Anonymous Posting, Vic Sprouse, and Gary Abernathy

What once was old is new again.

Look back at the newspapers from the 1790s. Few of them actually reported much news. For the most part they hurled accusations back and forth between the dominant parties and personalities of their times. Occasionally they produced some literary gems, such as the Federalist Papers, but more often they gave to posterity some really fun scandal and insult filled stuff.

In those days no one gave their actual name. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym "Publius." Most who paid attention could discern through the writing style and ideas who was who. Certainly this was fine in the 1790s, but how about today?

This subject has come up in the debate over the State Republican Party and its hiring of Gary Abernathy as executive director. An anonymous blog called Not Gary Abernathy.com appeared almost immediately to blast the selection and hiring process. State Senator Vic Sprouse on his own blog, Change West Virginia, fired back on Abernathy's behalf. Both of these blogs allow reader commentary. The opinions stated have ranged from thoughtful to vicious.

The question is, how legitimate in this day and age is a blog or a comment from a person that refuses to reveal their name? The author of Not Gary Abernathy.com has cryptically promised that his identity will be known in good time, kind of like a B movie super villain. Why not now?

Others have taken the opportunity to level anonymous cheap shots at Vic Sprouse and Gary Abernathy. When a person does put their name to something, they take a risk and open themselves to attack. That certainly takes some guts when there are so many waiting in the dark simply wanting to tear down. No name posting does not help the case of anyone indulging in it.

Should Republicans with complaints stifle their concerns? Of course not. We are a big tent party and will always have disagreements. It is obvious why those with solely a personal axe to grind do not show themselves. They will always lurk in the shadows. Should "Not Gary Abernathy" reveal him or herself? That is for that individual to decide. Except in the case of Lisa Peana, he or she has not often descended to the level of personal attack. Regardless, credibility will always be more favorably conferred upon those that take their political battle into the light of day rather than hide behind fake names or no name at all.

The Future Is Now

The University of Delaware has just developed a prototype vehicle that may be the answer to rising fuel costs for small cities, businesses, and college campuses.

The V2G, or vehicle to grid, propulsion system for automobiles was created by Willett Kempton who has been refining this technology for over a decade. Kempton actually powers a Scion with this engine. The Scion is a hideous vehicle, but it is the size of a small SUV. This means that such an engine could probably run a moderately sized pickup truck, minivan, or SUV if the conventional engine and gas tank are removed. It runs on a battery that works as an energy sponge. It absorbs power from the grid when plugged in. If the battery contains excess power, it flows back into the power grid. This reduces strain upon the power system which from time to time sees its own fluctuations.

Right now the battery requires two hours to charge and has a range of 150 miles. This means that families cannot yet rely on it for vacations. However automobile fleets maintained by small towns, local busineses, or college campuses could utilize this type of engine and save money on fuel. Families can also benefit by purchasing an electric car for local use and a gasoline powered one for longer trips.

Over time, these types of vehicles will gain more power and range. Owners have already started turning to hybrids. The current electric power system cannot handle a massive demand surge for electric power that a jump in the number of electric vehicles will create. Expansion of coal, wind, and hydroelectric power now is essential to anticipate this demand. If electric vehicles are an answer to large segments of the market, then we must start preparing for it.

Conservatives are not anti-environment. We simple prefer that market solutions be allowed to occur instead of governmnet imposed ones. Conservatives also favor balancing the needs of the environment against the needs of people, rather than denying human beings what they need to prosper. The market will demand alternate energy sources as the price of oil moves more and more out of reach. This prototype developed by the University of Delaware could be a market solution to this market problem.

People are mad

I have been talking to a lot of my clients about the economy and their concerns. People are mad. To make it worse, noone seems to know who to blame. People who went along with blaming big tobacco for cigarettes, big oil for gas prices.