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Dear PATH,

It's been two years today since I first met you at one of your "Open House" divide & conquer brain-washing sessions.  I knew I despised you from the minute I walked into the room, and my loathing for you has only grown stronger over time.

To hear Jay Ruberto callously describe how he was going to "buy out" the homes of my neighbors in order to make room for his transmission line was disgusting.  To make him repeat it in front of my retired, widowed neighbor who owns one of those houses and see her burst into tears was repugnant.  PATH could have saved themselves a lot of trouble -- I was very explicit with my comment that Ruberto's Machiavellian scheme was NOT going to happen. And, it didn't.  Ah, good times!

However, my neighbor was quickly replaced with other shocked, angry, bewildered and, yes, at times tearful landowners from another part of Jefferson County.  I will not turn my back on them either.  PATH is still NOT going to happen.  Give up.

I've learned so many things that are completely useless for the life I intended to live.  I've learned how the electric transmission system works; I've learned about corporate greed; I've learned how FERC's rate recovery accounting system works; I've learned how to deal with the media; and I've learned enough acronyms to last me three lifetimes.

I've also made a whole bunch of new friends from Jefferson County, other parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, other states being threatened with unneeded transmission lines, and even other countries.  I enjoy meeting these people and hearing their stories.  Each one is unique and real -- more than a dot on a map or a name on a list.  I love what I'm doing!

There are a few things I could do without however.  I wouldn't miss it one bit if my friends quit looking at me with a smirk while discussing past & present strategy and saying, "I'm glad I'm on your side!".  I could do without PATH's lame attempts at intimidation of the opposition.  I would happily do without government corruption and stupidity.  Most of all, I could ecstatically do without PATH.

Two years of my life that I'll never get back -- but definitely two years worth living.


You've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.  Can't you just die already?


Faithfully waiting for your demise,


Keryn
 


Comments

Pam Gearhart

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 5:18:41 pm

I just love your commentary. I believe your words are how all of us feel. Yes, the one good thing to come out of this is the new friends we made, sorry it was under such adverse conditions.

 

Ambergriffin

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 8:48:32 am

Keryn - what a well-written commentary. You have said exactly what so many people in the Eastern Panhandle have said. I'm sure the PATH representatives have no idea how much they are all despised. We have no problems with the Allegheny Power line workers because they do a fantastic job. It's the PJM and AP Corporate hoodlums who are robbing the WV ratepayers so they can enjoy their enormous paychecks that are the targets of our animosity. These people are lower than whale dung, which is the lowest thing on earth. How they live with themselves utterly amazes me.

 

Keryn

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 9:26:05 am

Thanks Pam & Amber.

I'm thinking they DO know how despised they are. They just don't care. It's just a job -- make lots of money and nevermind the folks you run over in the process.

Some day, we all have to answer for our actions. I'm patient that way :-)

 

Sun Tzu

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 7:58:44 am

From "The Art of War - Nine Grounds" -- Rule: When warriers are in great danger, then they have no fear.

I have been re-reading this old classic relied on by modern business people as a roadmap. There is some great stuff - Both for recognizing tactics and implementing them. I'll drop some now and then :). How about this one? My only question is 'who is in greater danger?' The landowners being pillaged or the corporate geeks losing thier stock value and being skinned by the the big guys? Guess time will tell!

 

Keryn

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:07:08 pm

Just a little reminder to keep comments on topic and not stoop to a personal insult level. We'll leave that to PATH -- because we're better than that :-)

As much as you may hate PATH, it's a project -- an inanimate object -- and its employees are just doing a job. Can you imagine how much it must already suck to have to leave your morals at the front door every morning in order to lie, cheat and steal from your fellow man on a daily basis in exchange for a paycheck? Don't make it worse for them with personal insults.

Thanks :-)

 

Cathy Jackson

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 3:26:54 pm

Keryn:
Thank you and Patience for what you have done over the last 2 years. We are proving what a real grass roots effort looks like. No "astro-turf" here. I am so proud to know you and the other wonderful folks with whom we are involved in this fight. "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."-Margaret Mead


 



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