Stop Digging

MSM-bashing aside, I sure am glad the Washington Post published this Steven Mufson article about how at the same time policymakers are increasingly talking about curbing carbon emissions, the federal government is giving out big subsidies for the construction of new coal plants under the auspices of subsidized rural electric cooperatives.

This is exactly the sort of thing you tend not to see in the papers because it isn't "news," but it's both true and important so people ought to read about it.

Comments

It's also just the kind of thing that reminds one (if one needs reminding) that besides a lot of greenhouse gases +6billion people produce lots of competing interests many of which involve producing lots of greenhouse gases. As a result, I'm generally depressed about the possibility of heading off the disastrous consequences of Global Warming.

CP Cavafy wrote about a completely different set of conditions:

"Was it ever possible that hey should renounce
their lovely way of life"

-"Julian and the People of Antioch"

The answer for both ways of life is always the same.

Posted by Jeffrey Davis | May 14, 2007 10:09 AM

Ooh, good title to the post. Allow me to pat myself on the back for catching the reference to the First Rule of Holes.

Posted by Oberon | May 14, 2007 10:36 AM

Though it isn't mentioned in the article, I bet most people don't know that the state of Nebraska is one giant electric cooperative. In other words, a Republican-dominated state in the middle of the country has a completely socialist electric system.

Posted by fnook | May 14, 2007 11:24 AM

"In March, 10,000 rural-utility executives and spouses attended their annual meeting in Las Vegas. Guests included former CIA director R. James Woolsey Jr., former NFL coach Mike Ditka and singer Charlie Daniels."

Can I ask a question: what do any of those people have to do with rural energy cooperatives?

Posted by Nicholas Beaudrot | May 14, 2007 11:58 AM

Can I ask a question: what do any of those people have to do with rural energy cooperatives?

Nicholas, surely you aren't so naive as to think that industry annual meetings have ANYTHING to do with actually running an industry, are you?

Conventions are gratuitous perks for insiders. This is why they are held in places like Las Vegas, rather than in places where rural folks generate and consume electricity. Celebrity guests play an important role in making rich and powerful people feel special. This is a very important function, and the extra dollars paid by consumers are always well spent on such valuable rural electric services as a riveting performance of The Devil Went Down to Georgia, and Coach Ditka's bar tab.

Posted by LaFollette Progressive | May 14, 2007 1:25 PM

it may not be "news," but it is "reportage." not that there ever was a perfect era of "reportage," but if there's one thing that over-reliance on "he said/she said" constructs does to journalists it's to erode their skills at "reporting."

Posted by howard | May 14, 2007 1:44 PM