[discuss-dan] re: No Thanks on PEOPLE'S RALLY

["daram" <daram@qwest.net>]

Charles, 

Thank you for your suggestions and opinions. I absolutely agree with you.
And on behalf of the others who are organizing this, they also agree. Let me
add to what you have already pointed out Charles.

This is an issue that brings the average person out of their apathy and into
a dialogue and into active participation in changing a system that currently
values profits over the people they serve and in some cases, such as our
government, the people they represent. These values also, as you know, have
a tremendously negative affect on our planet.

Every month, every person who uses Xcel for their energy needs has in their
hand a very real and tangible manifestation of our profit-driven system, in
the form of their energy bill. This, people can not ignore! Not only is it
an opportunity to start the conversation about alternative, environmentally
friendlier energy sources, it is also an opportunity to bring more people
into the movement for change.

You are right Charles, decreasing our bills is not the "real" answer. If it
is going to continue to be this expensive then other options must be
explored, but until people demand this companies like Xcel and others will
be happy to continue "passing the cost down to the consumer".

Many, many people this winter can not afford to heat their homes. Most of us
have no choice but Xcel. Yes, the majority of us do not have solar panels
and other such options, the majority of us have been ignorant in allowing
this to continue and now we are getting what we pay for. This makes for a
perfect opportunity to come together. This affects not just the people on
the "left". Many senior citizens that stand on the "right" politically are
sitting in a cold house. People who do not consider themselves "political"
have come to the meetings regarding this issue ready to do something. People
who have normally been getting by on their "fixed income" are now making
choices between groceries and heating bills. Small business owners are
feeling the effects as well. This is not a "left" issue. This is affecting
everyone!  

We are not "aiming at blindly cutting energy prices at any cost." For too
long most of us have blindly written checks to pay for our electricity and
heat without much of a thought as to where the energy comes from nor the
impact our lifestyles have had on the environment. Like you said Charles,
this could be the time to start, and a growing group has begun that work. We
need your knowledge about consumer co-ops and other options. This is the
time and the last thing that should happen is for people who are already
"active" and "enlightened" to write off people who are beginning the work so
many of you have been doing for so long, due to assumptions and
pre-judgements about who we are and what our goals are.

I would also like to point out that the core people of this newly formed
group know very little about the Green party, so going to your meetings to
"bemoan" a possible "energy demand" which might be our fault based on your
assumptions about what we are doing is not very likely. Although, wouldn't
it be great if more people did come to your Green meetings to talk about
these issues from the left, right, middle, and way out there? Let's get
beyond these labels and start the discussion no matter the point of view.

The Consumer Union for Fair Prices and Services are working toward changing
the Colorado Constitution to require the Public Utilities Commission to be
elected. Currently, these are appointed positions. We have begun legislative
watching and have found a State Senator who might be an ally. Last night at
our meeting was a discussion about capitalism and the negative effects it
has on people and the environment. We do believe profits are being made off
of the backs of those who use Xcel. The exact numbers and places where
profit is being made we are hoping to have soon.

I appreciate this opportunity to expand on this issue, I don't especially
like having to explain nor defend myself in the face of assumptions and
pre-judgements. My preference in dealing with such negativity is to ignore
it and do my work, but this has been good.

I am not sure how anything can change or get better when the attitude and
the tone of your email, Charles, is what might face other people and groups
who bravely venture out into this arena of people pushing for social change.
Real social change happens when as a community we abandon the need to tear
down other people and groups. Instead questions can be asked and the
dialogue can be opened up in a non-confrontational manner. Positive social
change can only happen when a revolution occurs in our hearts and minds. The
attitude your email portrayed, Charles, only perpetuates the way most of us
are conditioned to respond to one another and to differing strategies people
may employ to achieve a particular end. This type of attitude serves to
sustain the very institutions and systems we hope to change and in the end
gets us nowhere. 


Taryn M. Browne

 




  


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