Today, 350.org has made 2 invalid claims on its facebook page related to Keystone XL and the Environmental Impact report.

First: They posted an image on their facebook page claiming that John Kerry made the statement that the pipeline poses no environmental threat. This is entirely false. That claim is made by the environmental impact study, which was not produced by John Kerry.

Second: they posted a link to a Grist article, written by the director of the organization that created the false image, implying brazen corruption in the State Department, because the study was funded by the owners of Keystone.

Unfortunately, the article implies that this is a startling development. It’s not.

It is standard operating procedure, and has been for quite some time, because we’ve gutted the funding of our regulatory agencies. The process that was used is not remotely unique to KXL.

This is what happens when we do nothing but cut, cut, cut, while ignoring the purpose of the budgets that are being cut. If we want independent review, we have to be willing to pay for the expertise needed to conduct such reviews. For far too long, it’s been a case of getting what we pay for – studies with no real independence whatsoever.

And yet legal experts said it had become common for companies applying to build government projects to be involved in assigning and paying for the impact analysis. Some say such arrangements are nearly inevitable because federal agencies typically lack the in-house resources or money to conduct these complex studies. “What’s normal is deplorable, and it’s NEPA’s dirty little secret,” said Mr. Echeverria, acting director of the Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School, referring to the law. He said federal agencies are supposed to review the findings, but often lack the expertise to do so.

I happen to believe the current law regarding EIS studies should at least be revised to require contractors to pay the US government to institute independent reviews, but as of today, under current law, the review being done by a company with ties to the contractor is exactly what is expected to happen.

The important thing relative to the items on 350.org’s facebook page: the claims in the report are not the claims of the State Department, never mind Secretary Kerry, or, as the Grist article states, “John Kerry’s State Department.”

Why was the report released, last week, if the State Department wasn’t trying to give the go-ahead to the project?  

When the State Department received the report, it became public record, and was thus released as part of the normal process for such studies. The release does not indicate approval.

The next step for the State Department is to review the study’s claims, and for the public to take advantage of the public comment period. The State Department and either accept the report, or reject it.  It will be very helpful to know where the State Department (and Secretary Kerry) stand on this, but as of now, we don’t know – despite the implications in a certain viral image.

All the poutrage ginned up over people following the process that everyone follows is enough to make your head spin. And pointing fingers at Kerry because his agency posted the report it was supposed to post, is a waste of energy.

I am a big fan and early supporter of 350.org. This kind of sloppy promotion of a non-troversy (the false implication of Kerry) does the organization a disservice, by creating the impression that they play fast & loose with the facts. That’s not a good thing for an organization dedicated to getting out the truth about warming in the face of intense, well-funded opposition.

I hope they will correct the error, and will do a much better job of investigating claims before promoting false, if “catchy” images and hyperbolic stories from questionable sources.

In the mean time, public comment period is in effect, so it’s incumbent upon US to use it.

At 3 in the afternoon of March 8, 2013, a somewhat rowdy lowlife male in his early 30s named Henry stands in front of a downtown ‘club’ in Montpelier, Vermont, smoking a non-filtered Camel and harassing various women as they walk by.

Henry:  “Hey, babie, wanna have a beer with me!?”

The women do not make eye contact and proceed on their ways, shaking their heads.

Henry:  “Fuckin’ bitches.  Man, I only wannna…” THUNK!!  Henry is struck in the head by a Steel Hankie.

“Hey, what the fuckin’ Hell…”

“Language please,”  says PolitenessMan, walking towards Henry.

“Who the fuck are you, man!”  howls Henry.  And howls even louder when yet another Steel Hankie strikes him in the chest.

“Jesus, man!  That hurts!”

“It is meant to hurt, Henry.  It is the Steel Hankie of Politeness, and I, sir, am PolitenessMan.”

“Hey, how’s come you know my name, buddy?”  asks Henry, somewhat bewildered.

“Henry, I am PolitenessMan, and it my business to know the names of all manner of people who need lessons in good manners,”  PolitenessMan explains.  “Do you know what day today is, Henry?”

“Well…yeah.  It’s Friday.  So what…PolitenessMan, you said?”

“Yes.  And today, Henry, this fine Friday all over the World, it is International Women’s Day.  A day we celebrate, and pay our respects to all women for their struggles to fight and overcome oppressions, their glorious achievements in the arts and sciences, their work to relieve mankind’s suffering, and their nurturing of generations to come.  Do you have a mother, Henry?”

“Well, yeah, PolitenessMan.  She lives over ta Hardwick.  So today is something like Mother’s Day?”

“Much more than that, Henry,” answers PolitenessMan.  “Today, International Women’s Day, is the day all men must treat all women with honor, deference, and, above all good manners.  Yelling Hey Babie, Henry, is taboo on this day.  It would be like yelling FIRE at the 4th of July Parade.”

“Shit, Politeness…”

“Language, Henry.”

“…er, yeah, sorry.  Gee, PolitenessMan, I didn’t know about this International Women’s Day stuff.  I guess you must think I’m a dork.”

