James Corum is a sober, thoughtful voice in the ongoing debate about peace and war, and how each should be waged.
OS enjoys reading his thoughts, and hopes his readers will take a few moments to ponder them as well.
This time, he discusses the massive WikiLeaks scandal, abetted by the Yew Nork Times.
He asks the cogent question:
Take a hypothetical situation. In 1943 some British and American military intelligence personnel decided that the public had a right to know how the war was really going. They gave the documents to the New York Times and Guardian, who published them in accordance with “the public’s right to know”. Along with the routine reports, the media published thousands of pages of low level intelligence documents including documents that mentioned army staff meetings. The media blacked out the names of the sources and some details – but a clever enemy could quickly figure out which meetings had been compromised and who had likely compromised them. They would also have likely figured out which information had come from signals intercepts – and would then quickly change their procedures and codes to shut off intelligence to the Allies. As a result of the compromise, many Allied soldiers would likely die.
What would be the response of the British and US governments to such a leak of classified information?
And, more to the point, he poses a sharper question at the end
[W]hy were soldiers lives considered valuable in 1943 and not even considered at all by the political and media elites in 2010? The answer is that the liberal elites who think leaking documents is worthy of praise appear to have no regard at all for the lives of the soldiers they send to war, if such lives get in the way of their momentary ego gratification. Our elites are making it very clear that their moment of fame, of self-righteous glory, and their moral posturing far outweigh the lives of our soldiers.
It's a question that goes to the heart of our culture, and needs to be addressed head-on.
Now, by contrast, OS is on a business trip in Northern Kentucky this week. The local paper is covering the funeral of a local young man killed in service of his country. Ambushed in Afghanistan, leaving behind a widow and three children. The accounts are, well, heartbreaking.
Carroll County and neighboring county residents are encouraged to attend a community memorial service on Friday, July 30, to “honor the life of Staff Sgt. Chris Stout.” The announcement was made on Monday, July 26, by Carroll County Judge-Executive Harold “Shorty” Tomlinson.
Stout was among three soldiers killed on July 13 when their unit came under attack by insurgents in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Stout was assigned to 1st Batallion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C. He served much of his career as a rigger with the 782nd Main Support Battalion and other quartermaster units on Fort Bragg. It was during this time that he sang with the 82nd All American Army chorus. Stout reclassed to become a chaplain’s assistant in September 2006.
“This is a service not only for the people of our Carroll County community,” Tomlinson said, “but for neighboring communities as well. We need to make sure our younger generation realizes that there is a real cost for the freedoms we enjoy.”
Plans were still incomplete at press time regarding who would be the speakers and other active participants in the service, Tomlinson said.
Stout grew up in the Worthville community and attended Carroll and Owen county schools. He resided in Fayetteville, N.C., with his wife Misty and daughters Audreanna and Kristen. His oldest daughter Jacqueline resides in Bedford, Ky. Stout is the first chaplain’s assistant killed in action since 1970 during the Vietnam War.
It is maddening to see the disconnect between the outpouring of sympathy for this fine young man, and the cynicism of the elites whose reckless behaviour leads to these tragedies. Not just the loss of a soldier's life, but the lives forever altered by his death. It matters not a whit to the soulless editors seeking that next Pulitzer by climbing over the corpses they create.
If we are going to set this culture back on track, we must begin to speak with clarity, repeatedly and loudly, that this sort of travesty is not acceptable.
Condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Stout.
May an incurable pox afflict the editorial staff of the New York Times.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
In Remembrance Of J.S. Bach: July 28, 1750
Pastor Peters, a fabulous Lutheran pastor and writer in Clarksville, Tennessee, shares words of wisdom about our culture, especially the culture of the American church in our day.
Soli Deo Gloria... It was not a slogan for Bach. It was his lifeblood. If we would honor Bach and glory in the fact that such musical genius, rich spiritual life, and dedication to his craft were formed in a Lutheran piety steeped in Word, Sacrament, and worthy music... then let us work to make sure that we are working to implement these in our parish life today... Whether the music comes from the 17th or 18th centuries or the 21st century, it needs to be our best, it needs to speak the Word and serve as musical handmaid to that Word, and it needs to glorify God and not entertain the human heart... or our remembrance of Bach will be like the uncovering of a footnote in history instead of a light that shines throughout the generations....
The entire article linked above is well worth the time invested.
