Energy Shortage vs Energy Profits: A Political Primer
by Steve Young

Mar. 6, 2003 - LOS ANGELES (apj.us) -- A report released by federal energy regulators Monday has provided new and extensive evidence backing up claims that a wide range of power companies MANIPULATED California's energy's markets reaping at least $7.5 billion in unfair profits.

Many people (i.e. those in POWER), don't seem to understand how this happened. For those tykes out there who are having difficulty comprehending the complexities of the situation, the following primer should make it clear...

SHORTAGE AND PROFIT

A shortage means we don't have enough of something,

A shortage of energy means we're not paying enough for that something.

Energy fuels our apartments, our cars and motor boats.

Profits fuel their mansions, their limos and yachts.

Sometimes we take energy for granted.

We think it will never run out.

But God can give us just so much.

Sometimes we take profits for granted.

We think they will never run out.

God forbid.

Dinosaurs died for our energy.

Their fossils became the fuel we now use.

One day it will happen to Barney too.

Dinosaurs were really big.

So are energy companies.

They are like kindred spirits.

Energy providers wouldn't want dinosaurs to have died in vain.

They feel that their profits would be a proper tribute to the fallen behemoths.

But energy supplies and profits are very conditional.

If we are not prudent we could run out of energy.

If we are not prudent they could run out of profits.

If profits are threatened, there could be a shortage.

Shortages make energy suppliers say,

"Where, oh where, did all our energy go?"

That is when we have rolling blackouts.

This is when power companies turn off the power.

This shows just how much power they really have.

See, they have lots of power, but very little energy.

Profits are like super fuel finders.

Profits make energy suppliers say,

"Oh, there's the energy."

Can you say, manipulation?

Steve Young is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" (Tallfellow Press) and director/writer of "My Dinner With Ovitz".