Remember Martin Luther King, Jr. (2012)

A year ago, I wrote an entry: Remember Martin Luther King Jr & his efforts. Since then I have periodically reflected on how a particular circumstance met with the specifications of my entry. I have since realized that more could have been said. But it cannot all be addressed in a single post. Nevertheless, I will post here an excerpt of what another blogger wrote in his observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday:

The quote from Bingham speaking to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia:

"We are deliberating here today upon a bill which illustrates the great principle that this day shakes the throne of every despot upon the globe, and that is, whether man was made for government or government made for man. Those who oppose this bill, whether they intend it or not, by recording their votes against this enactment, reiterate the old dogma of tyrants, that the people are made to be governed and not to govern. I deny that proposition. I deny it because all my convictions are opposed to it. I deny it because I am sure that the Constitution of my country is against it."

For individual empowerment to freely operate, men must govern and not be governed.

I would add that in order for one to govern appropriately, one needs to develop & nurture the critical intellect. 

One can argue that an idea is one of the largest causes of death of man in the world. And only a person with a well developed critical intellect can sort through the issues to fully grasp this meaning. But, if one were to agree with this assertion, then it is incumbent on the individual to ensure that the idea they are advocating is well founded. I say this because I have witnessed (all too frequently) a person advocating a particular approach substantiated by a particular philosophy. Only to then take action against something that outright rejected that same underlying philosophy. This sends a conflicting message and can be undermining of one's efforts. One can work against such occurrences by instituting a process (similar to the concept of checks and balances) that I call the "reasonability test" where one assesses their approach for reasonableness. Those who fail the reasonability test take the soft-minded approach.

"A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

How Solar Power Considerations Factor in Today's Economic Climate

With contemporary political discourse focused on the recent deficit cuts & debt ceiling issues, the mainstream news media happily covered the drama. And recent volatility in the markets had everyone wondering back & forth about the possibility of a another recession. But one thing that popped up from time to time during the debt ceiling debates was discussion of how troubling the lack of focus on the number one priority (JOBS) became as the debates dragged on. It seems that we cannot focus long enough on the number one priority (JOBS) before something else occurs to take our eyes off of it.

JOBS afterall is allegedly the cure-all to what ails us in this sluggish economic recovery. And the lack of it is what threatens us sliding into another downturn. Meanwhile, corporations are sitting on large reserves of cash, not adding JOBS, & have been quite content to reap the rewards of increased productivity. The reason for the cash pile up, by the way, is related to current economic trends (read more here) and is not a sinister attempt to undermine the economy. Anyhow, the unemployed ranks haven't changed much resulting in discouragement from this population segment & this fact further complicates the economic scenario. So, this begets the question: What do we do to change the current trends?

Well, I think there are many paths that can lead us there and it will not be one thing. Nevertheless, one of the ideas that I think is a positive consideration for Corporate America is to tap into some of that cash reserve to purchase & install solar power on their property or buildings across the country. This can mobilize idle labor capacity in the construction industry and the benefits of this undertaking can be magnified by using solar panels & other materials manufactured in the USA.

It is easy to sit back and talk about solar power as a thing of the future, as some tend to do. But doing nothing & having discussions with no follow on action will achieve little or nothing. Actions speak louder than words & insufficient activity in that arena is screaming way too loudly now for us to sit idly by. And, if we fall into the trap of speaking about solar power that way, then we will have to get used to speaking of economic recovery as a thing of the future this same way too.

