More on DOE Loan Guarantees for Wall Street Shunned New Nukes

Just how much slop do the corporate pigs at the government trough need before they'll eat?

Oppose Blank Check Loan Guarantees in Final Energy - Taxpayers for Common Sense, National Taxpayers Union and Council for Citizens Against Government Waste - 31 Oct 07

"The Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program was authorized in Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. According to the DOE the program will cover 100 percent of the loan at up to 80 percent of the cost of the eligible project. If these projects default on their loans, as some surely will, the federal government will be forced to cover the costs. This leaves taxpayers to foot the bill on defaults that could cost hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars.

In a report released last month, the DOE Office of the Inspector General found that the issuing loan guarantees at 80 percent of the project cost will 'result in significant risk to the Government and therefore, the American taxpayer.' The federal government has made this mistake before. During the late 1970s and early 1980s the federal government issued loan guarantees to jumpstart the synthetic fuels industry. It was a fiscal nightmare and taxpayers ended up footing the $13 billion bill.

Without congressional oversight the synthetic fuels debacle could pale in comparison to the current loan guarantee program. The nuclear industry has already made it clear that they need $50 billion in loan guarantees over the next two years. The Congressional Budget Office considers the risk of default on nuclear loan guarantees to be very high --well above 50%."

Taxpayers for Common Sense Energy Campaign for more details.

More on DOE Loan Guarantees for Wall Street Shunned New Nukes

Just how much slop do the corporate pigs at the government trough need before they'll eat?

Oppose Blank Check Loan Guarantees in Final Energy - Taxpayers for Common Sense, National Taxpayers Union and Council for Citizens Against Government Waste - 31 Oct 07

"The Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program was authorized in Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. According to the DOE the program will cover 100 percent of the loan at up to 80 percent of the cost of the eligible project. If these projects default on their loans, as some surely will, the federal government will be forced to cover the costs. This leaves taxpayers to foot the bill on defaults that could cost hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars.

In a report released last month, the DOE Office of the Inspector General found that the issuing loan guarantees at 80 percent of the project cost will 'result in significant risk to the Government and therefore, the American taxpayer.' The federal government has made this mistake before. During the late 1970s and early 1980s the federal government issued loan guarantees to jumpstart the synthetic fuels industry. It was a fiscal nightmare and taxpayers ended up footing the $13 billion bill.

Without congressional oversight the synthetic fuels debacle could pale in comparison to the current loan guarantee program. The nuclear industry has already made it clear that they need $50 billion in loan guarantees over the next two years. The Congressional Budget Office considers the risk of default on nuclear loan guarantees to be very high --well above 50%."

Taxpayers for Common Sense Energy Campaign for more details.

This and that

It's a grey but not too cold day in Huskerland.  Had a fun time yesterday afternoon and evening.

( Blah blah life... )

Found out about differences between Omaha and Lincoln in terms of waste management and recycling.  Also found out what was going on in the on-going battle in the far western part of the state with the anticipated expansion of the sole nuclear mine (a solvent based mine where they pump solvents into the ground and suck the uranium enriched leachate out of other wells some distance away).  Attention is being paid and they are pausing for consideration of long term impacts.  Evidently the native folks have been spearheading the effort to halt more development of the mine on the basis of treaties that ensured clean water in perpetuity. 

Also got to talk a bit about my experiences in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the New Alchemy Institute and the innovative composting work of Bruce Fulford at that program.  Bruce came up with the idea of making composting bins that could be slid under the plant beds of solar greenhouses to provide both added heat and extra C02.  Later he became a consultant and last I heard he was working to get Boston's composing fine tuned.  Another tidbit was the fact that New Alchemy had not only inspired me but had also inspired Wes Jackson to start up the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas.

After picking up a late cheap Chinese veggie special meal and checking my PO Box, it was time to head home.  Watched the tail end of an American Masters program on the life of Pete Seeger.  Saw him in person back in the 1970s at the sculpture garden at UN-L.  What a wonderful entertainer!  This program got into his political activities and blacklisting in the 50-60s and his later rehabilitation such that he was noted at the Kennedy Center awards. 

"Time is on our side.  Yes it is!" - Rolling Stones

( Yet more blah blah life... )

This and that

It's a grey but not too cold day in Huskerland.  Had a fun time yesterday afternoon and evening.

( Blah blah life... )

Found out about differences between Omaha and Lincoln in terms of waste management and recycling.  Also found out what was going on in the on-going battle in the far western part of the state with the anticipated expansion of the sole nuclear mine (a solvent based mine where they pump solvents into the ground and suck the uranium enriched leachate out of other wells some distance away).  Attention is being paid and they are pausing for consideration of long term impacts.  Evidently the native folks have been spearheading the effort to halt more development of the mine on the basis of treaties that ensured clean water in perpetuity. 

Also got to talk a bit about my experiences in the late 1970s and early 1980s with the New Alchemy Institute and the innovative composting work of Bruce Fulford at that program.  Bruce came up with the idea of making composting bins that could be slid under the plant beds of solar greenhouses to provide both added heat and extra C02.  Later he became a consultant and last I heard he was working to get Boston's composing fine tuned.  Another tidbit was the fact that New Alchemy had not only inspired me but had also inspired Wes Jackson to start up the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas.

