This week I’m going to cover stories that answer the question, “Are we really this naive?” All week I’m going to blog about recent news stories that frankly I just don’t get.

• Today we’ll discuss unplugging from the grid,
• Tuesday it will be about Black Friday shoppers,
• Wednesday the Des Moines Police Departments ride-along policy,
• Thursday is me griping about the insurance industry and how we are all being scammed; followed by
• Friday’s stock market report on how stupid the CEO’s think stockholders really are.

I’ve been asking myself why when so much tax revenue is derived from energy sales, why would they ever allow us to unplug from the grid. I’m doubtful the government is serious about solar and other alternative energy proposals. It appears to me that just calling solar energy an alternative energy implies something of it being of lesser value. Alternative seems to imply something other than normal or something less than the best we have to offer. Maybe that’s why they refer to it as the “Alternative High School”. Assuming alternative energy will never be adopted on a massive scale is there a place for it that makes economic sense to the taxpayers?

Let's assume for the sake of argument that green energy will never reach the taxpayers directly because to do so would reduce the largess politicians have to influence their power base. Assuming that to be the case what limited place do alternative sources have to save taxpayer dollars. There is no reason why government can't get all its energy needs filled by renewable energy. Any reoccurring expense the government has for energy needs should be by a renewable source and energy is probably one of the largest expenses. So why not start there and then see where we go?

• City Hall electrical needs.
• City street lights.
• Traffic lights and signs.
• City library electrical needs.
• Public school systems.
• City car fleets.

There are ways to save taxpayer dollars and I've suggested a few; certainly you have a few ideas of your own. I’ve been wondering why governments don’t have websites where taxpayers could suggest ways to save money. Do you think once elected politicians don’t want to save money; instead they want to grow their power base by spending on projects their campaign contributors can be rewarded. And that's what I don't get, why do we continue to put up with this?

See you tomorrow.