Maybe it's just taxes? People do tend to consume less of something as its price rises (except for debt, apparently). In a state like California, my guess is that the taxes on electricity there are sky-high, so it's not surprising to see them come in at such a lower rate of consumption relative to others. I doubt it has much to do with any sort of virtue...
It's the damn farmers fault. Make them go back to horses and home-made help (11 kids) instead of using so much electricity. Or better yet, move them into all of the soon to be built vacant condos in the blue states.
It depends on the origin of the chart, of course, but I will say this - I wouldn't be hugely surprised if there are lower numbers in majority Democrat states. My mom visited some distant relations who are big time environmental Dems - first they informed her that, in order to conserve water, she had to wet down in the shower, turn off the water, soap up, turn on the water, rinse, and turn it off again. Then they informed her that they only flush the toilet if (well, you probably get that) and then they got really twitchy about the way she washed the dishes.
She's not planning on staying with them again.
Whereas Republicans tend to think that if you're willing to pay for 15 minutes of hot water as you luxuriate in the shower, that's your choice. It's certainly mine.
Not an economist - just my 2 cents for what they are worth.
I don't see the correlation between energy consumption and "greed". What's the definition of greed? Maybe geography has something to do with energy consumption (heat in the north, AC in the south, etc.).
And if you look at other factors, also look at average temperature. The more days close to 70deg, the less energy used for heating/cooling. I know that in Iowa, much of my personal energy use is in the winter keeping warm.
To Mahan, Most of the electricity produced in this country is from burning fossil fuels (especially coal.)
On another note, I lived in Texas for awhile and people there didn't seem very concerned with conservation (that whole everthing in Texas is bigger and better) or recycling. When I went to the U of M, there were four waste baskets in virtually every room: 1 for regular garbage, 1 for office paper, 1 for cans, and 1 for bottles. At UT, I was hard pressed to find a recyling bin for ANYTHING, and we didn't have residential recycling pickup. I ended up taking everything to the recycling center. My roomate, a native Texan, thought I was crazy. I don't know if all of this is because Texas is a red state, or just because it has a high population of hicks.
No one uses more electricity than Canada ... seven months a year it is cold and dark. Canadians are not actually what I would call greedy unless it's the government largess at stake. Socialist are like that.
Greedy for the tax payer drippings that buy votes.
California doesn't have enough power production to allow for over consumption. They have continual brown outs and have bought a lot of power from British Columbia Where I live. They still owe us a lot of money, but the power companies who bought the stuff went bankrupt.
No one uses more electricity than Canada ... seven months a year it is cold and dark. Canadians are not actually what I would call greedy unless it's the government largess at stake. Socialist are like that.
Greedy for the tax payer drippings that buy votes.
California doesn't have enough power production to allow for over consumption. They have continual brown outs and have bought a lot of power from British Columbia Where I live. They still owe us a lot of money, but the power companies who bought the stuff went bankrupt.
Maybe it's just taxes? People do tend to consume less of something as its price rises (except for debt, apparently). In a state like California, my guess is that the taxes on electricity there are sky-high, so it's not surprising to see them come in at such a lower rate of consumption relative to others. I doubt it has much to do with any sort of virtue...
ReplyDeleteWait. I thought the Left wanted us to use more electricity, rather than those nasty old fossil fuels? Am I missing something here?
ReplyDeleteAlso, is this another example of your rampant California boosterism leaking through? Shame on you, hippie.
It's the damn farmers fault. Make them go back to horses and home-made help (11 kids) instead of using so much electricity. Or better yet, move them into all of the soon to be built vacant condos in the blue states.
ReplyDeleteApparently, it takes more energy to heat a full house in a Red state than it does to heat an apartment in a Blue one.
ReplyDeleteThen they add California to the list, where you can get by without heating or air conditioning for most of the year without any trouble.
You just have to love the use of the word "Greedier."
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am sick and tired of hearing the word "greed" thrown around as if it actually means something.
It depends on the origin of the chart, of course, but I will say this - I wouldn't be hugely surprised if there are lower numbers in majority Democrat states. My mom visited some distant relations who are big time environmental Dems - first they informed her that, in order to conserve water, she had to wet down in the shower, turn off the water, soap up, turn on the water, rinse, and turn it off again. Then they informed her that they only flush the toilet if (well, you probably get that) and then they got really twitchy about the way she washed the dishes.
ReplyDeleteShe's not planning on staying with them again.
Whereas Republicans tend to think that if you're willing to pay for 15 minutes of hot water as you luxuriate in the shower, that's your choice. It's certainly mine.
Not an economist - just my 2 cents for what they are worth.
TBS
I don't see the correlation between energy consumption and "greed". What's the definition of greed? Maybe geography has something to do with energy consumption (heat in the north, AC in the south, etc.).
ReplyDeleteVery lame.
And if you look at other factors, also look at average temperature. The more days close to 70deg, the less energy used for heating/cooling. I know that in Iowa, much of my personal energy use is in the winter keeping warm.
ReplyDeleteI know you love charts. This is amazing. It's about 10 minutes, but fairly intertaining. But his charts are incredible.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=hans_rosling
To Mahan,
ReplyDeleteMost of the electricity produced in this country is from burning fossil fuels (especially coal.)
On another note, I lived in Texas for awhile and people there didn't seem very concerned with conservation (that whole everthing in Texas is bigger and better) or recycling. When I went to the U of M, there were four waste baskets in virtually every room: 1 for regular garbage, 1 for office paper, 1 for cans, and 1 for bottles. At UT, I was hard pressed to find a recyling bin for ANYTHING, and we didn't have residential recycling pickup. I ended up taking everything to the recycling center. My roomate, a native Texan, thought I was crazy. I don't know if all of this is because Texas is a red state, or just because it has a high population of hicks.
Junam
No one uses more electricity than Canada ... seven months a year it is cold and dark. Canadians are not actually what I would call greedy unless it's the government largess at stake. Socialist are like that.
ReplyDeleteGreedy for the tax payer drippings that buy votes.
California doesn't have enough power production to allow for over consumption. They have continual brown outs and have bought a lot of power from British Columbia Where I live. They still owe us a lot of money, but the power companies who bought the stuff went bankrupt.
Just a few thoughts of the subject.
No one uses more electricity than Canada ... seven months a year it is cold and dark. Canadians are not actually what I would call greedy unless it's the government largess at stake. Socialist are like that.
ReplyDeleteGreedy for the tax payer drippings that buy votes.
California doesn't have enough power production to allow for over consumption. They have continual brown outs and have bought a lot of power from British Columbia Where I live. They still owe us a lot of money, but the power companies who bought the stuff went bankrupt.
Just a few thoughts of the subject.