OS concurs wholeheartedly. The music of Bach is a gift of divine grace to our weary world. Here's hoping OS's readership will take a moment to listen to a bit of Bach's music, and give thanks.
Soli Deo Gloria... It was not a slogan for Bach. It was his lifeblood. If we would honor Bach and glory in the fact that such musical genius, rich spiritual life, and dedication to his craft were formed in a Lutheran piety steeped in Word, Sacrament, and worthy music... then let us work to make sure that we are working to implement these in our parish life today... Whether the music comes from the 17th or 18th centuries or the 21st century, it needs to be our best, it needs to speak the Word and serve as musical handmaid to that Word, and it needs to glorify God and not entertain the human heart... or our remembrance of Bach will be like the uncovering of a footnote in history instead of a light that shines throughout the generations....
The entire article linked above is well worth the time invested.
OS concurs wholeheartedly. The music of Bach is a gift of divine grace to our weary world. Here's hoping OS's readership will take a moment to listen to a bit of Bach's music, and give thanks.
KLM...How Not To Run An Airline
OS's dear friend, referenced a couple of days ago, finally arrived in the US. The ordeal began Saturday morning, and still hasn't ended.
She arrived in one city, her bags arrived in another...at least she's safe and in one piece.
It isn't that KLM does major things badly, it's just that they do all those thousand-and-one inane small things that allow Murphy to ride along with every passenger, and make every journey a crap-shoot.
There's a solution to this problem...but it would involve firing lots and lots of people.
OS won't be holding his breath.
She arrived in one city, her bags arrived in another...at least she's safe and in one piece.
It isn't that KLM does major things badly, it's just that they do all those thousand-and-one inane small things that allow Murphy to ride along with every passenger, and make every journey a crap-shoot.
There's a solution to this problem...but it would involve firing lots and lots of people.
OS won't be holding his breath.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Sound Of Desperate Back-Pedaling: The Nashville Tennesseean, Front Page Saturday 7/24
The tone has begun to change, perhaps, at The Nashville Tennessean. The most loyal Democrat paper ever published, they've never seen a idea to expand government or spend more tax dollars they don't just love. All the ills of the world exist because Republicans are allowed to exist. AlGore cut his teeth there (how did that happen? Maybe his daddy made a couple of phone calls?), and is their patron saint.
They've stuck to the Party Line, even as their circulation shrinks, and their readership lets them know how unhappy they are. Ni modo, ya'll. We're the Tennessean, we know better!
Last month, it was this:
It's all them tax breaks--that's why the gubbermint is in trouble. We needs us more taxes! That'll fix our problems!
The back-pedaling may be finally beginning, as reality is setting in.
Now, this:
Only OS found this on the front page of the paper on Saturday. It's an AP story, not generated locally. But the editors exercised the choice to put it on the front page, and to leave that little nugget in the fourth paragraph--that little 'should he seek re-election' zinger. This from the folks who breathlessly covered every word and detail of The One's historic salvation of our poor nation, etc. etc.
WASHINGTON — New estimates from the White House on Friday predict the budget deficit will reach a record $1.47 trillion this year. The government is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends.
That's actually a little better than the administration predicted in February.
The new estimates paint a grim unemployment picture as the economy experiences a relatively jobless recovery. The unemployment rate, now averaging 9.5 percent, would average 9 percent next year under the new estimates.
The Office of Management and Budget report has ominous news for President Barack Obama should he seek re-election in 2012: a still-high unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. That would be well above normal, which is closer to a rate of 5.5 percent to 6 percent. Private economists don't think the unemployment rate will drop to that level until well into this decade.
Hello, there!
"The U.S. economy still faces strong headwinds," the OMB report says. They include tight credit markets, a high inventory of unsold housing and retrenchment by state governments bound by balanced-budget mandates. The European debt crisis has also had an impact.
"Despite these headwinds, the administration expects economic growth and job creation to continue for the rest of 2010 and to rise in 2011 and beyond," the report says.
The report lands squarely in the middle of a raging election-year Washington debate about spending and taxes. With millions of Americans still unemployed and with tax cuts enacted during George W. Bush's presidency expiring at the end of this year, Republicans and Democrats are fighting intensely over how to create jobs while saving money.
Both parties are certain to seize upon the new numbers. Republicans have
consistently bashed Democrats for what they call out-of-control spending on things like Obama's stimulus package and the health-care overhaul. Democrats counter that the health-care bill and other initiatives will actually slash the deficit over time and create jobs.
