Comments on: Sending the wrong signals in California http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/ What is seen and what is unseen. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:26:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anitra G. http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/comment-page-1/#comment-9005 Anitra G. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:26:39 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/#comment-9005 I think that the wrong signals are definately being sent in California. The state needs to consider all sorts of things when making decisions such as a signaled radar idea. Social status, income, age, and family size are some of the few things that should be considered when trying to pass a law as such. I understand that California has to find a way of cutting back on these resources, but you can't control people's resources for them, especially if it's against there will. A problem that California can face with such a law is that many people who are against the idea will eventually move to another location where they feel they have the freedom to make decisions based on their needs and income. There are probably others ways the state can discuss to fix the problem of its limited resources. I think that the wrong signals are definately being sent in California. The state needs to consider all sorts of things when making decisions such as a signaled radar idea. Social status, income, age, and family size are some of the few things that should be considered when trying to pass a law as such. I understand that California has to find a way of cutting back on these resources, but you can’t control people’s resources for them, especially if it’s against there will. A problem that California can face with such a law is that many people who are against the idea will eventually move to another location where they feel they have the freedom to make decisions based on their needs and income. There are probably others ways the state can discuss to fix the problem of its limited resources.

]]> By: Matthew Ortego http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/comment-page-1/#comment-8961 Matthew Ortego Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:06:37 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/#comment-8961 At first glance at this article, I liked this California”PCT” idea and felt it was a novel way to control energy consumption or energy abuse. After reading the article a second time, I am not in agreement with this idea. Looking at it from a consumer point of view, this is state intervention. I understand that this “PCT” idea would save money for all participants, but this seems to me to be too much government control. My initial concern is what constitutes “an emergency event” or a “price event” that would allow the government to rise or lower prices and/or thermostats in individual homes. Next, who actually controls the prices of the electrical power during events? If the responsibility falls to the power company or to the state of California, who will ensure that these regulation are done fairly and in the best interest of the consumer? In our U.S. constitution we have checks and balances to make sure that one group doesn’t overstep its boundaries. I think that while this may be a novel idea, more research must be done by the State to make sure that individual’s rights are protected while at the same time conserving energy. So in conclusion, I am not sure that the State of California’s “PCT” idea will have the consumer’s best interest at heart when these prices are set. At first glance at this article, I liked this California”PCT” idea and felt it was a novel way to control energy consumption or energy abuse. After reading the article a second time, I am not in agreement with this idea. Looking at it from a consumer point of view, this is state intervention. I understand that this “PCT” idea would save money for all participants, but this seems to me to be too much government control.

My initial concern is what constitutes “an emergency event” or a “price event” that would allow the government to rise or lower prices and/or thermostats in individual homes. Next, who actually controls the prices of the electrical power during events? If the responsibility falls to the power company or to the state of California, who will ensure that these regulation are done fairly and in the best interest of the consumer? In our U.S. constitution we have checks and balances to make sure that one group doesn’t overstep its boundaries. I think that while this may be a novel idea, more research must be done by the State to make sure that individual’s rights are protected while at the same time conserving energy.

So in conclusion, I am not sure that the State of California’s “PCT” idea will have the consumer’s best interest at heart when these prices are set.

]]> By: Stuart Kelton http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/comment-page-1/#comment-8711 Stuart Kelton Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:40:14 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/#comment-8711 At first, I fully disagreed with California's proposed solution to their energy shortages; however, I am beginning to understand their reasoning. On average, air-conditioners use around sixty percent of the energy consumed by residential homes. By the government slightly adjusting the thermostat on certain homes, California's power plants will hopefully be able to keep up with the slightly adjusted demand for electricity. Although it does seem slightly unfair, ask yourself this: would you rather have your thermostat kept in check by the government or would you rather rolling blackouts to occur on a regular basis instead? In all reality, plus or minus four degrees is much better than having NO electricity for not only air-conditioning, but also: lights, televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, and so on, which occurs with such blackouts. It is a small price to pay to hopefully ensure the lights will stay on. In comparison, enforcing speed limits is a similar situation; although it would be nice to be able to drive however fast we wanted, is it worth the many increased lives that would be lost due to traffic accidents at high rates of speed? Sometimes it is better for such regulations to be instituted in order to preserve society's well-being, just as long as the government doesn't abuse their power. At first, I fully disagreed with California’s proposed solution to their energy shortages; however, I am beginning to understand their reasoning. On average, air-conditioners use around sixty percent of the energy consumed by residential homes. By the government slightly adjusting the thermostat on certain homes, California’s power plants will hopefully be able to keep up with the slightly adjusted demand for electricity. Although it does seem slightly unfair, ask yourself this: would you rather have your thermostat kept in check by the government or would you rather rolling blackouts to occur on a regular basis instead? In all reality, plus or minus four degrees is much better than having NO electricity for not only air-conditioning, but also: lights, televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, and so on, which occurs with such blackouts. It is a small price to pay to hopefully ensure the lights will stay on. In comparison, enforcing speed limits is a similar situation; although it would be nice to be able to drive however fast we wanted, is it worth the many increased lives that would be lost due to traffic accidents at high rates of speed? Sometimes it is better for such regulations to be instituted in order to preserve society’s well-being, just as long as the government doesn’t abuse their power.

]]> By: morris.coats http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/comment-page-1/#comment-8326 morris.coats Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:18:17 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/#comment-8326 Hi Robert, Good reply, but to be fair to the regulators in California, thy might define "emergency events," but it was just not to be found in the article. You are quite right that when government officials get to do special things during emergencies and then can declare those emergencies, abuse is sure to take place. -MC Hi Robert,

Good reply, but to be fair to the regulators in California, thy might define “emergency events,” but it was just not to be found in the article. You are quite right that when government officials get to do special things during emergencies and then can declare those emergencies, abuse is sure to take place.

-MC

]]> By: Robert Rock http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/comment-page-1/#comment-8091 Robert Rock Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:32:44 +0000 http://www.nicholls.edu/bastiatsbastions/2008/01/12/sending-the-wrong-signals-in-california/#comment-8091 I understand that California has a power problem and certain areas of the state have had electricity cuts to meet the power demands of the state but, I’m sure that the government officials of the state can think of a better way to solve this problem. I don’t like the idea of the state taking control over an individual’s air-conditioner. It seems as though the state is taking some of the rights away from the citizens by doing this. Another problem I have with this is that the state declares this control will only take effect in times of “emergency events” but, the state does not give a definition “emergency events”. Because of the lack of explanation of “emergency events” I can only visualize the state abusing their power. I understand that California has a power problem and certain areas of the state have had electricity cuts to meet the power demands of the state but, I’m sure that the government officials of the state can think of a better way to solve this problem. I don’t like the idea of the state taking control over an individual’s air-conditioner. It seems as though the state is taking some of the rights away from the citizens by doing this. Another problem I have with this is that the state declares this control will only take effect in times of “emergency events” but, the state does not give a definition “emergency events”. Because of the lack of explanation of “emergency events” I can only visualize the state abusing their power.

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