David Rakoczy Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Due to the Obama administration's policy of GOING GREEN..... a good friend of mine who rents movie generators in San Francisco received notice (only this year) that ALL of his generators will have to be replaced by 2010.... :o thus putting him out of business! The producers of the "new clean burning generators... green generators"... can't make them fast enough nor can my friend afford to purchase them during a RECESSION! And to whom can he sell all the equipment that he has so heavily invested in now that his (state of the art) generators have been outlawed? Is the Federal Government going to get into the movie generator rental/ sales business as well? Farmers are getting the same notice.... a farmer that has a back-hoe he uses a couple times a year.. no no.. you can't use that! You gotta buy a new 'green' back-hoe... and good luck getting a loan! Ultimately all this stuff is going to be sold to Mexico where they will run and run (anyway) in Mexico... instead of San Francisco... not to mention all the staff my friend will have to let go. God help us from this insanity! The 'Chicago' Way Video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Fritzshall Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Millar Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 (edited) There was no warning that this was going to happen ? (I mean that as a question, not a statement) At least no general worldwide consensus or at least 'fad' that we need to perhaps slow down on the use of non-renewable polluting resources ? (that one is a statement) Perhaps if your friend had not invested so heavily then he (or dare I say 'we') wouldn't be in this predicament ? But yes I can see how this must have been a big blow to him, it'll be interesting to see who else it affects - reckon this thread is going to go hot pretty fast ... Edited October 27, 2009 by Chris Millar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onno Perdijk Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Hello All, Last year the local government forced me to buy new trucks as well. I have made an objection that replacing my trucks would be a destruction of my company and will cut down my business, all accompanied with a statement of my accountant. So now they have given me a permit for driving my trucks for a year. I am sure there is a hardship available....? Good Luck. Onno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Collier Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 David, you have been very helpful over the years on this site, so let me carefully choose my words here. This to me has a taste of political trolling and/or baiting. If you have some documents to back this up of course it would make a good topic of discussion, but the idea that a letter goes out saying you have 2 months to get new generators....it seems a bit suspicious. I for one would like to see some kind of evidence of this happening, something more concrete than: a friend of mines anecdote. A law passed, a letter with EPA or other government headers, something legit and concrete. I have several friends who live off the grid in remote Alaska who live off generators, and I have not heard any of them claiming similar notices (including farmers who use generators for commercial purposes) Believe me if there was a threat they would loose power and heat in the coldest, darkest state in the union, I would hear it very loudly. Not that this is necessarily untrue, but there is a steep lack of first source material, and this would be particularly incendiary in our industry, so I think its in everyone's best interests to get the FACTs. If this is happening then its vital we know for sure what the rules are and what sectors of the industry are affected. If this is not based in fact, then it does a great disservice to this board and the industry as a whole. My suspicion is that it is not true, since I have seen several demonstrably false chain emails to a similar effect. But if I am wrong, please provide details and evidence and we can take it from there. I also fail to see what the Glenn Beck clip has to do with generators. perhaps I missed something, but it seems like that was posted to arouse political divisions, which has no place on this board. I would caution anyone on any side of the isle to be careful when posting stuff like this. To me this site should not be hamstrung by politics, or rumor mills. I am sure there are rules on this board against political arguments, its simply not the place for it. Now if this is indeed true, then its pertinent to the industry, and warrants discussion here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Fritzshall Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 To be serious though, that does sound like an unreasonably short amount of time in which to replace his inventory. Could you provide more information about the exact policy that's requiring this? A lot of the time, what happens is that legislators say "we need to make a new policy about ____," and then that policy ends up getting influenced or even written entirely by the big players in that industry, and as such ends up being highly favorable to them and highly disfavorable to their competitors who couldn't afford lobbyists. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that's what happened here; that these policies were created by big companies to put their smaller competitors out of business. It would also not surprise me at all if it was just really poorly-crafted, poorly-considered policy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Rodgar Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 (edited) It is the same boat the (former) Big 3 automakers, and others, are in. The notion that refusing to slowly phase out (over many years) old and polluting machinery and replace it with greener technology was going to be a good business decision, I guess didn't quite work out in the end. I mean, the Kyoto accord has been in place for what, 11 + years? But international agreements don't have any pull here, right? So who cared then? Of course, the United States didn't ratify the Kyoto protocol, and Big Business had successfully lobbied Congress to hold off on anything even remotely drastic for the entire 8 years of the Bush administration, because it was allegedly bad for business. At the risk of sounding callous, I have very little sympathy for those who absolutely refused to heed the writing on the wall and now are struggling to survive. And don't even get me started on Glenn Beck . . . Edited October 27, 2009 by Saul Rodgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted October 27, 2009 Author Share Posted October 27, 2009 Perhaps if your friend had not invested so heavily then he (or dare I say 'we') wouldn't be in this predicament ? Ya.. you're right... it is his fault for risking all his capitol and purchasing a couple generators and over a period of thirteen years building his business into