I think I'm a little old fashioned.  I believe that when you receive a product or service, you should pay for it.  Evidently, there are many people at the George Wiley Center who disagree.  Some of their members are protesting in order to decrease the number of utility shutoffs.  Center leader Maggi Rogers calls the shuttoffs , “the shameful, perennial termination of utility service”.  I call Maggi Rogers and her colleagues confused.

     We already have very generous laws in place which prevent utility shutoffs during the winter for many customers.  Many of the people Ms. Rogers is fighting for are very familiar with these rules and game the system.  We could prevent the mass shutoffs by allowing utility companies to discontinue service during the winter months, although I a feeling the protesters would be opposed.  We might also consider another novel idea: Expect people to pay their bills and suffer the consequences of their poor decisions.  I like this solution, but it might be too sensible and fair for some of the protesters.

     My guess is they would like to see charges placed on paying customers in order to subsidize those who won't pay.  After all, we don't want to burden those who make bad decisions with the abomination known as living expenses.  There are so many other important, fun things to spend money on.