Wisdom of Anarchy

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December 26, 2016 by SC Striebeck

Utilities Strip Consumers’ Control Over Energy Bills – Episode 36 of Local Energy Rules Podcast | John Farrell | Pulse | LinkedIn

Source: Utilities Strip Consumers’ Control Over Energy Bills – Episode 36 of Local Energy Rules Podcast | John Farrell | Pulse | LinkedIn

Mr. Farrell, one my favorite renewable experts, quotes Rick Gilliam who says:

“[Solar is] the antithesis of the utility business model and it allows customers to really take control over their own energy future, which is something the utility doesn’t like,” said Rick Gilliam, program director for DG regulatory policy at California-based nonprofit Vote Solar. “It’s a monopoly and it wants to maintain its position as the sole provider of service.”

In response, given the circumstances, I would expect this resistance by utilities (their management and partners in government) on human nature alone.  Where an uncertain change in the status quo can negatively affect the livelihood of the primary benefactors of such monopolies  and their associates, there is absolutely no basic economic incentive to advance change — in this case, more energy choices such as solar. The rules are inherently stacked against disruption for more choice.

So, the solution isn’t just voting for more solar and trying to compete with utilities within their own operational framework. The real solution lays in changing the artificially imposed structure and liaison with government which controls much of the generation and distribution of energy — no small task I admit — but that is the job at hand.

Unlike participants in freer markets, where government intervenes less, where no governmental regulation ensures monopoly, where there is every incentive to please the customer — lest your doors close — utilities are just the opposite. Given these advantages, combined with the fundamental necessity of energy, there is a huge incentive not to change or improve services that would otherwise derail the gravy train. Thus, structural change in the energy market must be demanded by more persons with continued pressure supplied by distributed renewable energy technology — sort of a force-multiplier effect.

Many argue that renewables are absolutely necessary to prevent anthropogenic global warming.  Even if you trust the proponents of this brand of climate change, this is still not the primary benefit of renewable energy, only a spinoff.  The real benefit is that distributed renewables provide the greatest degree of freedom for individuals to potentially provide, maintain and exchange, the most basic component of living and improving one’s well-being: energy.

When you realize that literally everything that most of us do throughout the day requires energy, then you can begin to fathom the liberating effects of individuals creating clean distributed energy, not to mention less geopolitical stress and often war in securing and protecting sources of energy. On an economic level, individual energy independence and diversity are synonymous with all forms of personal liberty and accountability.

These organizational structures, whether it is utilities, or any other governmentally owned or dominated industry will neither produce the best that can be had nor the best value propositions (diversity in choice) for whatever product or service. There is simply not the ever-constant accountability, which imbues free markets (optimally governed by one rule of law applicable to all), to adequately incentivize and distinguish the most creative, efficient, sensitive and best products and services from what can otherwise be developed.

Where the disconnect occurs is that many people feel that there are exceptions for making certain products and services, and that these inconsistencies with fundamental economic rules can be ignored — in this case, personal incentive and responsibility — and yet, they still expect to be provided with ample choice and the best value. Sorry, but sustainably, that’s impossible.

By analogy, it is no different from fixing broken windows and crooked walls in a home with a failing foundation. It makes little sense to replace the windows and cosmetically fix the walls, without curing the real problem — the failed foundation — only to endure the visible symptoms once again.  The same approach must be used in sustainably solving any other problem — which includes modern governance.

However, for the near term, the greater problem is retraining ourselves how to un-learn many of the fictions and half-truths that are perpetuated by either those who don’t know any better, or those with a vested interest in the “status quo” — both are dangerous.

And for that matter, our re-education applies to more than energy, but there is no better place to start , because with energy, it is literally the foundation of everything.

Note:  The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Conceptual and title source: Utilities Strip Consumers’ Control Over Energy Bills – Episode 36 of Local Energy Rules Podcast | John Farrell | Pulse | LinkedIn
Media source:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/utilities-strip-consumers-control-over-energy-bills-episode-farrell

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Filed Under: Accountability, Action, Choice, Decentralization, Distributed Energy, Education, Energy, Entrepreneurialism, Government, Human Nature, Sustainability, Utilities

December 24, 2016 by SC Striebeck

The Failure of Public Schooling in One Chart | Foundation for Economic Education

The Failure of Public Schooling in One Chart | Foundation for Economic Education

Between 1950 and 2009, American public schools experienced a 96 percent increase in student population. During that time, the number of administrators and other staff increased by over seven times the increase in students. This staffing surge still exists today, but the promised benefits are nowhere to be seen.

Source: The Failure of Public Schooling in One Chart | Foundation for Economic Education

 

The source article is a great piece from Daniel J. Mitchell because it succinctly and effectively sums up what is wrong with public education; however, it ends there.

At some point, we need to realize not only that a problem exists, not only that it is severe, but that it cannot in anyway be corrected by or from within the very structure of human organization which allowed it to evolve and survive in a deficient state – in this case, that organizational structure is government – ever subject to the whims of political successors.

No disrespect to the Cato Institute; it produces some fantastic analyses on a broad range of topics. But like most other political think tanks, it fails when the author or another subject offers a non-solution such as:

“Juan concludes his column with a plea for diversity, innovation, and competition… …He’s right, but he should focus his ire on his leftist friends and colleagues. They’re the ones (including the NAACP!) standing in the proverbial schoolhouse door and blocking the right kind of education reform.”

The conclusion is correct in that education would improve from greater diversity, innovation and competition. But then, logic, sound economics and reality were abandoned.  The author then adds where Juan’s focus should be – on the left side of the political spectrum.