San Francisco's largest Movie Generator Rental Company! What a fool.... and (naturally) since he is the largest company, he certainly has 2.3 million lying around to purchase another 23 generators. Mr. Collier... see Mr. Perdijk's post. btw... I did not say he just got the letter with a two month warning.. I said he received it "this year"... and my friend does not want me to post a copy of the letter as he does not want to be harrassed any more than he already is. Yes Onno, he recently received a one year extension as did you... but so what..? He STILL can't replace them all. I hope you have a hell of a year to replace your Truck(s). I wish you well my friend! And Saul... he has what (until now) is considered STATE OF THE ART Generators... that is why he is the largest in his area.. he HAS the goods! Saul, your post does not ring of callousness but of ignorance. * I thought about posting this in Off Topic but it is NOT Off Topic as it directly affects (our) industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Zustra Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 At the higher levels, "Green" is more of a new industry than a movement. Sure the grassroots people are there, but even most of them are misinformed. They were calling for the dawn of a new ice age in TIME MAGAZINE no more than a few decades ago. The government seems to be offering a lot of subsidies, but small business is going to hurt. Of course, this is all just my opinion, except for the Time thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 27, 2009 Share Posted October 27, 2009 Is the Federal Government going to get into the movie generator rental/ sales business as well? Well the US gov't is already in the car business, banking business, insurance business, & mortgage business.........so why not the movie business as well? I think a federally run movie studio would be quite hilarious, in fact I think I just hit on a hot idea for a new screenplay. Here are some trailer lines, "It's total hilarity when Hollywood meets Congress! Hilary Clinton is the new chairwoman of Warner Bros." Gee I never thought I'd see the day when America was more of a socialist country than Canada :D Welcome to the new America comrade Rakoczy! R, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Collier Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Mr. Collier... see Mr. Perdijk's post. btw... I did not say he just got the letter with a two month warning.. I said he received it "just this year"... and my friend does not want me to post a copy of the letter as he does not want to be harrassed any more than he already is. Mr. Perdijk is not in the US, and so his experience cannot be linked as evidence of it happening here. I understand the desire not to post the letter, but that is not in itself evidence. What law has been touted as a reason for the letter? He must have something that says in article 52, line 35 etc cited in the letter as a reason for the notice. There must be some verifiable information in the letter that we can then go to the law and see it says: "by 2010 all generator operators shall be running E85, or have an EPA estimated emission of whatever the law says" You get the idea. That would be independently verifiable evidence. My aversion to this whole topic is not based on partisan issues. Actually I could care less. What leaves a bad taste in my mouth is the propensity in this country to use false information, exaggerated stories and out right lies to push one idea or another. Extremist on the right and left do it in equal measure, and its equally harmful to the evolution of the species and our country. If we forget that facts have value and go around making stuff up and touting it as true, then what the hell are we doing on this earth anyway? And as Fox news leans more right into outright lies and MSNBC leans left into outright lies, the more extreme populous start to think its ok, and just par for the course. Its not. This is what gave us 8 years of "bush is a Nazi who knew about 9/11" and its whats going to give us 4 or 8 years of "Obama is a socialist secret muslim who wants to sell your grand kids down the river and kill your grandparents." My suspicion of this stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Rodgar Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 And Saul... he has what (until now) is considered STATE OF THE ART Generators... that is why he is the largest in his area.. he HAS the goods! Saul, your post does not ring of callousness but ignorance. I guess they must not be "state of the art" if they need to be replaced. As for name calling, well, let's not go down that path please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Millar Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Ya.. you're right... it is his fault for risking all his capitol and purchasing a couple generators and over a period of thirteen years building his business into San Francisco's largest Movie Generator Rental Company! What a fool.... and (naturally) since he is the largest company, he certainly has 2.3 million lying around to purchase another 23 generators. I meant invested in 'green' generators ... So, ok he's the largest today - but then what is this discussion about ? The fact that he soon wont be the largest because of not investing in green technology ... The fact the world has been over-reliant on fossil fuels has been around for decades (half a century maybe?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 I meant invested in 'green' generators ... So, ok he's the largest today - but then what is this discussion about ? The fact that he soon wont be the largest because of not investing in green technology ... The fact the world has been over-reliant on fossil fuels has been around for decades (half a century maybe?). Huh? Don't you get it? He will have to close up shop... send his employees home... liquidate... Obviously this topic will only have meaning for those who actually 'run' a business.... or for those unfortunate ones who work for a company such as the generator rental house in San Francisco who are affected by such sudden Governmental demands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Millar Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Yes, I get it ... Its happening. I guess what I'm trying to say is that some people just dont see the same writing on the wall as others: http://catatonickid.wordpress.com/2008/05/...verse-graffiti/ http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/06/18/revers...-san-francisco/ (I'm sympathetic its just the nature of forums where balance sometimes has to come in second place to clarity...