Politicians quietly planning to deregulate the nation's energy system

[jfkennedy]

U.S. Newswire
8/20/03 9:00:00 AM

A provision of the federal energy legislation that a congressional conference committee will consider next month would dramatically reduce the regulatory oversight of the nation's largest energy firms. The section, which has received scant attention as lawmakers and environmental groups focus on issues of oil drilling, proposes to repeal the 1935 Public Utility Holding Companies Act, or PUHCA, which restrains and regulates utility companies.

"It would be obscene to throw out seventy years of consumer protections after everything that has gone wrong in the first decade of deregulation. The repeal of PUHCA would leave America with a few unrestrained power giants controlling our energy system, which would make California and the recent blackouts seem mild compared to the deregulated future politicians have in store for us if they repeal PUHCA," said Heller.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=104-08202003

[demnan]

1. Who wants to buy stock

in generators and in the companies that produce solar panels?

Did you all know that the Pentagon runs on solar panels? That means that the entire East Coast could go black and they could still wage their fucking wars.

I need a drink.

[gWbush is Mabus]

2. .

It seems to me that EVERYTHING the Bush administration does is the opposite of the right thing to do. (In a Church lady voice) Could he possibly be...SATAN?

[realFedUp]

3. "deregulation"

or in other words, putting faith in corporations to
actually fix their infrastructure and deal fairly
with fewer government regulations ain't working.

NO on deregulation. We don't trust them.

[Kellanved]

4. Ok so the questions asked in this article are answered

http://www.heise.de/tp/english/inhalt/co/15464/1.html">Why Was the Blackout So Widespread?.

Answered in the worst possible way.



And a translated cover story from Germany's leading weekly "Der Spiegel" about causes and problems uncovered from an European perspective.
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/english/0,1518,261665,00.html">The great darkness

[Kellanved]

14. Working links: (sorry)

http://www.heise.de/tp/english/inhalt/co/15464/1.html

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/english/0,1518,261665,00.html

[havocmom]

5. One more reason to suspect US black ops in Iraqi bombin of UN

mission. Who gains when everybody's attention is diverted?

[JM]

6. There is only one group who always benefits...

...from deregulation. Shareholders.

Later,
JM

[havocmom]

7. tell that to folks who hold ENRON stock (n/t)

[JM]

8. There are shareholders, ...

...and there are shareholders.

The shareholders to whom I refer are the majority holders, usually the insiders.

Later,
JM

[havocmom]

11. Ahh, the shareholders who hold shares in the politicans....

I get it.

[BansheeBarbie]

10. Clarification On Who Always Benefits W/DeRegulation

It is NOT shareholders...

It's the CEO's and Board members.

The GOP is NOT corporate or business friendly. Democrats need to learn how to make the GOP look like the losers they really are.
and to highlight just how BAD they are for our Economy and Business sector.

Allowing management to run a business with no regulatory oversight by the Federal government is like raising a child without giving them a curfew or checking to see if their homework is done.

Rules and regulations are the Federal Government's way of making sure that Corporations are RESPONSIBLE parts of society.

[shanti]

13. and everybody

saw how this worked out SO WELL in california, don't we!? they don't even bother to hide their greed anymore.

[Tinoire]

9. Ok. We know about Republicans. Are there any Democrats involved?

I'm really pissed now and going to start holding MY OWN responsible. Does anyone have names or know where we can get this information? I'm going to start googling.

[shanti]

12. again, bend over and get ready!

they are itching to rip the rest of the u.s. off!

[ElementaryPenguin]

15. Yes, I think ChimpCo was likely behind the mysterious blackout...

In order to pitch more deregulation bullshit!! 9-11 - in order to pitch the all written Patriot Act and the PNAC prescribed permanent war on terror!

[0007]

16. Michael Powell was lobbying for the FCC

Money Lords this monring. (Colin Powell's son)

Deregulation = big big business = the Carlyle boys and folks like bunker dickie's Halliburton thingy. And they wonder why folks are
so depdressed and suicidal.

Dererulation means more cooked books and more money in off-shore banks.

[indypaul]

17. Private capital

was unwilling or unable to build the necessary infrastructure
to bring electricity to this nation, i.e. TVA, Boulder Dam, etc
etc. Now we are supposed to see the product of those facilities
go into the hands of some of the most greedy and corrupt companies
on the face of earth? Once again, public risk, private gain.
George II has vast experience in this field (Texas Rangers
had a stadium built for them with public funds, GeorgeII
profiting handsomely on the sale of the team.) Same old story
"play ball with me and I'll shove the bat right up your ass."

[FlashHarry]

18. Gee, it worked so well in California.

Maybe that was their 'pilot project.'

While we're on the subject, this Greg Palast piece is required reading.