“Not a word I would use, Henry” PolitenessMan replies.  “But I think all those ladies you were trying to impress probably will use that word in their descriptive lexicon of their encounters with you today.”

“Shi…I mean, gosh, PolitenessMan.  I feel like a real dink now.  Is there anything I can do with myself to make women not think I’m a dip?”

“Do you have a job, Henry?” asks PolitenessMan.

“Well…I do a little of this and that.”

“This and that is something that ladies avoid, Henry.  Have you tried applying to the State?  I just had a long politically correct talk over cognac with Governor Shumlin last night.  He said he plans to hire a new assistant press secretary.”

“Hey, I could do that, PolitenessMan.  I’ve even got all these computer skills.  I’m on chat-rooms all the time.”

“Well then,” says PolitenessMan.  “That settles that.  But with your new job, there are other things you need to do, Henry.”

“Tell me, PolitenessMan.  I want to learn how to be a gentleman, like you.”

“All right, Henry.  And PolitenessMan points to a woman getting ready to cross the street towards them.  “You see this attractive lady approaching, Henry?  I want you to smile ever so slightly at her and say: ‘Happy International Women’s Day, Ma’m.’  And be sincere.”

“Okay.”  And Henry does it, and, lo and behold, the woman smiles back and thanks him.

“Wow, PolitenessMan!  What a rush!  This being a gentleman on International Women’s Day is better than Thunder Road!  What else do I need to do?”

“Well, Henry, I take it you drink from time to time, socially?”

“Well yeah.  You know, a Bud and a shot of Jack.”

“No, no, no, no, Henry.  You must refine your comportment.  Starting with your drinking habits.  As I said, the Governor and I got some things settled over cognac last night.  Not once did I have to use my Steel Hankie on him.  So, Henry, from now on, you will drink only cognac and single malt scotches.  And martinis, Henry.  With a twist of lemon.  Or also with an olive that you can offer to the lady in the seat adjacent to you in your favorite cocktail lounge.”

“That’s this place right here,” says Henry.  “And I can get all that stuff here.  I seen this old dude with a cane drinking that stuff.”

“Ah, that would be my associate, Peter.  You know, he was once a rude ruffian like yourself, Henry?”

“No kiddin’, PolitenessMan?  So there’s hope for me, huh?”

“Of course, Henry.  And along with your new classy State job and your classy cocktails, I highly recommend a new wardrobe.  The jeans and leather biker boots will have to go anyway, once you’re working for Governor Shumlin.  I would say, after a shave and haircut, you might head up to the Mall for some dress slacks and shirts, some sport coats and ties, and some dress shoes, perhaps a pair for this summer, with tassels.  And perhaps, an ascot or two, and a fedora and a beret.  That will go well with your new classy name.”

“My new name, PolitenessMan?”

“Not really new, Henry.  Just the pronunciation.  Can you say Hen…ri?

“Oh yeah!  Like the French guy.  Right, PolitenessMan?”

“Exactly,” says PolitenessMan, who is beaming now at Henry’s…excuse me, Hen…ri‘s new demeanor.  “Also, one more thing, Henri.”

“What’s that, PolitenessMan?”

“Can you have that tattoo removed?  DETOX THE VEGANS is in bad taste.  As so many ladies have now adopted healthy foods and are making our entire society healthier by example.”

“You got it, PolitenessMan.  Gee, I’m sure glad I was out here having a cigarette when you came by.  I feel like a whole new dude.”

“And that’s another thing, Henri,” says PolitenessMan, pointing at Henri’s cigarette.  “Cigarettes, Henri.  They are…how shall I say it?…gauche.  I think you’d look really good sporting a pipe in all your new attire and outlook.”

“But, PolitenessMan, that dude with the cane, Peter, he smokes butts.”

“Ah. Henri,” PolitenessMan sighs, “Peter still walks, or limps, I should say, to some different drums.  He hears voices too, and talks out loud to himself.  Still some bad habits there.”

“Yeah, PolitenessMan.  I wouldn’t talk out loud to myself.  Why…a Lady might take offense.”

“I believe, as Henry Higgins put it, you’ve got it, Henri!”

“Okay, PolitenessMan, I’m gonna head out to the barber shop now.  And then go to the Mall.  And tomorrow, I’ll make an appointment with Governor Shumlin.  I feel like a new man!”

“And remember, Henri, when you see the Governor, do use my name as a reference.  He owes me a few favors from 2010.  With a nose like that, I had quite a task that Fall.  I hope he took my advice about International Women’s Day.”

“What was that, PolitenessMan?”

“Just that, Henri, he should invite a coalition of Vermont women to redo the budget.  It would be in good taste and good manners on this day that he acknowledge, like all of us males, his failings.  And let women fix things.  You see, we’re really quite lucky being men, Henri.”

“Quite,” says Henri.

“I’ll let you go now, sir.  Enjoy your new life, Henri.”

“Thanks, PolitenessMan.  Boy, after I get all these chores done today and tomorrow, I’m gonna have me a couple of those cognacs and practice being polite to women in the bar here.  I can’t wait to use my new manners.  See ya, PolitenessMan.”