Although the gaping deficits are of increasing concern to voters, Obama and Democrats controlling Congress are mostly taking a pass on deficit reduction this year as they await possible recommendations from his deficit commission.
While there's a slight improvement in the deficit for the current year compared with the administration's February forecast, next year's predicted $1.42 trillion worth of red ink — 37 cents of borrowing for every dollar spent — is looking worse. It's about $150 billion more than previously predicted because of still-slumping tax revenues.
The current record holder is the $1.41 trillion deficit for 2009.
Economists agree that the most important measure of the deficit is against the size of the economy. Many say a deficit of 3 percent of gross domestic product is sustainable since it would stabilize the overall debt when measured relative to the economy.
The report puts the deficit at 10 percent of GDP this year and 9.2 percent of GDP next year. It would never reach the 3 percent figure under Obama's predictions — which underestimate war costs and depend on assumptions of tax hikes that may not materialize.
OMB Director Peter Orszag said the numbers represent a "fiscal situation that requires attention."
Well, yes. Even behind those hallowed desks on Broadway in Nashville, where reality hasn't paid a visit in a long, long, time.
They've stuck to the Party Line, even as their circulation shrinks, and their readership lets them know how unhappy they are. Ni modo, ya'll. We're the Tennessean, we know better!
Last month, it was this:
It's all them tax breaks--that's why the gubbermint is in trouble. We needs us more taxes! That'll fix our problems!
The back-pedaling may be finally beginning, as reality is setting in.
Now, this:
Only OS found this on the front page of the paper on Saturday. It's an AP story, not generated locally. But the editors exercised the choice to put it on the front page, and to leave that little nugget in the fourth paragraph--that little 'should he seek re-election' zinger. This from the folks who breathlessly covered every word and detail of The One's historic salvation of our poor nation, etc. etc.
WASHINGTON — New estimates from the White House on Friday predict the budget deficit will reach a record $1.47 trillion this year. The government is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends.
That's actually a little better than the administration predicted in February.
The new estimates paint a grim unemployment picture as the economy experiences a relatively jobless recovery. The unemployment rate, now averaging 9.5 percent, would average 9 percent next year under the new estimates.
The Office of Management and Budget report has ominous news for President Barack Obama should he seek re-election in 2012: a still-high unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. That would be well above normal, which is closer to a rate of 5.5 percent to 6 percent. Private economists don't think the unemployment rate will drop to that level until well into this decade.
Hello, there!
"The U.S. economy still faces strong headwinds," the OMB report says. They include tight credit markets, a high inventory of unsold housing and retrenchment by state governments bound by balanced-budget mandates. The European debt crisis has also had an impact.
"Despite these headwinds, the administration expects economic growth and job creation to continue for the rest of 2010 and to rise in 2011 and beyond," the report says.
The report lands squarely in the middle of a raging election-year Washington debate about spending and taxes. With millions of Americans still unemployed and with tax cuts enacted during George W. Bush's presidency expiring at the end of this year, Republicans and Democrats are fighting intensely over how to create jobs while saving money.
Both parties are certain to seize upon the new numbers. Republicans have
consistently bashed Democrats for what they call out-of-control spending on things like Obama's stimulus package and the health-care overhaul. Democrats counter that the health-care bill and other initiatives will actually slash the deficit over time and create jobs.
Although the gaping deficits are of increasing concern to voters, Obama and Democrats controlling Congress are mostly taking a pass on deficit reduction this year as they await possible recommendations from his deficit commission.
While there's a slight improvement in the deficit for the current year compared with the administration's February forecast, next year's predicted $1.42 trillion worth of red ink — 37 cents of borrowing for every dollar spent — is looking worse. It's about $150 billion more than previously predicted because of still-slumping tax revenues.
The current record holder is the $1.41 trillion deficit for 2009.
Economists agree that the most important measure of the deficit is against the size of the economy. Many say a deficit of 3 percent of gross domestic product is sustainable since it would stabilize the overall debt when measured relative to the economy.
The report puts the deficit at 10 percent of GDP this year and 9.2 percent of GDP next year. It would never reach the 3 percent figure under Obama's predictions — which underestimate war costs and depend on assumptions of tax hikes that may not materialize.
OMB Director Peter Orszag said the numbers represent a "fiscal situation that requires attention."
