NH State Rep Leigh Webb (D): “The role of government is to legislate behavior“
And yes, when Government legislates that YOU will give to SOMEONE ELSE your money, of course they’ll be happy! But is it FAIR that a few benefit from the many? Instead of paying for something themselves? Why should Government be creating an environment where its citizens must use game theory against each other? From the Union Leader (reformatted, emphasis mine):
HANOVER — Solarize Hanover plans to begin work on 62 installations soon, which is the equivalent of permanently removing 65 cars from the road, Town Manager Julia N. Griffin said Thursday. Launched in October, Solarize Hanover’s goal is to dramatically increase the solar-electric or photovoltaic residential and small-business installations in Hanover by offering a group purchasing plan to obtain volume-based price reductions and unique networking opportunities to simplify the process of installing a solar system. It is part of a larger solar project, Solarize Upper Valley, which is coordinated by local nonprofit Vital Communities.
Non-profit, yes? So they actively went out to the Hanover community to get private pledges to get this done, eh? THAT’S the NH spirit – local activism, local resources, local “sustainability”. So what is this all about – and where did the money come from? From private donations, you say? No???
… “We were really pleased with the response. I think it’s exceeded our expectations. We are excited that we did as many site visits as were did and to have 62 signed contracts,” Griffin said. “It was sort of a dash to the finish with only 25 people signed up a week away from the deadline. It was amazing how many people waited till the last minute to sign on the dotted line.” Griffin said a “powerful combination” of state’s solar rebate and the federal tax credit made a huge difference in people’s decision to go forward with installing solar.
Well of COURSE free money is a powerful lure – why wouldn’t it? Isn’t that the new American way – be knowledgeable as to the “loopholes” in Government to know where other peoples’ money can leak out into your wallet (yeah, the Left is always wailing about “loopholes” that simply allow people to keep the money THEY earned, but certain as in this story, not about the “loopholes” that allow people to grab other peoples money. Oh wait – IT’S THE SAME THING going both ways!).
And how MUCH is Town Manager Julia Griffin going to benefit from this, knowing about this loophole?
“Two great programs. Sadly, the federal tax credit goes away in the next year,” Griffin said. “The state rebate is subject to decisions of the legislature on a bi-annual basis.”
Griffin and her husband signed up for a typical residential installation, with a proposed cost of $20,000. After the state and federal incentives, however, it will only be about $13,000. “When you get down to that level of cost, you really can begin to calculate the savings in your electricity costs,” she said, adding that it goes a long way toward the home improvement loan a person may take out to fund a project like this. “My personal residence, for example, the payback period is about eight-and-a-half to 10 years.”
So, $7K. Nothing untoward here – she’s playing by the rules set by government. As an insider to government, she certainly knows them. But not once does she “thank” the other citizens that were coerced in “donating” to her solar panels. Instead, she laments the fact that others like her won’t be able to get even more to pay for their systems (re:”the federal tax credit goes away in the next year”). Yes, this is real money to pay for real solar panels.
And I’m sure that a lot of that money is coming from people that could never afford the $13K payment to get the $7K “donations”.
Is it fair that some have the fruit of their labor taken from them simply to give to others? Did Town Manager Griffin ever think in those terms (as town governments work in this manner all the time – taxes pay for services & for the mandated charity that is doled out in their budgets).
Taxes, I’m told, is the price of civilization; is this the Proper Role of Government? I wonder how this would be rationalized over just paying for the solar panels themselves? After all, this is a luxury item, not a necessity. And why is this such a good idea to violate the Right to Private Property?