Here is some interesting points on solar power:

1. Solar power can provide reliable power for over 30 years & are manufacture warrantied for 25-30 years to a minimum of 80% of its rated power.
2. The amount of sunlight that hits the Earth's surface in one hour is enough to power the entire world for a year.
3. Solar panel technology is very versatile & only limited by one's imagination.
4. It is inappropriate to analyze solar power investments as a short term investment with attendant short term expectations.
5. Solar power can act as a hedge against future price increases.
6. Solar panel installation can hold the line on business cost growth into the future much the same way Southwest Airlines purchased fuel contracts.
7. Calculating the investment in solar power in terms of kilowatt-hours yields an optimal evaluation of the effectiveness of the technology. For example, in the solar sunbelt, the full installed cost (non-subsidized) of a grid tied solar power system can be about $0.17/kWh. Incentives can bring it down below $0.10/kWh to as low as $0.05/kWh.
8. Aggregating electric power costs over a 30-year horizon with typical price escalation provides the perspective needed to compare with taking action on solar power.
9. Solar panel installation can provide jobs to current idle labor from the construction industry.
10. Solar panel manufacturers & other component manufacturers can benefit from locally made purchases, including adding jobs.
11. These endeavors can be endearing to your customers. And marketing can create an allure to your brand.
12. Solar panel installation can be designed & installed to overcome concerns about natural occurrences such as snow loading, hurricane winds, earthquakes, etc.
13. Sustainability investing is essential to creating long-term shareholder value.
14. Our society is demanding a sustainable, responsible, response to the JOBS crisis in America.

Strategy is "the allocation of resources to increase shareholder value in an economically efficient way." And in a corporation, the board of directors, as a body, has a fiduciary responsibility for the decisions they make with regard to corporate assets and the rights of shareholders. So, our business leaders know these things and are adept at sorting through these issues. But, in an online McKinsey Quarterly interview of David Blood & Al Gore published in May 2007, David mentions some key points that makes the case for a more long-term view in creating long-term shareholder value that I think is critical to overcoming the relative inactivity in solar power integration by our major corporations. He mentions firstly that

"...it is best practice to take a long-term approach to investing. We think that the focus on “short termism” in the marketplace is detrimental to economies, detrimental to value creation, detrimental to capital markets, and a bad investment strategy. It’s common corporate-finance knowledge that something on the order of 60 to 80 percent of the value of a business lies in its long-term cash flows. And if you’re investing with a short-term horizon you’re giving up the value creation of a business.

Secondly, 

"...the context of business is clearly changing. We are now confronting the limits of our ecological system, and at the same time societal expectations of business are widening. On top of that, multinational businesses are oftentimes better positioned than governments to deal with some of the most complicated global challenges, such as climate change, HIV/AIDS, water scarcity, and poverty. Technology and communications have changed, and we’ve reached a point where civil society is now demanding a response from business."

I think these points touch on much of the exasperated sentiment that is an undercurrent of today's debate and is too often missed. Some of the issues relating to unemployment is cyclical & some of it is structural. It is very apparent that "short termism" has wreaked havoc on most households & continues to be woeful to our broader society. Meanwhile, government is mired in highly charged political debates and lack the will to do what is necessary. But, what can typically be overcome by government actions usually addresses the cyclical. However, the structural is persistent and business is better positioned than government to deal with this complicated challenge. This is where our conversation needs to pivot from the fight about government spending and onto the number one priority JOBS.

You Can Install Solar Today! How would you like to start today?

Sol Oriens Providens

Remember Martin Luther King Jr & his efforts

Back in 1947, Martin Luther King Jr argued that the critical intellect requires moral development. It is clear this still holds true even today. "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education." You can find his article here.

I point this out because today's political debate is far too often lacking in intensive thought, critical thinking, and moral quality. And it has been so for some time. It aslo pervades more than just the political debate. Incompetence and malfeasance seem to abound just as much and can only amplify these problems.

Anyhow, these all point back to education as a source of this deficiency. And, specifically, statistics have shown that the US has been declining in math & science educational achievements compared against other nations in the world. These two subjects are especially crucial for developing critical thinking skills. You can understand more about why I think that here (click through the links a bit). Developing a moral character is more tricky. However, one can argue that in the tradition of academia, truth exists objectively and we are not individually in possession of the truth -- but seek it. And one can improve their moral character by observing these traditions of academia. Maintaining objectivity is tough. But gaining the ability & insights to sort through issues can come from a more robust education in science and mathematics. Thus leading to improved ability to maintain objectivity. Maintaining objectivity, is important to one's internal locus of control because it enables a strong moral character.

