Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site vice.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekcad!vice!keithl 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 uucp: {ucbvax,decvax,chico,pur-ee,cbosg,ihnss}!teklabs!vice!keithl CSnet: keithl@tek ARPAnet:keithl.tek@rand-relay