The Dynamics Of The Desperate

Looking at the election results today, one has to wonder why the Berlin area bucked the Romney trend and went for Ron Paul. I believe that Ron Paul is probably the most radical of all the candidates and in those numbers I include Barack Obama. So why did North Country voters pick the most radical candidate? I’ll take a wild guess at that question by suggesting that our North Country conditions are more desperate than in the rest of the state maybe in the country and that the hard economic times have been with us for a longer period of time. If I’m right in concluding that Ron Paul has the most radical position on issues, it makes sense to me that the people of Berlin are prepared to take the “medicine” and ignore that it might leave a bad taste in the mouth. I believe that it demonstrates that desperate people are more than willing to consider desperate actions if they believe that in the long run it will be in their best interest. If my theory is correct and if Washington continues to be occupied by those who support the best interest of the 1% and not the majority of Americans, then we better brace ourselves for some dramatic shifts in our politics and those who may become our leaders in the future. I don’t believe that this is a condition reflecting the usual Republican or Democratic political debate; this is a socioeconomic backlash that is triggered as a response by people who are becoming desperate and frightened. History is riddled with examples of what happens when a society becomes unstable by socioeconomic conditions that most people find unacceptable. The fact that most of us alive today have never been “without” almost anything we wanted or needed makes us even more vulnerable to what I call “the dynamics of the desperate”. We’ve been the privileged generation with our bellies always full and our garages and living rooms full of the latest toys. We raised the bar to our standard of living to what may be an unsustainable level and I fear that we may not have the discipline or the wisdom to make the right decisions when it comes to our leaders and our collective priorities. I see Ron Paul’s strength as a sign that the fabric of the country is unraveling and he may just be the canary in the coal mine. Those in power better take notice of the mood of the average citizen and the clear message that Ron Paul is preaching. Again let me say that history is full of examples of societies who become disillusioned by their lot and turn to political leaders that make Ron Paul look like a naïve adolescent.

Comments

[wood burner]

Here Jon, just for you.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Public Service of New Hampshire customers will see reduced rates on their next electric bill.

PSNH said there has been a reduction in its energy service rate due to lower energy market prices and a forecast for a reduction in operating costs at the utility's power generating facilities.

A PSNH customer consuming 500 kilowatt hours of energy service will see a reduction of about 2.5 percent in each monthly bill.

[warren,]

The Men who wrote the Declaration of Independance, The Constitution and The first Ten Ammendments were of Such Stuff... Old King George was Only trying to Recoop a Little of the Money that was Spent fighting ( and Winning!!! ) the French and Indian War!! - a Few TAX's here and One or Two measly ( Smallpox? ) Pennies There... Yet these "Desperates" Rebeled! - The Ignorants! as King George must have Thought ( just like Rocky on the TEA, Today ). Freedom is a Concept that You will never Fully Grasp, Rocky.

Tant Pis!

[jonathan edwards]

Thanks Woodburner. It's interesting to see such an immediate impact competition can have. I wonder if their next move will be akin to Walmart's "used car salesman pitch"; "We'll match anyone's price". One of the best things our economy will ever see in NH is active competition in the utility industry at long last. But on the other end it will impact the value of infrastructure each and every town and city values so highly in support of taxes, which in turn will raise the little guy's tax bill to offset his savings in electric, and decrease the tax bill of the big guy as a result of lost revenue. As they say, what goes around comes around.

http://www.nhbizreport.com/Public-Policy/NH-Public-Policy/PSNH-s-Banana-Republic-Revolts.html

[Wing Nut]

Nice article Jon. PSNH has treated NH ratepayers with contempt for years. Thanks for sharing.

Take care,
WN

[warren,]

Nice Article by Jim Rubens of "Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling" fame. I met Jim back around 2000 when He had an Event at His house in Southern New Hampshire. He is a Patriot and would most definately draw the Ire and Ridicule of Rocky and maybe Jon, on any other position than PSNH and Energy. I Support Jim 100% in His efforts to stop the Likes of John Gallus and "Lucky Lou" D'Allesandro from bringing State Sponsored, Organized Crime to Our Fair State of New Hampshire. If PSNH wants to make the Northern Trespass, the nail in its coffin...I will be more than happy to help wield a Hammer!
Can anyone upload Mayor Paul Grenier's recent Article from the Union Leader, in Support of this Proposed Rape of Coos Co. ?

[Antonio Andolini]

The rest of the story:
"Despite these slight drops in costs, customers should expect them to go back up sometime later this year, possibly at the beginning of March.

This is due to a mercury scrubber that was installed in the fall of 2011 at Merrimack Station, the state's largest coal plant. Mandated by a 2006 state law, the scrubber is meant to reduce sulfur emissions by 90 percent and mercury emissions by 80 percent.

The cost of this was evaluated at $422 million and Murray said that PSNH customers will see this in their energy bill. The question now is how long the recovery period will be. Any price increase for PSNH services must go through government regulators first. Before this, there is no way of telling how large the increase may be.
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012701129724

[Antonio Andolini]

For those still with Fairpoint:
FairPoint gets temporary rate increase
Tax payments on poles passed on
http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/304471/fairpoint-gets-temporary-rate-increase?CSAuthResp=1326394516%3Ar4mad6n4mdsebi0b9fpgkml5u4%3ACSUserId|CSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A5D805421C76ABA4904136E5FFE6F8763&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1

[Antonio Andolini]

The story about PSNH bills going up this spring, to pay for the scrubber at Merrimack Station, has my favorite quote by Senior Corporate News Representative for PSNH Martin Murray, about the increased emissions from the energy needed for the scrubber, "We need to plug it in."

[Antonio Andolini]

So, Rocky, "I believe that it demonstrates that desperate people are more than willing to consider desperate actions if they believe that in the long run it will be in their best interest." Is that like voting for President Obama?

