Get to work, tea baggers!

What always amazes me about the so-called tea-party, is that they insist that they're for small government, the free market, and against welfare. They squawk about nefarious plans to provide reasonably-priced healthcare to the American people, but where are the screams of outrage when it comes to corporate welfare?

Let's keep it local - let's talk about utilities in Georgia. How often have you looked at what you're being charged on your gas and electric bills? What are you paying for the actual consumable (the natural gas and the electricity) and how much are you subsidizing the utility's business?

Take a look at my gas bill. This is June, so I'm paying for water heating gas for 3 people (including my daughter who takes really long showers), plus cooking gas. I used about 14 bucks of gas. Great.

But look at all the corporate welfare in there. There's a "Base Charge" that amounts to $20.44. What's that for? Here's what Atlanta Gas Light says:

Your Base Rate When you receive your gas bill each month from your marketer, a portion of the bill is a base charge from Atlanta Gas Light. This charge is regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission. Base charges represent our cost of delivering gas to your home or business, pipeline maintenance, and meter reading. The charge will not vary should you choose another marketer. 

That means the government has decided that you should pay the transportation and infrastructure costs of getting the gas to you. The way I see it, that's part of the risk/profit equation that constitutes our "free market." The gas company should factor these costs into their business plan, and price their goods accordingly. But no, we're paying for all their expenses, and then the "marketeer" gets an additional "service" fee of $5.95. What a burn!

Where's the outrage?

Take a look at my electric bill. It's been a hot summer, so I expected it to be high. OK... $215 buck, which makes sense because my air-conditioning has been running all month.

But what the heck is that charge of $13.34 for "Environmental Compliance Cost?" We're expected to pay for the cost of the utility's compliance with environmental laws? Isn't that a part of their doing business, and should be factored into their operating costs? Why are we paying for this?

Then I noticed the charge of $7.81 for "Nuclear Construction Cost Recovery." Sheesh! We're paying for that? They're not willing to pay their own upfront costs before they get to overcharge us for their electricity? Don't even get me started about my feelings about being forced to subsidize nuclear energy.

Man... I want to own a business where the government compels it's citizens to pay the operating expenses of my business. How do I get in on that government gravy train?

This is, of course, all the result of so-called "deregulation." Think back to those days before that horrible decision... as a portion of your expenses, have your bills gone up or down? I know the answer in my household.

The next time some tea-bagger talks about getting government out of the way of free enterprise, show them your utility bill.