Timeline August 12, 2009
TVA vs. CBS’ 60 Minutes
August 12, 2009
I understand that the CBS program, “60 Minutes”, will be doing a special on the Kingston disaster.
I've not visited the site but I am sure that the ash dam burst is only the tip of the "ashberg". I'm talking about the TVA, of course.
TVA is a federal government agency gone wild; I have been writing about it for several years and I believe I have made an impact on what slowly is being revealed about that corrupt organization.
I hope their report goes deeper than the obvious pile of ash and its consequences. The story is gnarled with duplicitous, illegal, and gross mismanagements by the TVA.
I have written thousands of words about the TVA from my own natural instincts to try and uncover wrongdoing. I once was a federal departmental analyst in Washington and from that experience and many years as an entrepreneur I believe I have helped expose the TVA for what it is.
There are several "root causes" of TVA's exposure to its 15 minutes of infamy. One is its culture, the "TVA culture" which is as protective as moonshiners in Tennessee's back country. Another is its outrageous bonus structure that comes before safety, proper maintenance and concern for surrounding communities.
FDR told TVA it was different; in law there in nothing like in the federal government. It sets and enforces its own electricity rates without appeal from any public service commission, governor, mayor, state legislator - nobody. Congress is supposed to perform its oversight function of the TVA but essentially it has not done so in decades. The reason? No congressional appropriations.
TVA has run up a $25 billion debt and has obligated billions more over its $30 billion legislative cap. There is no other way but to substantially raise electricity rates unless the law is changed to more fully subsidize TVA.
The Kingston disaster is estimated to cost over $1 billion, the cleanup of four coal-fired plants that a federal judge said made citizens of North Carolina sick, another billion. And on and on with multiple gross management mistakes.
This is not the first time I have called for the dissolution of the TVA, see http://norsworthyopinion.com/tvaactionplannow.aspx , nor likely will it be the last.
I have lots of information from former TVA employees who know what its like to be working in an organization that refuses to play by the rules, even its own safety rules.
I would be happy to discuss this with former or present TVA employees, other TVA vendors or present TVA management. Anonymity is assured.
Ernest Norsworthy
emnorsworthy@earthlink.net
http://norsworthyopinion.com