservatives.

Solar Panels. Those things that people put on their roofs, and power calculators, and in my case, a watch. My watch is solar powered. It charges when I'm in the sun, and runs with no problem. As little as an hour in the sun every day will keep the battery fully charged. The watch should last for years, and even then the most I'll have to do is buy a rechargeable battery to put into it. Good for me, I am not surprised by a watch that suddenly quits working. Good for the bottom line, and it allows me to save, to conserve if you will, my money.

Those solar panels that people put on their roofs, some of them create more electricity than they use, and their electric meter actually runs backwards from time to time. Others create so much electricity that they hardly ever sip at the power grid. Now, for you and I this is a good thing, they are creating electricity for their neighbors to use, reducing the amount of electricity that the power companies must make to satisfy demand, perhaps reducing the number of brown or black outs.

Conservative thought there, people should be paid for their efforts. They should be paid for the product that they create. If you build a car, you do so with the expectation that you will be paid. If you build a house, you do so with the expectation that you will be paid. If you write a computer program, you do so with the same expectation. Now, Conservative leaders are moving to punish people who are "freeloading" by creating the electricity, that is put into the power grid.

Yeah, I'm not seeing the conservative principle there either. The lamest claim that liberals make is that Conservatives want to poison the air, and the water. The obvious fallacy of this claim is recognized a moment later when you realize that the conservatives have to breath, and drink water too. So the Conservatives would be suicidal to intentionally do that.

The argument is this. The homeowner who is producing that electricity did not pay for the grid to deliver the electricity. In other words, they did not string the wires on the poles that were shoved into the ground. So the homeowner who has the solar panels should pay for using that grid when they make the electricity. That is the most asinine thing I have ever heard of from the mouth of a conservative. It is mind bogglingly stupid. But they are actually going to have a three day workshop where the Conservatives including Ted Cruz are going to discuss this matter like it makes sense.

Yes, the electric company ran the wires. They did so under the impression that they would be paid for performing a service. But those wires were run to the house at the expense of the builder at the time. To tie into the grid, you pay for the wires to the house, from the big pole at the road. After that, the electric company maintains the wires, most states prohibit anyone else from touching them.

The idea that you must pay for the privilege of being tied into the grid so you can sell your excess electricity is stupid on its face. The electric company is not paying for the production of that electricity, They are not dealing with the EPA regulations for the production of that electricity via the various methods, they are getting it for free, and paying the person who invested thousands of dollars into solar panels and equipment a fraction of the costs. It is doubtful that the homeowner who does this will ever recoup his costs.

Guys, this isn't Conservative thought or principles in action. This is a Kabuki Theater version of conservative thought. This is the Liberal misrepresentation of what Conservatives believe. Don't go all crazy on me now, we have a chance to win in 2014, unless you all get dumber than our liberal adversaries. People who invest a ton of money into solar are not freeloaders, and categorizing them as such is asinine.

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