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From: keithl@vice.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: grass roots politics + antinukes
Message-ID: <1302@vice.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-Feb-84 12:49:38 EST
Article-I.D.: vice.1302
Posted: Mon Feb 13 12:49:38 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Feb-84 05:13:50 EST
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 38

It's amazing that the ultimate expression of grass-roots politics involves
trying to prevent the folks at Diablo ( who supply the electricity that
runs menlo70!sander's terminal ) from doing their job.  Perhaps he wishes to
drive away the semi-competent people running the plant, leaving complete 
incompetents in their place.

I would have thought such expression would involve BUILDING alternate energy
sources, finding economical ways to save energy, and changing the monopolistic,
government-caused rate system that makes inefficient power generation seem
profitable.  Can't get on TV that way, though.

As it is, the price of generated electricity will go up a little, inducing
BC Hydro to build a few more dams on the Frazier river.

(sarcasm mode on )  
This will cause maps to change, and allow Sanders' employer (the USGS) to
ask for more money from Congress, to pay for changing those maps, and pay
for the more expensive electricity that his terminal uses.  HE doesn't pay
for it...except at tax time.
(sarcasm off)

Oh, we should make the bad-nasty old utilities pay for it all?  Well, the
utilities are mostly owned by pension funds, which means "punishing" the
utilities economically can be a backdoor way of punishing the elderly.  There
is no "them" to punish separate from "us".  When you set out to hurt an
organization you end up hurting HUMAN BEINGS, and not the ones you want to
hurt, unless you are careful.  Blocking a gate isn't being careful.

Mr. Sanders, if you are flamed for your actions, might it not be because a
portion of the intelligent, ethical, educated people on the net think what
you are doing is WRONG?  Perhaps the funny feeling you have is simply your
conscience.
-- 
Keith Lofstrom
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