After picking up a late cheap Chinese veggie special meal and checking my PO Box, it was time to head home.  Watched the tail end of an American Masters program on the life of Pete Seeger.  Saw him in person back in the 1970s at the sculpture garden at UN-L.  What a wonderful entertainer!  This program got into his political activities and blacklisting in the 50-60s and his later rehabilitation such that he was noted at the Kennedy Center awards. 

"Time is on our side.  Yes it is!" - Rolling Stones

( Yet more blah blah life... )

Buckley v. Chomsky - 1969

American conservative activist, publisher and writer William F. Buckley, Jr. died yesterday.  One of the things I'll remember the most about his life is the "Firing Line" talk show that he had for years on public television.  Also he sponsored full-fledged debates, on occasion, under the same programming handle.  These were a personal favorite of mine.  For example:

The Firing Line 1997 Creation-Evolution Debate: The Evolutionists Should Acknowledge Creation

One of the most noted "Firing Line" episodes was in 1969 when he invited MIT professor, writer and activist Noam Chomsky to share the stage with him.  Needless to say, sparks did fly that day.  Here are some clips of that event from YouTube and today's Democracy Now!.

No such public venue exists these days for such an unique exchange.  Charlie Rose hardly counts as an adequate substitute. [Example 1] [Example 2]

Noam Chomsky vs. William F. Buckley Debate : Part 1 of 2 - YouTube
Noam Chomsky vs. William F. Buckley Debate : Part 2 of 2 - YouTube

One other snippet of this debate is originally from the documentary "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media" (Zeitgeist Films).  This is a very excellent documentary on Chomsky, btw.

William F. Buckley Dies at 82; A Look Back at his 1969 Debate with Noam Chomsky on Vietnam - Democracy Now! - 28 Feb 08

"WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR.: This is, in a sense, a theological observation, isn’t it?

NOAM CHOMSKY: No, I don’t think so.

WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR.: Because if someone points out if everyone is guilty of everything, then nobody is guilty of anything.

NOAM CHOMSKY: No, I don’t—well, no, I don’t—I don’t believe that. See, I think that—I think the point that I’m trying to make and I think ought to be made is that the real, at least to me—I say this elsewhere in the book [American Power and the New Mandarins]—what seems to me a very, in a sense, terrifying aspect of our society and other societies is the equanimity and the detachment with which sane, reasonable, sensible people can observe such events. I think that’s more terrifying than the occasional Hitler or LeMay or other that crops up.

These people would not be able to operate were it not for this apathy and equanimity, and therefore I think that it’s in some sense the sane and reasonable and tolerant people who should—who share a very serious burden of guilt that they very easily throw on the shoulders of others who seem more extreme and more violent."

With a nod to an anonymous LJ friend for some of the above.

Buckley v. Chomsky - 1969

American conservative activist, publisher and writer William F. Buckley, Jr. died yesterday.  One of the things I'll remember the most about his life is the "Firing Line" talk show that he had for years on public television.  Also he sponsored full-fledged debates, on occasion, under the same programming handle.  These were a personal favorite of mine.  For example:

The Firing Line 1997 Creation-Evolution Debate: The Evolutionists Should Acknowledge Creation

One of the most noted "Firing Line" episodes was in 1969 when he invited MIT professor, writer and activist Noam Chomsky to share the stage with him.  Needless to say, sparks did fly that day.  Here are some clips of that event from YouTube and today's Democracy Now!.

No such public venue exists these days for such an unique exchange.  Charlie Rose hardly counts as an adequate substitute. [Example 1] [Example 2]

Noam Chomsky vs. William F. Buckley Debate : Part 1 of 2 - YouTube
Noam Chomsky vs. William F. Buckley Debate : Part 2 of 2 - YouTube

One other snippet of this debate is originally from the documentary "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media" (Zeitgeist Films).  This is a very excellent documentary on Chomsky, btw.

William F. Buckley Dies at 82; A Look Back at his 1969 Debate with Noam Chomsky on Vietnam - Democracy Now! - 28 Feb 08

"WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR.: This is, in a sense, a theological observation, isn’t it?

NOAM CHOMSKY: No, I don’t think so.

WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, JR.: Because if someone points out if everyone is guilty of everything, then nobody is guilty of anything.

NOAM CHOMSKY: No, I don’t—well, no, I don’t—I don’t believe that. See, I think that—I think the point that I’m trying to make and I think ought to be made is that the real, at least to me—I say this elsewhere in the book [American Power and the New Mandarins]—what seems to me a very, in a sense, terrifying aspect of our society and other societies is the equanimity and the detachment with which sane, reasonable, sensible people can observe such events. I think that’s more terrifying than the occasional Hitler or LeMay or other that crops up.

These people would not be able to operate were it not for this apathy and equanimity, and therefore I think that it’s in some sense the sane and reasonable and tolerant people who should—who share a very serious burden of guilt that they very easily throw on the shoulders of others who seem more extreme and more violent."

With a nod to an anonymous LJ friend for some of the above.