WRENCHING IN SHORT SIGHTEDNESS
Far more lucid, expert and impassioned analysts and players have critiqued the failure of American government and the political process that feeds it. But for my two cents worth it appears most political animals lack imagination and creativity, or they certainly don't evince it.
Energy policy is case in point. I've heard every President back to Nixon proclaim that we need a new energy policy that leads to independence. How much older are you since then?
California doesn't hold the patent on original, and there are plenty of old school political issues here as well, but activists have begun building a fresh approach to a new energy future. I like the idea because it is simpatico to something I've advocated. I'd like to see neighbors form small energy cooperatives, and jointly fund the placement of solar and or wind energy technology in the neighborhood to feed our individual needs and then to dial excess energy back into the grid, for which the neighbors association would get cash, credit or some compensation.
SLO Clean Energy, which you can learn more about at this site proposes to work on a similar model, using communities in an aggregation. Of course this moves on the power of the current power companies-Big Business and Big Political Contributors-two of the greatest evils in our political life.
Eliminate big money influence and you are on the way to making giant strides of improvement in government and politics. In this case of "power to the people," that is exactly what could happen.
Radical? Not really. It is simply a method to put leveraging influence or control to those of us who pay taxes and live without the perks and influence of those whom we elect and the fat cats who lather up politics, legislation and government with money for favors.
I'm hopeful emerging generations will find imaginative and creative solutions to old problems that even the once idealistic boomers have failed to fix. Neighborhood or community energy alliances could be a start. They are doable.
THE YOUNG SAVAGES
New, fresh and cutting edge in California art is front and center in Paso Robles.
Full disclosure here, YOUNG SAVAGES is curated by my daughter's friend, Neal Breton. I think Neal has done a great job in building an energetic and exciting show. Here's how it was reported in the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Studios in the park is a great art space to begin with. The
work of the Savages adds even more life and spirit.
Several art patrons have made it a good show for a few of the Young Savages. Skulk, the piece below, done by Neal,
is one of the pieces that has been purchased thus far.
A LITTLE FRESH COLOR
This is for those of you where spring comes later than it does here on the west coast. This is what will come your way, eventually.
See you down the trail.
