Moving to the 1st world

[Redneck in training]

The freedoms I see in the US are amazing, and the opportunities to "live the American dream" are what I wish we had in Africa.

I don't want to sound cynical but American dream is a myth. It takes three generations to achieve it. The first generation works very hard but is hardly making it. The second generation is better educated and while still not rich it entrenches itself in a middle class. The third generation lives the American dream. They either add to what parents achieved or they just blow it. There are exceptions though. With some luck, determination and few right decision, it can be done in one generation.
We have many freedoms in the US but to enjoy them takes money. You don't want to be poor in the USA.
And yes there are many places where people don't lock cars, houses etc. If I would have to lock my house or have to have a gun for self-defence I would sell the house and move to another place.

 

[Zerk]

The movement in the USA against connected-to-grid solar is to lower the credit given or refuse any credit whatsoever for power pushed back onto the grid.

I work in the energy industry. While unpopular with solar people, I think they should either not take it or give a poor rate.

First, they probably don't want your power. 2nd people with solar want the grid when they need it, or they would go without. They are not contributing to it's upkeep, and as a customer of the grid, I have to pay their share. The line is to their house wether they use it or not.

Also I am sure they would expect a lineman their right away if their poles go down. Maybe if they could be treated as 2nd class citizens, and go to bottom of list.

In WI they were buying power, I think their is sunset clause that is or will be kicking in, changing the structure. They were buying it for political reasons.


But if people don't like it, get batteries and cut the cord. See how electricity really works, see that they want power 24/7, 365 days a year.

Myself, I will pay $100 a month, nothing to worry about. I can do math.

Immigration is strict but it is a free for all regarding refugees.

Maybe not for refugees, but I believe there is $200 fee to apply.

 

[Zerk]

I don't want to sound cynical but American dream is a myth. It takes three generations to achieve it. The first generation works very hard but is hardly making it. The second generation is better educated and while still not rich it entrenches itself in a middle class. The third generation lives the American dream. They either add to what parents achieved or they just blow it. There are exceptions though. With some luck, determination and few right decision, it can be done in one generation.
We have many freedoms in the US but to enjoy them takes money. You don't want to be poor in the USA.
And yes there are many places where people don't lock cars, houses etc. If I would have to lock my house or have to have a gun for self-defence I would sell the house and move to another place.

I disagree with you.

It is more likely the second generation will be better off. Not sure why it takes a third. But even the first generation has a chance. Save up money and buy a house and car, which to me is the American dream, and probably better than where they came from.

Ya they may not be able to buy a house in some areas, but that is a problem for most Americans.


Freedoms take money???? You need to read the Consitution, or read about other countries. Sure money helps everything, but we are born free.

For instance Justin Beber is forced on the Canadians by the laws of their country, and broadcast system. We have freedom.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I work in the energy industry. While unpopular with solar people, I think they should either not take it or give a poor rate.

First, they probably don't want your power. 2nd people with solar want the grid when they need it, or they would go without. They are not contributing to it's upkeep, and as a customer of the grid, I have to pay their share. The line is to their house wether they use it or not.

Also I am sure they would expect a lineman their right away if their poles go down. Maybe if they could be treated as 2nd class citizens, and go to bottom of list.

In WI they were buying power, I think their is sunset clause that is or will be kicking in, changing the structure. They were buying it for political reasons.


But if people don't like it, get batteries and cut the cord. See how electricity really works, see that they want power 24/7, 365 days a year.

Myself, I will pay $100 a month, nothing to worry about. I can do math.


Maybe not for refugees, but I believe there is $200 fee to apply.

The power pushed back onto the grid goes next door. How much grid maintenance can there be going next door from the same pole?

 

[Zerk]

The power pushed back onto the grid goes next door. How much grid maintenance can there be going next door from the same pole?

This shows how you are missing the point.

You go buy a car, you have to make the payment if you drive it, or it sits in the driveway.

As a customer you are supporting the entire system, in some way. Not just wire to your house. You want power if yours doesn't produce. You want a worker to maintain the lines.


No customer is just paying, for a 50 yards of cable to their house. You have lines going for miles and miles. Do you think the guy where the line first stops after the substation should pay for the first 5 miles, and you the next 50 yards?


If you don't like, cut the cord. But obviously they think it has a value being hooked to the grid, but they just don't want to pay for it.

 

[Zerk]

Not quite this simple. But think of the meter fee as contributing to the system, and KWH as paying for fuel to make what you used. You may not be paying for gas if you don't drive your car, but you still have to pay for the car.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

This shows how you are missing the point.

You go buy a car, you have to make the payment if you drive it, or it sits in the driveway.

As a customer you are supporting the entire system, in some way. Not just wire to your house. You want power if yours doesn't produce. You want a worker to maintain the lines.


No customer is just paying, for a 50 yards of cable to their house. You have lines going for miles and miles. Do you think the guy where the line first stops after the substation should pay for the first 5 miles, and you the next 50 yards?


If you don't like, cut the cord. But obviously they think it has a value being hooked to the grid, but they just don't want to pay for it.

How much maintenance is there on a city block? The power companies continue to hike up meter fees which are to cover the cost of maintenance. Moreover, power pushed back on on the grid can cover some of the mandated "green" energy nonsense. It should be win, win, not win, lose.

 

[Zerk]

Again, you are not paying for the block you live on. Electricity does just fall out of sky on you block.

How do you think electrify gets to your house?

There are also people on stand by to be at your house as soon as you call.

I am not sure the rates, but I suspect they can generate cheaper than what they pay you. So lose for them


Cut the cord, and find out value m

 

[two_bit_score]

South Africa has amazing weather, much like Australia,
The problem is after about 300 years we are still settlers - and history is being re written daily to suit the govt.
Our public health care is a good way to die more painfully than chasing hornets, public education standards keep dropping to make it easier to pass, and a pass mark is 30%

We have power cuts because the power utility, Eskom is run by a corrupt bunch of !@@#$ they are threatening load shedding if they dont get another 20% increase on their charges. This after its proven they have prepaid for substandard coal from the presidents biggest friends, to the tune of $200 million, and that's just one of the stories leaking at the moment.

One of my favorite recent stories is a minister in charge of water says the countries water problems are not because they have done almost no maintenance, but because the colonials built the dams too big so they could not fill up. If we had small dams they would be full and we'd have plenty of water!:shocked:

Does your country do any Guar or clustebean farming?


TBS

 

[Redneck in training]

This shows how you are missing the point.

You go buy a car, you have to make the payment if you drive it, or it sits in the driveway.

As a customer you are supporting the entire system, in some way. Not just wire to your house. You want power if yours doesn't produce. You want a worker to maintain the lines.


No customer is just paying, for a 50 yards of cable to their house. You have lines going for miles and miles. Do you think the guy where the line first stops after the substation should pay for the first 5 miles, and you the next 50 yards?


If you don't like, cut the cord. But obviously they think it has a value being hooked to the grid, but they just don't want to pay for it.

I am on rural electric coop. They pay me 0.035/kWh and seling it to my neigbor for 0.113. There are months when we pushed to the grid twice the energy than we purchsed and we still had an electric bill. No net metering. The coop just build 5.5 MW PV plant. Nevertheless our PV system will payfor itself in about 10 years. The warranty on the main components is 25 years.