Readers of this blog know my hesitancy to engage too much in the political process. A pastor generally needs to be rather neutral regarding such things realizing he/she will have members on either side of a particular debate. However, I feel as though I must enter the fray as many of my church family and friends are deeply affected by the actions of Centerpoint Energy out of Houston. If you have a soft spot for standing up for the "little guy", I invite you to read the following, post it to your own blogs, send it to your local news papers, and forward it to all of your family and friends. Your assistance is most welcome.
A few short years ago, the state of Texas tried to implement what was called "the largest land grab in Texas history." More than a few Texans stood opposed to the Trans-Texas Corridor and the attempt to take land that folks worked hard to buy or had been passed down from generation to generation. Because of their efforts, public outcry raised to a fever pitch, and the idea was finally scrapped. The "little guys" showed their moxie, overcame log odds, and defeated something that all but looked like a juggernaut.
Such a thing is built deep within the DNA of Texans. Our state has a history of people who celebrate their independence and are willing to stand against those who would try to rob them of their rights or their property. The people of Gonzales shouted, "Come and take it!" as they fired their cannon and stood against those who would have removed it. The defenders of the Alamo held their ground against overwhelming odds–finally succumbing, but buying precious time with their blood. Houston’s army defeated a greater force by playing it smart and using the element of surprise. These actions were all in response to a dictator who tried to overwhelm the spirit of independence which pervaded the early Texans and Tejanos. Those early folks weren’t going to stand for it, and their passion continues to influence Texans to this day.
Once again, a group of Texans is uniting to oppose such forces which are seeking to take land and livelihood. Centerpoint Energy has proposed running high voltage power lines through Fayette, Austin, and Waller Counties to provide electricity to the city of Houston. They are seeking right of way through hard working Texans’ land and using considerable influence to have it done.
Now, no one disputes the growing need that urban centers have for electricity. Neither would anyone dispute allowing customers to pay lower prices for energy. Both of these things are presumptively going to happen should these lines be run. The first will definitely happen. The second...well, the evidence isn’t exactly hard and fast.
Yet, it is upon this evidence that Centerpoint is making its case. Let’s say, just for the sake of argument, their numbers are indeed sound, at least in saving some folks some cash. Is that savings worth the price the folks of Fayette, Austin, and Waller Counties have to pay in giving up their land and livelihood? One could argue it might should they receive a reduction in their energy costs. However, these lines will give hardly anyone in these counties this benefit. All the benefit will go to Cenerpoint customers only. In effect, Centerpoint is telling those whose land they are taking, "We’re going to take your land, pay you what we consider "fair value", and you will get no benefit." Would anyone in their right mind agree to such a proposal? Is it any wonder why the folks in these counties are up in arms over this issue?
One then wonders why Centerpoint wants to run through these counties instead of using already existing right of ways to accomplish their task. Doesn’t the state already have enough land to handle such matters? Why do they keep wanting more from the "little guys?" The argument put forth by Centerpoint is: going down those right of ways is not cost effective for us.
O.K. Let's play that game a little bit? Most people who invest in various items, be it homes, cars, what have you must judge the cost effectiveness of their purchases as well. If these folks cannot afford their investment or it is not cost effective for them, they don't do it, they put it on their wish list for another time, or they seek alternative methods for paying for it. Here is one thing such folks do not do: take others' property to make their desire more affordable. In the individual world that's called stealing. It is neither fair, just, or right in any sort of moral sense or otherwise.
Yet, is this not what Centerpoint is trying to do with these landowners? Take something that doesn't belong to them to fulfill a desire of their company to provide electricity for its customers to perhaps save them a few pennies on the dollar? Oh, and might we go ahead and ask how much Centerpoint is going to profit from this move as well? Corporations do not undertake such massive projects to break even.
So again we see a large entity trying to take from individual land owners their property to fulfill their desires and their pocketbooks without any benefit what-so-ever for those land owners. Did such folks forget the lessons of the Trans-Texas Corridor? Texans do not stand for such injustices committed to their people.
Therefore, just as Travis wrote his famous appeal for assistance to the rest of his fellow Texans, the people of Austin, Fayette, and Waller Counties appeal to their fellow Texans for assistance in standing against this injustice. Please make your voices known to your legislators and tell them, "Enough is enough." Centerpoint looks like a juggernaut to many; however, they cannot overcome something that is deeply embedded in Texans: their sense of justice, independence, and willingness to fight for what is right. With the aid of fellow Texans, those things will surely carry the day.
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