Given that public education has been under the direction of both ends of the political spectrum, and in reality usually the combination thereof, this clearly isn’t a solution.

The real problem is government itself – not the people, the structure. As a form of human organization, it cannot systematically and sustainably cleanse itself of virtually any ill whether it waste, inefficiency, or graft. Just look at the 40-year trend in the above graph in cost versus performance versus the number of employees.

It is not a right or left problem. It is a structural problem; one that cannot be resolved by politics – ever. Only the free market under one rule of law positively applied to all persons can provide diversity, innovation and competition in education. If you understand the fundamentals of business, and in particular entrepreneurialism; and then centralizing forces of government, you known that this not opinion – it is fact. More choice is always more power. Government cannot provide real choice.

If you really want broad-based educational improvement, then cut to the chase: get government out of education, and do it now.

Note:  The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Conceptual and title source:  Daniel J. Mitchell from his blog originally published on fee.org. The Failure of Public Schooling in One Chart | Foundation for Economic Education
Media source:  www.fee.org

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Filed Under: Accountability, Action, Choice, Decentralization, Diversification, Education, Entrepreneurialism, Evolution, Free market, Government, Public Education, Sustainability

December 1, 2015 by SC Striebeck

Is Anarcho-Libertarianism Anti-American?

Is Anarcho-Libertarianism American Cementary at Collevilleanti-American?

With the recent passing of Veterans Day, I was reminded of past conversations where it was asserted that support of Anarcho-Libertarianism (AL) was unpatriotic and anti-American; and, especially ungrateful and disrespectful to all those who sacrificed their lives or otherwise suffered for the preservation of American freedom.

Initially, this perspective seems to hold some truth, especially if one equates government to its constituents where government (those employed by or otherwise operating through it) and its citizens are all equal in the “eyes of the law”, being all on the same team so to speak.

However, if we remember that in fact government and its agents are not subject to the same standards, rules and laws as the constituents, then it becomes clear that their interests can and do diverge, often to the point of contradiction!  As such, two classes of persons result. Those who directly or indirectly subsist through the force of government and those who directly or indirectly subsist through the mutual consent of market exchange. An injustice by definition.

Mind you, this is not to suggest that all persons working for or through the government are bandits, thieves, etc.; only that the structure of government provides the deepest cover for such personalities and behavior and allows these systemic deficiencies to accumulate without efficient and timely correction, but that is another story so back to our veterans.

This danger of divisiveness inherent to the existence of government was probably best memorialized by an assertion where Benjamin Franklin who upon leaving the Constitutional Convention supposedly responded to a question as to the type of government the delegates had just created. His response: “A republic, if you can keep it.” We may never know exactly why he alluded to potential instability, but by logic and human nature, the fact remains that it was so then and is even more so now.

Similarly, we need not look further than the Declaration of the thirteen united States of America where it is expressly provided:

“…Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…” [emphasis added].

At its core, AL recognizes and respects what it actually means to be American, what it means to be really free and personally accountable, what it means to maintain and improve upon these ideals; all of which, promises a better future for humanity. AL is a socioeconomic political structure which is decentralized, organic, scale-able and more efficient in self-correction than any form of governance currently in practice. And, you don’t need a Constitution to enforce the Non-Aggression Principle.

Although very special from a historical and patriotic perspective, what is most special about American culture is not the typical American symbols:  Old Glory, the American Bald Eagle, Lady Liberty, the shape of our boundaries, the military might of the U.S. Armed Forces, etc. Yes, these are important and interesting icons and symbols to be sure. But like a map to the terrain, these symbols cannot replace or fully reflect the ideal and importance of a nearly unparalleled early culture of freedom; a sense that anything was possible by anyone – the wellspring of entrepreneurialism. Within generations and over lifetimes, relative to the past, many dreams were indeed fulfilled so much that America became known for that sense of real possibility; hence, how the Great American Experiment realized the American Dream.

Almost laughably, government has co-opted this spirit of all things possible as its sole domain, as the provider of the American Dream – think of its marketing of the Armed Forces and related agencies as global protectors and inventors, NASA’s space race, the justification of the postal service or the political promise of more jobs, higher wages, better education, less war, etc. – in sum, providing a better life. In reality, just the opposite has occurred, and not just over the last few years, but well over the last half century. The list of promises is nearly endless as it is incredulous; and, the trend continues. The good news is:  it is not a Republican or Democratic party problem; nor a people problem – it is just a structural problem which unlike human nature is fixable.

Today, that early essence of America – a culture of expanding freedom – has been wholly suffocated by an ever-growing obsession to plan, manage and control literally everyone and everything – seemingly everywhere – a fool’s errand if there ever was one. For generations, we’ve let government and a cadre of special interests grow and increasingly parasitize value created through consensual exchange. Talk about redistribution of wealth.

Although I can never fully empathize with battlefield veterans (not having first hand experience with war), I strongly suspect that the continual expansion of governmental repression of freedom was not what they had in mind when risking their lives. I also would gamble that if more persons were fully apprised of AL, then there would be a better understanding that the earlier ideal of freedom in American culture – that wellspring of entrepreneurialism which can solve any problem – would be best served and protected by AL thus creating the best environment for maximal and sustainable justice, peace and prosperity.

I’d say that’s über-American. Got AL?

Note: The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Conceptual source: Murray N. Rothbard and Hans-Hermann Hoppe.
Media source: Wikipedia – American Battle Monuments Commission.

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Filed Under: Accountability, American Dream, Anarcho-libertarianism, Anti-American, Declaration of Indepedence, Entrepreneurialism, Freedom, Government, Great American Experiment, Non-Aggression Principle, Sustainability, Veterans

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