Basically the pattern goes something like this:
1. Mark offers a viewpoint backed up by facts.
2. Some of the readers, many of which basically belong to a cult (more on that in the coming days), don't like it.
3. Rather than disprove it, they call me "stupid," "Marxadelphia" and a "liar."
4. Following this is a seemingly endless series of comments which "prove" that I have "been beaten." They go on in such perpetuity that one really has to wonder...if I am "wrong," why do they keep talking about it?
5. (and my favorite one) I'm secretly a Marxist who wants to cede my rights to a collectivist government.
This pattern, however, is part of a much larger one which I will illustrate through an update of the Centerpoint Energy Meter Inspection project that was the subject of my last post. For those of you who don't know, Centerpoint is the company that I purchase gas from to heat my house. They sent me a card, which I showed in my last post, which ordered me to allow them access to my house otherwise they would take legal action. It is the only company that I can get heat from in my area. I do, of course, have the choice of burning wood in my house but I think that most of us can agree that's not really "the free market" now, is it?
Take a look at this column from last December.
Gas Co. May Get Court Orders For Meter Inspections
Now, in my first column I was told that it was actually the government driving these inspections, not Centerpoint, due to safety and regulation. While it is true that there is a regulation that Centerpoint Energy must follow federal laws regarding safety, I'm wondering why the company themselves has to get the court order. If the government is the one doing the forcing, why don't they have them already? And where are the fines that we heard would happen if Centerpoint didn't follow the law?
To me, the company is the one driving this show, not the government. Further proof of this can be seen in the last line of the column.
WCCO-TV also checked with Xcel Energy, which has about 600 customers with indoor meters that still need to be checked. At this time, an Xcel spokesperson says the company is not considering court orders.
What? Why? Now, I was assured by several commenters here that if companies weren't compliant that BIG BROTHER was going to descend into their offices and nationalize them. So, why is Xcel Energy being so lackadaisical?
Because the government isn't the all powerful beast members of the cult claim it to be. They might make regulations but enforcing them? Forget it. It's not going to happen. In fact, I'd be willing to bet--just like Xcel is betting--that the government is so inefficient and weakened right now that this regulation would probably not be enforced in all of our lifetimes.
Thus, we see how this larger pattern works...a pattern of propaganda, if you will...as the comments start to roll in on this post. I will be told that while I see a company obtaining court orders, it's actually the government driving this whole thing in one massive power grab. I will be told that while I actually only have one company to choose from for my heating needs, I really do have a choice and am not being forced by any legalized monopoly to buy their product. Again, the government will be blamed. I will be told to not pay attention to Xcel Energy as that is not relevant. And so on and so on...This is but a small example of how the cult works.
(cue theremin)
President Obama has taken away your hard earned money through tax increases (even though he has cut taxes for 95 percent of working families)....President Obama has taken away your hard earned money through tax increases....President Obama has taken away your hard earned money through tax increases.....President Obama has taken away your hard earned money through tax increases....
The question does remain, though, why does Centerpoint want to get into my home? No doubt, safety is a concern. Knowing corporations the way I do, I'm fairly certain there is another reason and that will be the subject of Part Two.