High-tension wires

That’s what the governor is telling us in effect, as he and others in power try to dig us out of this energy problem by dealing in secret.

There is tension everywhere when an emergency strikes and we look to government to solve it. There’s certainly tension between the governor’s emergency powers and the public’s right to know where millions (billions?) of their tax dollars are going. State government becomes a business that doesn’t want information out on an offer for a commodity and pulling just as strongly at the other side is our need to know how he’s spending our money.

There is tension between citizen advocates (see “Kept in the Dark” by Elizabeth McCarthy, page 18) and the interests of the power generators and the utilities. And there’s tension between reporters and politicians who are hiding behind the emergency as a way to stifle potentially damaging information coming out that could affect their re-election.

We think the governor ought to negotiate in private but then have a plan to release information on a delayed basis that tells us exactly where the money went, and for what.

The people have handed over extraordinary powers to one man. He should step forward and let us know first exactly who he is talking to and about what. Then Davis should meet with citizen advocates to hear what they have to say.

Finally, when a hand has been played out, he should show us his cards and how much he bet. Then we’ll trust him.