These subjects can improve the discussion for the following reasons. For one, science & math education can lead to the ability to understand and build a logical argument. Secondly, these subjects provide a foundation and even different processes that can be utilized. For example, the scientific method has a framework that can be adopted for use in the one's daily discourse. And if one were to follow it individually, one may find the quality of thought and even conclusions drawn improving.

Finally, I have always thought of what we do as a nation, as being done in striving for excellence. And I have always figured that individually, we strive to ensure it is so. I think we can take education more seriously. And I also think we can do better at heeding the true goal of education -- "intelligence plus character." The spirit of achieving excellence demands this!

Pursuit of Happiness

The other day I watched Pursuit of Happyness Starring Will Smith et al on TV and it struck me at how ignoble the protagonist's wife responded to the lack of happiness in their life. The protagonist told her how weak she was on account of her inability to cope with the lack of happiness. What she didn't get... What he got... was that it's a pursuit... not something you get & hold onto... And what of the journey? There will certainly be ups and downs. And believe it or not; it is healthy to experience the full spectrum of human emotions. How are you responding to tough times?!

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan press on has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave." -- (John) Calvin Coolidge 30th President of the United States

energy shouldn't be... STRUGGLE

Energy shouldn't be struggle. But it is.

We come into sparse contact with the production of energy such that it is out of sight & thus out of mind. It is often an afterthought until we have to pay a bill, fill a tank, etc. But we pay very close attention when events create a higher state of awareness. For example, a power outage, hurricane damage, fires, earthquakes, other natural disasters, shortages, price hikes, oil spills, coal mine explosions, refinery fires, etc.

A few years (2005) back in South Florida, there were three hurricanes that hit the area: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, & Wilma. At this point my growing interest in energy related matters was already about a year old. And I'd have conversations about these issues. As a result of these storms, many local residents lost power. Some for a few days. Others for a few weeks. These storms came through at a time of rising gasoline prices at the backdrop. And after storms, there would be long lines at gas stations for fuel & at supermarkets for ice. It can be tough as we've all grown accustomed to having these things. But losing it gives us the ready reference of appreciation.

Anyhow, an acquaintance shared how he was uncanny in being able to avoid much of the chaos. He told of how he had two generators that was sufficient to run the refrigerator, lights, & a couple of fans. He ran them 12 hours at a time switching them out to change the oil & refueling a few times during the course of operation. At the time gas prices were around $3 per gallon and the talk was of it reaching $5 per gallon. It never did. So, this acquaintance told of how he filled up his boat he had in the backyard with fuel before the storm to help weigh it down for the storm & to have fuel for the generator in the event of power loss. Lucky him. Two generators and a readily available, headache free fuel source. He ran this routine for the 5 days he was without power.

So naturally, interested in how this translated in dollar terms, I started asking pointed questions of how much it cost. He was also interested because he thought it was such a great feat to have power and avoid these harrowing lines. After much discussion, we discovered that for changing the oil, filter, & refueling the generators (@ abt $3/Gal), he spent the equivalent of $300 in 5 days. Multiplying this daily amount ($60/day) by 30 days equates to $1,800 per month. His typical monthly electric bill was $250.

What does all of this say?

In a time of need, he was willing to pay over 7 times ($1,800/$250 = 7.2) his normal electric bill to power a portion of his electrical needs. He didn't think about the cost, he knew he just needed power for his "basic power needs."

Why is this important?

We all take it for granted that we will always have readily available energy sources. And, at times, we don't always act responsibly with it and waste it. We also know how it impacts our daily lives & the environment. And we talk about making changes. Yet the only thing that has changed is perhaps the seriousness of the dialog. Change has been slow, lethargic even. Many talk about these issues but few are really equipped to sort through all the issues to even understand the complexities of the energy debate. And the layperson doesn't have time to get into technical details of what's what. The need as illustrated in my story is very clear. The need to act is unquestionable.

