Subsidizing The Sun -
Parkinson Down for the
Count
Parkinson Down for the
Count
| Parkinson Down for the Count by William Shurcliff At the end of a big local solar meeting, my friend F. Snodgrass Parkinson was punched and fell to the floor. The trouble began when the speaker, after a long talk in favor of increased subsidies for solar domestic hot water systems, asked: “Are there any questions?” “Yes!”, said Parkinson, jumping up from his front- row scat. “Do I understand you correctly? You say you installed, last year, a $6,000 solar heating system for your domestic hot water, with the result that you saved $200 worth of oil. You say you paid $2000 for the system, and the other $4000 was subsidized by the Government by tax reductions?” “That is correct, Sir. The annual saving on oil is about $200 worth of oil. “The purpose of the subsidy is to save oil?” “It certainly is. I thought I had made that clear. The world is running out of oil. Our country is importing enormous quantities, and our balance of payments this year will be about $40 billion in the red. Saving oil is essential, and citizens who save oil deserve a subsidy.” “Last winter I turned down my thermostat—from 70°F to 60°F— and saved $200 worth of oil. Do I deserve a subsidy?” “Certainly not! With that lower temperature, your family probably suffered. The whole idea is to cut oil use without reducing comfort.” “But my family was just as comfortable. We wore more sweaters, we got fewer colds, we agreed to . . “I don’t care what you agreed to, and anyway, the issue is not really comfort but the added expense you incurred. Apparently you had no extra expense. You bought nothing—no new equipment. If you bought no new equipment, why should you get a subsidy?” “Didn’t you say the purpose of the subsidy was to cut oil use?” “I am afraid, Sir, you are missing the point. The point of the subsidy is to ease the financial pain of cutting oil use. If there is no financial pain, you deserve no subsidy.” “Ah yes! I understand. So if my children had complained about the lower temperature and demanded $200 more in allowance pay as compensation, then I would deserve a subsidy?” The speaker glared, moved forward to the edge of the platform, and said: “You are being absurd! You are wasting the time of this distinguished audience! Subsidies are given if you have to buy equipment. The more costly the equipment, the more the subsidy.” “You mean if I pay $6000 for a solar system, I deserve a $4000 subsidy. But if I buy a system costing twice as much, I deserve twice as big a subsidy?” “Precisely.” “Even if the more expensive system performs no better than the cheaper one, and even if. . “Will you kindly . “ . . . And even if a neighbor has made out just as well with a home-made thermosyphon system costing only $1000?” “Kindly sit down! I must ask . “Even if I take as long showers and use just as much oil as before? Even if. “Damn you Sir. Shut your trap or I’ll . . Even if I leave for a long vacation in Florida and never use my system? Do you really mean. . . “What I really mean is this!” The speaker was seen to leap forward, a thud was heard, and Parkinson temporarily disappeared from view. William Shurcliff |
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