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Will People Lose Their Jobs if We Switch to Using More Alternative Energies?

Brenda Sprankle at Rodeo Realty in California asks as very tough question with regards to alternative energy;

"Do you know how many people would be out of jobs or how much tax revenue would be

lost if we didn't have to pay the electric company or the gas company or the water company?"

Well these of course are Utility Companies regulated by the government and are not actually government agencies at all as you know, they appear to be quasi-government agencies like the USPS or IRS, but the Water, Power, Gas companies are not. If they had to compete, they would become more efficient and perhaps make more money and perhaps they might lay off some folks, but efficiency and competition would lower prices.

pollution

California, botched the deregulation of energy pretty badly, due to stupidity in my opinion, at least that is the view at our Online Think Tank. De-regulation has done wonders for other industries; Airlines, Shipping, Trucking for instance - it has lowered prices, protectionism and regulation amounts to what Adam Smith warned us about. Ayn Rand is right on that account as well, and the author of Das Capital was dead wrong, I think Milton Friedman would stand by me on this.

politics

So whereas there might be some layoffs in the beginning of such a shift to more alternative energy usage, you will find overtime that it will create jobs and lower costs to consumers. Indeed, a deregulated energy sector will be more efficient and more profitable and in the end everyone will win. Protectionism has its price and those prices are too high for my blood.

Posted by Lance Winslow on 12/30/2007 04:28 AM

Comments (8)

ayn rand, milton friedman, das capital, blood, protectionism, energy, alternative energy, grid, free enterprise

8 Comments on Will People Lose Their Jobs if We Switch to Using More Alternative Energies?

DEC

2007

Yes I agree, It may be expensive at first to rebuild these plants but in the long run it would be a great payoff to the consumer as well as the environment.

Thank you,

Hi Lance, studies show that by using alternative energy..it could possible creat more jobs. Mary Bigelow has some great statistics on this and I have been contemplating writing a post on this very subject. IF the materials are manufactured HERE, it would help greatly in that respect.

Let us know if you come across any more research.

Stephanie,

Indeed all the research we find also point to the fact that more jobs would be created and lower costs to consumers would result in the long run. - Lance.

DEC

2007

It would re-distribute jobs, resulting in a net increase of employment, regardless of where the materials are manufactured.

I like the way you think Lance!

Lance, Look a bit more into utilities, they come in many shapes and sizes. Southern California Edison is a very different beast than L.A.D.W.P. Municipal utilities are actually government entities and if managed as such can do a much better job of serving the consumers for the price. Energy co-ops are even a different thing. Co-operation is an even better approach than competition, Municipally owned utilities that are not run for profit but to serve the municipality can be a great answer. If they are managed right. The old DWP was. Rearden oversaw a huge change in the thought behind the DWP and I think did a huge dis-service to the people of the LA area. I could not agree more with you that the way deregulation was done was awful for the people. Davis never had a clue what hit him. Don't get me started...

As for the real question, the fact that "The Oil Men" love to talk about the huge cost of alternative energy, is evidence in itself that people should look beyond the quick sound bite arguments. How many more jobs will be created developing, advancing, installing, and maintaining the systems, that are mostly domestically made (and if we spend the money, more will be) this not only creates jobs, but spurs the founding and growth of small businesses, as opposed to funneling unthinkably huge record profits into the coffers of the richest few ultra rich. It comes down to whether you have faith in trickle down economics. I for one have faith in stirring it up, Not hoping that the ultra rich let some of it trickle down!

Thanks for posting this question. We all need to answer this in our lives.

The argument of losing jobs is an old one and seems to come up with any change in our "system", "way of life", etc.

Advancement almost always means that somethings will be on their way out while others will prosper. And then there are always going to be a few that some how seem to hang in between both of those worlds by making some changes and diversifying.

Think of how many more people the car industry employs verses what the buggy manufactures employed. Not only does the new technology create new areas of expertise, new jobs, and more needs (i.e.: rubber for tires, metal workers, computer tech for cars, gas, roads, etc.), but it also usually means that more and more consumers are going to be using these products. For example, what percentage of the world used or owned their own buggy verses how many homes have multiple "buggies" or cars today? And home many industries does the auto industry effect and employ verses the old buggy?

So although I hate to see people lose their jobs it is a part of progress, and always has been. You can only hope that whoever someone is working for is employed by someone who is diversified and ready to take the future on rather than just crumble and fall apart when the inevitable change does happen.

Just another point of view. Reality happens :)

DJ Breckheimer
www.djBreck.com

OCT

2008

I am not finding what I am looking for here!!!

Well now, Sierra, why not shoot me an email and I will discuss it at further length, we have plenty of back up at our online think tank. www.worldthinktank.net or you can email me at; lance (at-) car wash guys (dot-) (com-)

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