Nuts to That

The following quote was put out there, asking voters to agree or disagree, and a whopping 88% agreed that 'A rich person is not the one who has the most, but who needs the least.'

That's a popular philosophy, and we have learned nothing from these past few years if not the importance of needs-vs-wants and living within our means. Money money money. Too much, too little, all of life seems to be about trying to figure out where the line is between comfort, hoarding and abject poverty.

It's a contributing factor in every big worry, divorces and family feuds, education, estate lawsuits and our children's future. We resent it and conversely pay homage to it as the declining resource it is. There are articles quite literally telling us to cut up our own chickens, average our utility payments, drop Direct TV and quit going out for meals.

After the terrible fire in San Bruno that levelled 50 homes and killed and injured numerous residents, PG&E came rushing in with a solemn promise to do anything for this community. And right on the heels of that, literally a few days later, they were back on the news alluding to increases that will be necessary to address and replace the 216,000 miles of 50 year old pipeline. Like they never knew the pipeline was rotting beneath our feet. Like it is our responsibility for them not spending the last twenty years changing all of them out.

I am outraged to see them stand hat in hand before the state's beleaguered workers, many working and many who are not, to foot the bill for their maintenance mismanagement. Hadn't PG&E recently announced record quarterly earnings?

PG&E, fix your own damned mess. And that goes for our elected officials, too: give back your perks and fancy retirements and AIG insurances and use that money to re-invest it into the business of solving the financial crises you have caused. They'll get by alright with social security and medicare and the government subsidies. Everybody's gotta be cutting up their own chickens.

I want enough for a comfortable life, whatever that is, and health insurance and food and a home I can count on with running water and heat; an occasional dinner out and holidays with friends and family eating pasta and playing cards; books to read and cards to send.

I deserve to keep the nuts I stashed and to know it will not be looted by utilities or the state or the federal government who already devoured theirs and didn't plan ahead. Don't come calling: I've got nothing to give.