Well, yes. Even behind those hallowed desks on Broadway in Nashville, where reality hasn't paid a visit in a long, long, time.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Three Cheers For Orbitz: KLM Airlines Can Go Rot In Perdition Eternally
OS got to spend his Saturday putting out a major fire started by one incompetent gate agent in a small airport in the UK.
It's a long story, too long to tell today. But, it will be told. He plans to begin by telling his story to KLM. If they don't respond appropriately, he'll be telling it in more public forums.
That one incompetent gate agent, by mistakenly denying one passenger a boarding pass, came within inches of blowing up a year's worth of work, and the sacrifices of many families on behalf of their children.
Let us remember, KLM are the folks who allowed the Christmas Day Bomber, traveling one-way from Africa, on a dodgy passport, all tickets paid in cash, to board a plane to Chicago, and come within minutes of killing hundreds of people.
So, we can conclude that KLM policy is: If you're young, Muslim, male and dodgy, you get a boarding pass. If you are female, Christian, middle-aged and respectable, then screw you, lady.
KLM, in short, sucks. And OS, so long as his lungs exchange oxygen, will never ever willingly put a dollar in their pockets. He's had enough bad experiences with them over the years, capped off by this nightmare, to be totally cured of ever booking travel with them again.
Orbitz, on the other hand, through whom the ticket was booked, did yeoman service in straightening out a mess they had no hand in creating. Ditto for Delta, who worked with Orbitz to clean up after the gate agent dropped her pantload on us all.
For today, that's all OS can do. In about ten days time, he'll have time to make KLM his hobby. He'll go through channels first before he goes public. Today, though, he had an epiphany: It is impossible to do business in a business environment that allows one gate agent to hold the entire enterprise hostage.
But, in the meantime, to all his readers around the world: Learn from OS's experience as you consider your next foray into air travel.
Don't get screwed like he was screwed today.
It's a long story, too long to tell today. But, it will be told. He plans to begin by telling his story to KLM. If they don't respond appropriately, he'll be telling it in more public forums.
That one incompetent gate agent, by mistakenly denying one passenger a boarding pass, came within inches of blowing up a year's worth of work, and the sacrifices of many families on behalf of their children.
Let us remember, KLM are the folks who allowed the Christmas Day Bomber, traveling one-way from Africa, on a dodgy passport, all tickets paid in cash, to board a plane to Chicago, and come within minutes of killing hundreds of people.
So, we can conclude that KLM policy is: If you're young, Muslim, male and dodgy, you get a boarding pass. If you are female, Christian, middle-aged and respectable, then screw you, lady.
KLM, in short, sucks. And OS, so long as his lungs exchange oxygen, will never ever willingly put a dollar in their pockets. He's had enough bad experiences with them over the years, capped off by this nightmare, to be totally cured of ever booking travel with them again.
Orbitz, on the other hand, through whom the ticket was booked, did yeoman service in straightening out a mess they had no hand in creating. Ditto for Delta, who worked with Orbitz to clean up after the gate agent dropped her pantload on us all.
For today, that's all OS can do. In about ten days time, he'll have time to make KLM his hobby. He'll go through channels first before he goes public. Today, though, he had an epiphany: It is impossible to do business in a business environment that allows one gate agent to hold the entire enterprise hostage.
But, in the meantime, to all his readers around the world: Learn from OS's experience as you consider your next foray into air travel.
Don't get screwed like he was screwed today.
From Sister Jail: Alejandro Peña Esclusa
OS, not certain why this story hits his buttons the way it does, searched for more news of Alejandro Peña Esclusa, imprisoned by the Chavez regime in Venezuela.
He found this letter, dated 17 July, and attributed to Mr. Pena.
It is obvious that his arrest was not surprise to him.
For two years I have been waiting for my imprisonment, due to the effective work I have been achieving against Mr. Chavez and his allies of the Forum Sao Paulo. In the coming days and weeks, the extent of this work will be disseminated.
Friends and acquaintances, and even fellow UnoAmerica across the continent, insisted I had to leave Venezuela and work from abroad. “From the outside you can be more helpful to the cause, because in prison you’ll be will be given up for lost” they said.
However, I answered: “Venezuela needs leaders willing to sacrifice themselves for their country. So much disappointment and dejection is present that we must provide the country with proof of love for Venezuela. It’s the only way to boost morale among the people” I told them.
I have also restated to my colleagues, that this struggle is not only a political one, but primarily spiritual. A materialist and atheist model cannot be overcome with political recipes; but transcendent values and principles embodied in leaders who with their example instill optimism and hope, can.
