Power Crisis

* Re “A Blackout on Answers,” editorial, March 21: Gov. Gray Davis is not communicating with us because he is in the throes of “politician paralysis.” Davis has been receiving substantial campaign contributions from the Texas power generating companies. So he can’t in good conscience do anything that might impede their windfall. On the other hand, he needs the public’s votes. So he can’t in good conscience tell us how much we’re all going to pay now that he’s sold out California to the Texans. Unable to reconcile this conflict between his donors and the public, he sits paralyzed. As long as the current campaign finance system exists, politician paralysis will become increasingly epidemic in Sacramento and Washington.

TED R. MARCUS

Torrance

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Cynical! You have no idea. The whole byzantine mess is too complex for most voters to follow, but we know it stinks and we are not getting straight answers to the important questions about how the money got sucked out of the power economy and who has it now.

Where are the lobbyists who sold former Gov. Pete Wilson and the term-limits Legislature this pig-in-a-poke deregulation fiasco? How can power brokers get away with manipulating the market when power usage was stable and predictable? All the customers get are lies and spin and blackouts and outrageous bills.

Not enough fat cats are really hurting yet, and nothing will change until they feel the heat. Perhaps we should all just turn on the lights and power up until the grid melts, the economy goes south (both here and in Texas), and when anarchy comes to the doors of the rich we’ll see some justice. Irresponsible? Yeah, but those who are responsible sure aren’t standing up to give the money back, so why should ratepayers and taxpayers be the only ones to take the bitter pill?

WILLIAM LEIDENTHAL

Los Angeles

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I am shocked, shocked I tell you, to find that a small group of wholesalers of an essential product (electricity) would manipulate the market to generate excessive profits (March 22). The good news for them, of course, is that it lets them buy lots of neat stuff like Gulfstream jets, presidents and senators. Is anyone surprised that the GOP response in Washington is to increase rates until as much money as possible is transferred to the Texas wholesalers? Is anyone surprised that electing Dubya would give us this kind of leadership?

PAT ORMSBEE

Newport Beach

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It might not be so bad having California overcharged $6.3 billion by energy suppliers if the lights remained on.

DINA KIWAN

Burbank