We sell & install solar in South Florida and here is some of what we hear:

It's the future.
The price needs to come down.
The government needs to do more to help.
I want to put solar panels on my home.
I'm tired of waiting.
I want to do my part.

When you're in business to supply solar panels & installation, and not enough folks are buying. You cannot justify staying in business. So, it shouldn't be any surprise that some have already closed their business. No one wants to be a statistic. VES will be okay because we have a robust mix of offerings. But, with these mixed consumer signals, it leaves one to wonder:

When will the need for solar be very clear?
When will we need solar enough to just act?

The promise of a clean energy future can be fleeting. And Energy shouldn't be struggle. But it is.

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

When the incentives are such that it pushes you in the wrong direction, you can take a step back and say: "No this isn't right" and stop & change course. But when you see that many are being rewarded for complicity, it makes it all the more tougher the next time. That knaws at your conscience. Over time, diffusion of responsiblilty in a bureacratic environment makes it easy to rationalize doing something whether right/wrong/borderline. And that gives rise to such events as recent bank failures, malfeasance, oil spills, etc. Even so, many would agree that some bad actors got off scottfree and even rewarded with bonuses.

Yea, yea...Life's messed up...big deal... right?

Shirley Sherrod, stood before an audience and gave an honest assessment of her past experiences with racism, how it affected her, and how she overcame it. And her remarks were taken out of context resulting in a political whirlwind. She was, in short, being persecuted for her honesty. Just about everyone knows the story about how snap judgements were being made, etc... lack of due process... and on and on...

While all of this was going on a few things came to mind. They're disjointed thoughts that you can link yourself. Here they are:
1) When someone is being honest about something, take a moment to ensure you're not persecuting them for their honesty. There is a difference between a well meant shortcoming and blatant malfeasance. Also keep in mind, we make it too easy to lie & cheat vs stand tall and tell the truth. I have found that telling the truth is the most disarming way to diffuse a situation. In the end, we are humans continually striving for perfection and continually falling short of it.

2) Gone are the days when a Captain goes down with his ship. And his biggest care is against damage to the ship, cargo, & harm to his crew. Gone are the days... Today, one can run a ship aground, hurt some people in the process and walk off that ship and go to another job with minimal consequences to deal with... In my youth, that didn't exist even as a notion...at least that I was aware at the time.

3) When I was a Plebe at USNA, we used to read inspiring citation stories about brave warriors... you'd hear phrases like: "going above and beyond the call of duty," "reflecting good credit upon him/herself, unit, ...," and so many more! A few of my classmates exemplified this in Iraq & Afghanistan. Why can't we celebrate this more?! Why do we have to tear each other down and cast aspersions upon one another?! Why do we have to talk so much about all these negative stories?! Why?!

4) I've been exposed to many types of injustices. And I've been exposed to very, very, very, very, very, very mild forms of racism a couple of times. Of all the forms of injustices I've experienced, it is one of the most unhinging experiences. I lost all mental coherency and shut down. Don't do that to a person. It's undignified, manipulative, and unfair.

5) Until we alter the course, we'll keep heading straight for where we're going... DO YOU WANT THAT TO BE SO?

Pass A Clean Energy Plan Today!

Brigadier General Steven Anderson (Ret.), Chief of Logistics in Iraq under General David Petraeus, calls for the U.S. Senate to pass a Clean Energy plan. He says, "Our troops are getting killed moving fuel we wouldn't need if our military was more efficient -- and our enemies know we're hooked on their oil?. That's why breaking our addiction must not only be a military priority, but America's mission, and why the Senate needs to pass a clean energy climate plan."

Anderson's call for more energy independence and a move off of fossil fuels is the latest in a steady stream of both active and retired military calling for a clean energy revolution.