redgreenandblue.org— In a blistering attack, Nevada’s Republican senator John Ensign has launched an offensive against solar energy lobbyists, ahead of a crucial vote on renewable energy tax credits.
Jun 16, 2008View in Crawl 4
It takes a lot of corn to make ethanol. The the type of corn that is used for ethanol is not the type that is generally used for human consumption. I would hate to see people starve because economically companies could make more money by growing corn for a rich person's gas tank than they could growing corn for health and well-being. Solar good. Electric car good. Ethanol very very bad!!! Ug the cave man know. Why no politician know?
I'm surprised people aren't more empathetic to his situation. He flat out said that solar energy had tremendous bipartisan support and the solar energy lobby is putting the screws to people who don't need any screw application at all.Don't cheer lobbyists. Shame on you, Digg. Solar energy: good. Lobbyists: bad.
Yeah, lobbyists are bad. In my own home state, two out of our three congressional representatives are under investigation for corruption after several questionable deals funded by oil companies. Considering that, do you really expect solar power companies will do anything other than employ lobbyists to further their interests, too? Unless we level the playing field by getting rid of *all* lobbyists -- and just to be clear, that would be my preferred option, although it will never happen -- even the guys that are supposedly taking the moral high ground will still use lobbyists.So my question is this: is Ensign ripping into the solar industry because they are doing something rather evil (i.e., using lobbyists) or because he already has established ties with oil and gas companies and doesn't want an upstart solar program cutting into his existing funding providers' business? I honestly don't know, but I would advise against knee-jerk "lobbyists are evil; shame on solar for using lobbyists!" reactions.
Ok. I'll define fair. First of all, it isn't a synonym for "the same." Which is a good thing, because a person with a million dollars in their pocket, a mansion, and a Ferrari collection isn't in the same position as a worker bee who has to decide between medicine for their family and paying the water bill.This is why, in principle, some entities get tax breaks, and others don't. I don't have any problem with an income tax rate of 30% or so for the millionaire; I have a *real* problem with taking anything from the worker bee.If you really want to seriously talk about tax reform, then the way to go is a consumption tax with the basics untaxed; you get one home and maintainance for it; you get one car per employed and in-school driver in the household; you get food and medicine and household staples (toilet paper, detergent, etc.) taxfree; fuel isn't consumption taxed, it's taxed for road building and maintainance instead.My estimate is that a proper consumption tax that would replace the Income tax would run well over 50%, based on the fact that current income tax is about 30%, with another 30% hidden in the income taxes of everyone downstream of your product and service buying activities (you pay the breadmaker... they pay their income tax out of YOUR money, the money left over after you were supposedly done paying income tax. Your effective tax rate is much higher than you think -- only about 80% of what you spend goes towards good and services, the rest is re-skimmed by the feds.)
YellowLite is a Cleveland, OH based renewable energy company. Our team includes professionals striving for a cleaner environment. We specialize in Grid-Connected, Stand-Alone and Hybrid Photovoltaic Systems. With the help of our certified and professional engineers, we can reliably predict return on investments and make custom energy systems according to the customers' needs.
YellowLite, Inc.
OHIO: 5755 Granger Road • Suite 750
Independence, OH 44131
Phone: 1-877-7-438-757
Fax: 216-834-2488
cyphrediasJun 16, 2008
It takes a lot of corn to make ethanol. The the type of corn that is used for ethanol is not the type that is generally used for human consumption. I would hate to see people starve because economically companies could make more money by growing corn for a rich person's gas tank than they could growing corn for health and well-being. Solar good. Electric car good. Ethanol very very bad!!! Ug the cave man know. Why no politician know?
dafragstaJun 17, 2008
I'm surprised people aren't more empathetic to his situation. He flat out said that solar energy had tremendous bipartisan support and the solar energy lobby is putting the screws to people who don't need any screw application at all.Don't cheer lobbyists. Shame on you, Digg. Solar energy: good. Lobbyists: bad.
elementopJun 17, 2008
Yeah, lobbyists are bad. In my own home state, two out of our three congressional representatives are under investigation for corruption after several questionable deals funded by oil companies. Considering that, do you really expect solar power companies will do anything other than employ lobbyists to further their interests, too? Unless we level the playing field by getting rid of *all* lobbyists -- and just to be clear, that would be my preferred option, although it will never happen -- even the guys that are supposedly taking the moral high ground will still use lobbyists.So my question is this: is Ensign ripping into the solar industry because they are doing something rather evil (i.e., using lobbyists) or because he already has established ties with oil and gas companies and doesn't want an upstart solar program cutting into his existing funding providers' business? I honestly don't know, but I would advise against knee-jerk "lobbyists are evil; shame on solar for using lobbyists!" reactions.
beauleyJun 17, 2008
With Global Warming on many people's minds, do we have any ideas of the best way to lessen the impact on our future, or maybe a possible relief of its possible ravages or even a possible key to its eventual reversal. Many scientific experts have proposed<a class="user" href="http://www.quazen.com/Science/Technology/Solar-Power-Source-of-Endless-Energy.21176">http://www.quazen.com/Science/Technology/Solar-Pow ...</a>Solar Power, Source of Endless Energy
salinemistJun 18, 2008
Define "fair". Tax everyone the same, no exceptions.
cosmicvJun 20, 2008
Dont bother everyone here with the facts...so much more fun to play partisan hacks -- on both sides!
fyngyrzJun 21, 2008
Ok. I'll define fair. First of all, it isn't a synonym for "the same." Which is a good thing, because a person with a million dollars in their pocket, a mansion, and a Ferrari collection isn't in the same position as a worker bee who has to decide between medicine for their family and paying the water bill.This is why, in principle, some entities get tax breaks, and others don't. I don't have any problem with an income tax rate of 30% or so for the millionaire; I have a *real* problem with taking anything from the worker bee.If you really want to seriously talk about tax reform, then the way to go is a consumption tax with the basics untaxed; you get one home and maintainance for it; you get one car per employed and in-school driver in the household; you get food and medicine and household staples (toilet paper, detergent, etc.) taxfree; fuel isn't consumption taxed, it's taxed for road building and maintainance instead.My estimate is that a proper consumption tax that would replace the Income tax would run well over 50%, based on the fact that current income tax is about 30%, with another 30% hidden in the income taxes of everyone downstream of your product and service buying activities (you pay the breadmaker... they pay their income tax out of YOUR money, the money left over after you were supposedly done paying income tax. Your effective tax rate is much higher than you think -- only about 80% of what you spend goes towards good and services, the rest is re-skimmed by the feds.)
cyphrediasJul 4, 2008
I wish you would connect the dots for me. You have my ear, but you are not saying much. Please reply and explain. My mind is open.
tuesmarktOct 12, 2010
YellowLite is a Cleveland, OH based renewable energy company. Our team includes professionals striving for a cleaner environment. We specialize in Grid-Connected, Stand-Alone and Hybrid Photovoltaic Systems. With the help of our certified and professional engineers, we can reliably predict return on investments and make custom energy systems according to the customers' needs.
YellowLite, Inc.
OHIO: 5755 Granger Road • Suite 750
Independence, OH 44131
Phone: 1-877-7-438-757
Fax: 216-834-2488