[warren,]

I think Obama lost His Left Wing Base a While Back, Tony. Now the Dems are Schtuck with Him.... Hence the Talk of Giving Biden Secretary of State, and Bringing Hillary on Board as Veep. But can these two Factions....Come Together?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e7AQQTONvg

[Wing Nut]

Nice one Antonio. You must made me laugh out loud.....WN.

[Rocky]

Yes it is AA, just think how desperate Wing Nut would have to be to vote for Obama.(ha ha) All kidding aside, I believe a lot of people voted for Obama the last time because they desperately wanted somebody as far different as possible from Bush.

[Antonio Andolini]

You're welcome,WN.
I won't be at all surprised to see an Obama-Clinton ticket come November. Although the website still says Obama Biden, I noticed in this piece about campaigning on NH Primary Day that all the signage and other gear just says 2012 or BarackObama.com.
http://www.wmur.com/news/30182919/detail.html
The President may very well need Mrs. Clinton aboard, since there are a lot of disgruntled Democrats out there these days.

[Antonio Andolini]

You know, Rocky, I once thought President Nixon would be the most hated President. Seems the 43rd President will garner that "honor", at least with folks like you. Oh well, 2016 is coming, although it will still all be "Bush's fault" even then, won't it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJYRtOPUonA

[warren,]

...No Hope, just Empty Promises. Keep the Change.

[Antonio Andolini]

Here you go, Rocky!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y02iZcTjHo

[Antonio Andolini]

"The way I express passion is different than most."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qv7k2_lc0M

[warren,]

So, Rocky. Is this Still a "Step in the Right Direction"? How many "Pieces of Silver" buys You? What Compensation for the PSNH Rape of Northern New Hampshire?

http://2much2do4now.typepad.com/bytechew/2011/04/a-step-in-the-right-direction.html

[warren,]

Mayor of Berlin Supports Northern Pass

New Hampshire Union Leader 01/11/2012


Another View

Paul Grenier

Anti-Northern Passers risk cutting the wires to North Country IN THE coming days, the state Senate will face an important vote that will dictate the future of property rights and energy development in this state for many years to come. House Bill 648 has faced a long road in the Legislature precisely because the stakes are so high, and getting it wrong will have negative consequences on jobs and our entire state’s economy.

HB 648 was specifically designed to stop the Northern Pass project, and some members of the Senate continue to seek amendments that target this project. However, if passed, this extreme approach would likely have much broader impact on our state than just taking out the Northern Pass.

As both a mayor of Berlin and Coos County commissioner, I take property rights very seriously. As an early supporter of the Northern Pass Transmission project, I have welcomed the prospect of bringing clean, renewable energy and new jobs to the Granite State. But, I have also made it clear that my support for the Northern Pass is contingent upon the project’s ability to work with and listen to landowners along the proposed route. Although it was plagued by early missteps, those of us on the ground up north have seen the project planners make great strides in efforts to work with landowners. Public records in the county indicate that they have purchased scores of properties through private negotiations. All of these land purchases have been completed without fanfare or complaints from landowners.

In fact, given their willingness to work with private landowners, job opportunities and the tremendous tax benefits the project brings to communi-ties, I would invite planners to consider a route that includes Berlin.

As citizens of the North Country, we stand to gain the most from this unique opportunity, but also have the most to lose if the project never comes to fruition. Considering this, we must strike a balance between protecting private property rights and encouraging new renewable energy projects in our state.

Renewable energy, such as wind development and biomass, is one of the few industries that have brought growth and jobs to Coos County in past years, and the reality is that efforts to target Northern Pass also target these projects.

Expansion of the “Coos Loop,” a major transmission route in northern New Hampshire, is a key pathway to future energy development in northern New Hampshire, yet the Legislature’s own studies have concluded that private investment is required to make necessary upgrades to this infrastructure.

In its effort to stop the Northern Pass by targeting private investments in transmission, will state senators cut the wires to the North Country and let this engine of growth and job creation to simply be turned off?

The development of lowcost energy sources is key to the future of Berlin and New Hampshire. The reality is that developing new sources of low-cost energy remains a core component of a strong economy and is critical for those of us working to attract new business and jobs to our state.

The recent amendment to HB 648, the so-called Carson-Bradley amendment passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, accomplishes both objectives by strengthening New Hampshire’s already strong property rights laws while maintaining an environment for continued development and job creation. By making the use of eminent domain more difficult, providing increased protections for landowners and requiring private negotiations before eminent domain could even be proposed, the amendment provides a win-win for landowners, rate payers, and the economy of our state.

Considering our struggling economy and desperate need for jobs, state senators would be wise to embrace this policy that adds protections for landowners but maintains the opportunity for future energy development and necessary upgrades to our aging electric infrastructure.

Paul Grenier is the Mayor of Berlin and a Coos County Commissioner.

[Rocky]

Careful what you say about Nixon, he once was "the man".

[warren,]

Did You Vote for Dick, or McGovern?

[Rocky]

Tricky Dick was "the man".

[warren,]

A WWII Vet, and an Accomplished Poker Player. So I hear.

There is a Chance I could Support the Northern Pass...IF...

"In fact, given their willingness to work with private landowners, job opportunities and the tremendous tax benefits the project brings to communi-ties, I would invite planners to consider a route that includes Berlin."

....Let it Come Straight past the Biomass Plant!!! ( Sarcasm Rocky! )

[Antonio Andolini]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qRZvlZZ0DY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQFXGzp8Tl4

[Antonio Andolini]

Tell Team Berlin, the Mayor has spoken.
(They're not even sworn in yet. Heaven help them all.)

You better not spout, you better not pout;
You'd better not cry, Da Mayah is tellin' you why;
Northern Pass is coming to town!