There's more at the link--and versions in Spanish,English, and Portugese
OS thinks this merits attention, to see if pressure can be brought to bear. Also, it will serve as a litmus test of the Obama administration's commitment to human rights. Its silence in the face of the human rights tragedies in Iran and Venezuela is pretty deafening. However, on behalf of Gaza, run by Hamas, it is relentless.
Something is deeply amiss.
He found this letter, dated 17 July, and attributed to Mr. Pena.
It is obvious that his arrest was not surprise to him.
For two years I have been waiting for my imprisonment, due to the effective work I have been achieving against Mr. Chavez and his allies of the Forum Sao Paulo. In the coming days and weeks, the extent of this work will be disseminated.
Friends and acquaintances, and even fellow UnoAmerica across the continent, insisted I had to leave Venezuela and work from abroad. “From the outside you can be more helpful to the cause, because in prison you’ll be will be given up for lost” they said.
However, I answered: “Venezuela needs leaders willing to sacrifice themselves for their country. So much disappointment and dejection is present that we must provide the country with proof of love for Venezuela. It’s the only way to boost morale among the people” I told them.
I have also restated to my colleagues, that this struggle is not only a political one, but primarily spiritual. A materialist and atheist model cannot be overcome with political recipes; but transcendent values and principles embodied in leaders who with their example instill optimism and hope, can.
There's more at the link--and versions in Spanish,English, and Portugese
OS thinks this merits attention, to see if pressure can be brought to bear. Also, it will serve as a litmus test of the Obama administration's commitment to human rights. Its silence in the face of the human rights tragedies in Iran and Venezuela is pretty deafening. However, on behalf of Gaza, run by Hamas, it is relentless.
Something is deeply amiss.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thoughts On Friday, No Particular Order
OldSouth sits to collect himself before the non-stop circus of the next ten days begins. Out for a week beginning Sunday, with contractors gutting a portion of the house in his absence. Progress emerges from chaos, hopefully. Won't be much to time think, much less write.
It is stinking hot in Tennessee, and no place of escape. The dogs head out the door for a few minutes, and come in completely spent from a brief circuit around the property.
A wonderful dinner last night in a recently-owned restaurant in our small town. Husband and wife in their thirties, moving in to nest and raise children. A real sign of hope for us all here. They opened a year ago, brave souls, and have survived the first year in good form. There are little signs of progress here and there, in the midst of all the gloomy news. Here's hoping the various levels of government don't drive a stake through the heart of their ambitions.
Much of the past two days has been spent on one academic colleague whining piteously about the unfairness of a world he cannot make bend to his will, from his exalted position at Bugtussle State U. As one friend noted, whiners seems to exhibit incredibly long attention spans.
Still waiting to hear from the members of the Circular Firing Squad, aka the candidates for the Republican primary in the Eighth District.
They are certainly burning copious piles of cash defaming one another.
Away we go.
Fifty words or less, boys, and play nice...
It is stinking hot in Tennessee, and no place of escape. The dogs head out the door for a few minutes, and come in completely spent from a brief circuit around the property.
A wonderful dinner last night in a recently-owned restaurant in our small town. Husband and wife in their thirties, moving in to nest and raise children. A real sign of hope for us all here. They opened a year ago, brave souls, and have survived the first year in good form. There are little signs of progress here and there, in the midst of all the gloomy news. Here's hoping the various levels of government don't drive a stake through the heart of their ambitions.
Much of the past two days has been spent on one academic colleague whining piteously about the unfairness of a world he cannot make bend to his will, from his exalted position at Bugtussle State U. As one friend noted, whiners seems to exhibit incredibly long attention spans.
Still waiting to hear from the members of the Circular Firing Squad, aka the candidates for the Republican primary in the Eighth District.
They are certainly burning copious piles of cash defaming one another.
Away we go.
Fifty words or less, boys, and play nice...
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Listening To The Crickets Chirp: TN 8th District Republican Primary
OldSouth's invitation from yesterday remains open.
Fifty words or less, boys, but play nice.
Why should I vote for you?
Why should the people who read my screed, and live in your district, vote for you?
(Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.)
Fifty words or less, boys, but play nice.
Why should I vote for you?
Why should the people who read my screed, and live in your district, vote for you?
(Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.)
Himself Haz Got Himself A Biiiig-Olllll'e Loozianuh Probluhm
...and it's not headquartered in London, where he can vilify it at a safe distance.
