'Opting out'
Those of us who were living around here 50 years ago, and paying the bills, remember a monthly newsletter, the "PG and E Progress." I always looked forward to receiving my copy.
Probably because it was part of the comfort that came with living in a society whose institutions were reliable.
Here, I would like to recall the front page of its February 1969 editions, which by popular demand reprinted its September 1962 summary of "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," the 18th century classic by Edward Gibbon.
My recollection is that PG&E wasn't all bad.
Fast forward to 2010 and observe the Marin Energy Authority, portraying itself as leaders and throwing a lasso around me to drag me along with them into their destiny.
I have no choice in that decision, except their "opt out" provision that reminds me, in an unhappy way, of the invitation I received from the draft board in 1950 when the Korean War broke out. I could choose military service or go to prison.
"Opt Out" is a popular, and as far as I am concerned, a revolting practice in the business world today. It is one that didn't exist as a business practice 50 years ago when PG&E was writing about "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" - and other good things.
The "opt out" provision suggests nothing of "progress" in a constructive sense. But it does suggest a certain lack of faith in itself.
Why not simply enable people to "opt in?"
Ray Cook, Mill Valley
Source : http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20100220/saturday-readers-forum
Editor's Note : This was archived on this blog on 10/22/2015, backdated to preserve chronological order of when it was written.
Editor's Note : This was archived on this blog on 10/22/2015, backdated to preserve chronological order of when it was written.
