Opinion
Lake County Democratic Party recommends a no vote on Proposition 7, the Renewable Energy Generation Initiative.
California cannot afford to once again jeopardize the economy of our state by accepting a flawed electrical system policy. A portion of your electric bill today goes to pay off the costs that resulted from the ill-conceived deregulation law of the1990s. We cannot afford a repeat of that disaster.
Proposition 7 would mandate California utilities use renewable energy for 50 percent of electrical energy production by 2025.
A 50-percent mandate may well be beyond the ability of power producers, electrical grid operators and utilities to deliver with reasonable prices and reliably. Proposition 7 does not adequately address the size, complexity and cost of the huge infrastructure building program required to achieve its goal. The state has made great strides in increasing the amount of renewable energy, but to force the rate of growth required by Proposition 7 is not in keeping with the concept of a sustainable economy.
Many of the renewable technologies that will come online to meet the energy requirements of the future are still in the very early stages of development and must be given the chance to grow organically. California should move towards a renewable energy future that rewards efficiency, reliability and cost effective delivery of green power.
By locking in a 10-percent price premium and requiring a two-thirds vote to modify, Proposition 7 cannot respond to a renewable energy industry that is experiencing rapid growth and technological innovations. California can and should set far-reaching and aggressive renewable energy goals; but they must be based on a thoughtful and deliberate electrical system policy.
Proposition 7, though well-intended, is the wrong plan for our state. No on Proposition 7.
Evan Willig is vice chair of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee. He lives in Cobb.
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The medical profession is trained with the conviction to heal and save lives. It's almost like "breaking the rules" when the patient becomes terminal and unable to respond to available treatments. I have met and witnessed an oncology doctor emotionally overwhelmed at having to find the words to say, "The tumor started to grow back, and I feel ..." His/her life-saving recommendations "have failed," but not really. Efforts to heal is now over.
I believe to give the patient and the family information they want and need helps define what is necessary to prepare for the final moments of life and the continuing process of living IN grieving for family and friends. Hospice is highly recommended, however, the gray area leading to that decision can be filled by this act (AB 2747). Note: Some people may think hospice is "giving up." It is not. Hospice lays down a foundation of the reality of the dying process wrapped with compassion for the parties involved.
As far as Sen. Sam Aanestad saying, “ ... a humane way to deal with people who are dying." Do we deal with a woman giving birth? The lifecycle starts with birth and continues THROUGH death. This statement may not be understood by some people. A patient deserves the dignity of the living-through-dying process as well as the family, who must survive and must expect to be treated the same way when it's their turn to face this cycle of life. Dignity is the key word.
Patricia An Schmidt lives in Lakeport.
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