He gots himself a Jindahl problem, native-born, darker-complected than The One, with a track record of competence in a crisis...
and a biiiiiiig score to settle with a President who thinks that it's cool to wage war on his state.
Run, Bobby.
Run!
He gots himself a Jindahl problem, native-born, darker-complected than The One, with a track record of competence in a crisis...
and a biiiiiiig score to settle with a President who thinks that it's cool to wage war on his state.
Run, Bobby.
Run!
Heaven Smiles On The Faithful, After All
This item brings good cheer.
The wonderful churches and cathedrals of the UK are a marvel, a gift from a rich history to our modern day.
Problem is, they're wicked expensive to maintain. Heating to even a minimal level of comfort is daunting. Those Evensongs in February are accompanied by organists in gloves, choristers emitting clouds of vapor, heard by worshippers bundled up to the hilt.
Each and every one of those buildings is also in need of structural work, constantly. They were designed and built with dead-reckoning and chalk lines, impressive pieces of engineering, but time and gravity overcome all human genius, eventually.
Sooo...
From Geoffrey Lean at the Telegraph:
Struggling churches and other religious buildings could get heavenly assistance in meeting the bills – from the sun. New figures produced by British Gas show that they could raise a total of £34 million a year by installing solar panels – quite a help, considering that a quarter of Britain’s 44 dioceses are in the red. Some £29 million of this would come from the government’s new ‘feed in tariffs’ which pay for generating renewable electricity, and the other £5 million in savings from not having to buy power from utilities.
Mosques and most churches are particularly well placed to exploit the power of the sun as – since they face East, to Mecca and Jerusalem respectively – they have large south-facing roofs, ideally suited to trapping the maximum amount of solar energy. In the process, British Gas adds, they could boost attempts to combat climate change by saving up to 42,000 tons of carbon a year, equivalent to what is emitted by more than 600 transatlantic flights. And, presumably, this could provide just the right way to meet all those appeals to raise money to repair the church roof.
It strikes OS that the path to energy independence from the bad people with oil, like the Saudis and Iranians won't actually be a straight line, or one top-down solution, but rather hundreds upon hundreds of small solutions, all walking in the same direction. Sort of like how a properly functioning marketplace works.
OS met an engineer this week who lives in an even smaller town than his own. He designs and builds equipment that makes solar panel installation much easier to achieve, and quietly makes a good living at it.
There are solutions out there. They just don't involve hijacking the entirety of the economy to work.
The wonderful churches and cathedrals of the UK are a marvel, a gift from a rich history to our modern day.
Problem is, they're wicked expensive to maintain. Heating to even a minimal level of comfort is daunting. Those Evensongs in February are accompanied by organists in gloves, choristers emitting clouds of vapor, heard by worshippers bundled up to the hilt.
Each and every one of those buildings is also in need of structural work, constantly. They were designed and built with dead-reckoning and chalk lines, impressive pieces of engineering, but time and gravity overcome all human genius, eventually.
Sooo...
From Geoffrey Lean at the Telegraph:
Struggling churches and other religious buildings could get heavenly assistance in meeting the bills – from the sun. New figures produced by British Gas show that they could raise a total of £34 million a year by installing solar panels – quite a help, considering that a quarter of Britain’s 44 dioceses are in the red. Some £29 million of this would come from the government’s new ‘feed in tariffs’ which pay for generating renewable electricity, and the other £5 million in savings from not having to buy power from utilities.
Mosques and most churches are particularly well placed to exploit the power of the sun as – since they face East, to Mecca and Jerusalem respectively – they have large south-facing roofs, ideally suited to trapping the maximum amount of solar energy. In the process, British Gas adds, they could boost attempts to combat climate change by saving up to 42,000 tons of carbon a year, equivalent to what is emitted by more than 600 transatlantic flights. And, presumably, this could provide just the right way to meet all those appeals to raise money to repair the church roof.
It strikes OS that the path to energy independence from the bad people with oil, like the Saudis and Iranians won't actually be a straight line, or one top-down solution, but rather hundreds upon hundreds of small solutions, all walking in the same direction. Sort of like how a properly functioning marketplace works.
OS met an engineer this week who lives in an even smaller town than his own. He designs and builds equipment that makes solar panel installation much easier to achieve, and quietly makes a good living at it.
There are solutions out there. They just don't involve hijacking the entirety of the economy to work.
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