[RightOnTheBorder]

If someone is disconnected from the grid he should never have to pay anything to an electric utility. However anyone who choses to remain connected to the grid, even if he uses no electricity, should have to pay his share of the installation and maintenance of the infrastructure. It would only be extortion if one were forced to be connected.

[familyop]

"If someone is disconnected from the grid he should never have to pay anything to an electric utility. However anyone who choses to remain connected to the grid, even if he uses no electricity, should have to pay his share of the installation and maintenance of the infrastructure."

That's fair enough. Is there a minimum charge for customers connected to the grid but not using it? I remember that at least some natural gas companies do it that way. If so, that would appear to be the proper amount. It's what the other customers pay.

"It would only be extortion if one were forced to be connected."

Or forced to pay without being connected, but the essence of your good argument stands.

I believe this is related, too. We really don't produce enough useful things on American soil, and that is one of the causes of mounting government debts, another cause being excessive government spending. Before long, many people employed by the government will be laid off. And bond investors won't take haircuts alone, so many pensioners from various levels of government will take them, too. When government debt becomes too risky for investment, government will only have real revenues from U.S. production to rely on.

The stoppage of spending from debt will result in a slower economy, and a vicious cycle will begin. Many people who are current producing nothing of real value should prepare themselves for the layoffs instead of looking for more ways to rob the populace.

The majority of unemployed people who once comprised most of our true private sector have nothing to take and should be left to rebuild. They are the real producers, and many of them are doing all that they can to begin producing again on their own, when again, nothing will stand in the way of their attempts to start small manufacturing shops (zoning, fees, other local regulations against productive activities).