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Chris Keth Posted October 28, 2009 Premium Member Share Posted October 28, 2009 Why is this stuff always written on a wall? Don't they have paper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 and its whats going to give us 4 or 8 years of "Obama is a socialist secret muslim who wants to sell your grand kids down the river and kill your grandparents." You need to watch this Kill the Grandparents ...and to think people clap for that :( ..and this ...as for selling our children down the river.. take a look at our climbing debt. ..anyway I digress.. I just pray my friend is able to cope with this small business 'friendly' administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Millar Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 The wall - a public forum - for everyone to see ... Its also on paper, and on the net, and on TV and being taught at schools. (And before someone points it out - paper is a renewable resource, but most the processes involved in its production aren't.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Fritzshall Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 You need to watch this Kill the Grandparents ...and to think people clap for that :( ..and this There is literally nothing objectionable about anything said in either of those clips. I also notice that you are continuing your trend of not actually responding to people with actual serious questions (ie, what exact policy causes this), and spending your time instead posting stupid crap like this. Could you respond to the completely valid questions about what the exact policies are here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 There is literally nothing objectionable about anything said in either of those clips. Well.. that says it all Scott. Wow. I have answered.... you are just blinded my friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Collier Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Why is this stuff always written on a wall? Don't they have paper? Traditionally graffiti artists were the most clairvoyant. You need to watch this ...and to think people clap for that :( ..and this ...as for selling our children down the river.. take a look at our climbing debt ..anyway I digress.. I just pray my friend is able to cope with this small business 'friendly' administration. Ok, that's all I needed to know your trolling. My question is why here? Why the hell is this the place to troll to affect the social change your looking for? I come here to learn new ideas that can help me when I am shooting. This sort of crap belongs on opinion blogs and news comments. Not here. But whatever. [warning: expect some bluntness, I am usually very slow to outright call someone out for being a troll. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt. But you ignore my request for more information with even more inflammatory partisan crap. so here goes. enjoy] I am elevating my suspicion to a full blown accusation of Intellectual Dishonesty (let me put it another way....YOU LIE! I doubt you even have a friend who runs a generator company, and if you do he sure as hell isn't being forced to liquidate his inventory and buy green generators. My guess is you got a mass email that spun a tale about a farmer who had to, and you changed a few details to personalize it so it seemed more relevant and self evident. I hope your 'friend' is able to cope with the prospect of being a figment of your imagination.) So, again. You Lie. [btw, I am done with this thread, so don't expect future responses. Don't infer I lost the will to debate because of your rock solid arguments. I baited the troll enough, and now I am done] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Rakoczy Posted October 28, 2009 Author Share Posted October 28, 2009 I Lie?!... I see... That is easy to say all the way from Alaska. You are sure going to look the FOOL when other companies express their dilemma regarding this issue (should they visit this site). What kind of jerk would call someone a liar when they are sharing something very real that affects our industry? Why the hell would I conjure up such a fib?... Farmer spam?... are you an idiot? Unbelievable Michael! btw... as far as the digression is concerned, I only responded to topics (you) brought up. It is hard to defend these things caught on tape I know... I don't blame you for walking one bit. At least Scott acknowledges he embraces death panels and socialism. Adios Compadre! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul Rodgar Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 (edited) What I find most peculiar is that conservatives are enraged to tears and threats by the current state of affairs, claiming their "freedoms are trampled on" and that their children are (just now) being saddled with humongous debt by the (liberal) government. I can't help thinking: "Where were you, enraged political conservative, when Bush and Co. wiped their asses with the US Constitution to spy on US citizens without warrants and torture people to 'protect the freedoms and American way of life' you so are so suddenly concerned about?" "Where were you, enraged fiscal conservative, when Bush and Co, sold the US piecemeal to China to pay for the first bank bailout and an otherwise completely pointless and futile war, fought against a sovereign country that posed no threat to nor had attacked the US?" Etc, etc, etc. But now that Obama is president, Marxism and Fascism are taking over, right? Hell hath no fury like conservatives with no memory? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: Edited October 28, 2009 by Saul Rodgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Jensen Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 You need to watch this Kill the Grandparents ...and to think people clap for that :( ..and this ...as for selling our children down the river.. take a look at our climbing debt. ..anyway I digress.. I just pray my friend is able to cope with this small business 'friendly' administration. Please David, The first clip shows Robert Reich just explaining the way things are now. He was talking about a hypothetical candidate. In the second clip someone obviously edited it to make her stammering go on and on. She just got a little tongue tied and lost her train of thought. I get tired of people crying socialism when we are nowhere near that. Socialism is the COMPLETE government control of business and that is a far cry from where we are now. The truth is capitalism has failed. The government had to step in to keep the economy from complete collapse. Unchecked, capitalism imploded on itself. I'm pretty sure that if the government hadn't stepped in we'd be worse off than we are now. As far as the situation with your friend's company, how can you blame Obama? This was legislated long before Obama took office. This was all done during the Bush administration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Jensen Posted October 28, 2009 Share Posted October 28, 2009 Just out of curiosity, was the letter from the federal government or the state of California? California has recently enacted more clean air standards and i don't remember the fed doing anything recently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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