And Henri walks off.

PolitenessMan then turns to address us all:

“On this day, International Women’s Day, we should all be thankful that women exist.  They give us good manners, good clothes, good food and drink, and a healthy attitude about decorum and the finer things in life.  Remember, without women, there would be no reason for any of us men to wear hats.  For whom would we have to tip them to?  And with that, Ladies, on this, your day, I tip my hat to all of you.  And hope no more Steel Hankies will rain on your day.  Adieu.”

Peter Buknatski

Montpelier, Vt.

I’m sick and tired of  racing to a ringing phone with dishwater or plaster on my hands, only to be asked by an automated voice to hold for an “important message.”  I’m sick and tired of robo calls altogether.

I always hang up on them; but today I am making it official, and inviting anyone else who feels like joining the boycott to make it official too.

Be it known, far and wide: The Prent household will not be at home to any robo-caller for any reason, whatsoever.

If you want to annoy us with unsolicited messages, at least have the decency to employ a human being in the process.  

With unemployment and underemployment plaguing the nation, it is the height of arrogance and social irresponsibility to expect us to hang on the phone, listening to a message that’s been outsourced to a robot.

No sale; no kidding.

I’ve got better things to do…and so do you.

Awww. Poor, poor Skip Vallee has suffered another setback in his ongoing battle to avoid free-market competition at Exit 16. This time, the District 4 Environmental Commission turned down a request by Vallee and another convenience-store giant to reconsider a January decision allowing Costco to build a gas station at its Colchester store.

The two parties, ever in search of loopholes and pretexts to keep Costco at bay, asked for a rehearing on the flimsy grounds that their party status was improperly limited on some aspects of the Commission’s hearings. Including a section of Act 250 regarding esthetics.

The Commission turned ’em down flat. And, in a decision written by vice chair Marcy Harding, injected a bit of sarcasm into its two-page decision:

Vallee had argued that he can see the wetlands near Costco from his offices at the Maplefields facility on U.S. 7 near the entrance to Costco.

“Regarding new evidence … on Mr. Vallee’s ability to see the Costco wetlands from his building, we find that this is not evidence that is either newly discovered or was previously unavailable,” Harding wrote.

Methinks the Commission is getting a little tired of Skippy’s endless petitions and appeals.

Not that their disdain will have any effect on Our Man Vallee, who vows to “seek redress in all forums available.”

I wonder how much his legal antics are adding to the cost of a gallon at Maplefields?  

The Worst Daily in Vermont has done stepped in it big time. Word of its unfortunate insert in today’s paper, first reported by GMD’s kestrel9000, has gone national by way of the widely-read Jim Romenesko media blog.

And thence to the attention of the Asian-American Journalists Association, which has fired off a letter of protest to Mark Smith, publisher of the Cal-Rec:

No one can criticize the Caledonian Record for rooting for the home team. But we at the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) were appalled by the insert included in your newspaper to cheer on the St. Johnsbury Academy. “Fry Rice” caught the wrong kind of attention because of its racist undertones.

By itself, the slogan might be considered clever. But it became offensive when published in a typeface mimicking Chinese calligraphy.

A Wall Street Journal columnist summed up how seemingly inconsequential things like fonts perpetuate stereotypes. The column (found at http://on.wsj.com/LCaQYn) noted the “psychological toll from regular exposure to ching-chong babble, slant-eyed caricature, cheesy font choices and face-painted minstrelsy.”

We’ll assume that your use of that typeface was not meant to offend. But we’ll also assume that if that is the case, the Caledonian Record will publicly acknowledge its lapses in taste and judgment.

I suspect it’ll be a cold day in Hell before they get their apology. And if it does come, it’ll be one of those weaselly “to those who were offended” non-apologies.

Because so far, the operators of the Calcified Rectum remain clueless about their bad judgment.  

Publisher Mark Smith failed to return Jim Romenesko’s request for comment. The Cal-Rec’s webpage still includes the paper’s Tweet alerting readers to the quasi-racist poster.

And the paper’s Facebook page has attracted a steady stream of comments, most of them critical of the paper. A few, predictably, are variations on “so what’s the big deal?”

Unfortunately, their number includes three ignorant posts by “T. Smith,” I’m guessing  Todd Smith, assistant publisher, who presumably earned his high post the old-fashioned way: by fortunate accident of birth. T’s posts:

The last one was posted around 2:30 p.m. No more after that. I guess the Toddster decided to get out of the line of fire. Or perhaps Daddy told him to shut up and lay low.  

That’s one of their two options, anyway. The other is to step out, own up, and apologize sincerely and fully.

Ya think they’ll go with option A?

Vermont’s precious shorelines are under siege from development pressures almost everywhere in the state.

Habitat important to the aquatic environment has little protection as things now stand, where zoning regulations are established by people at the most local level, who most often do not even begin to consider the unique vulnerabilities of a lakeshore ecosystem.

Since the people making those decisions typically lack any eco-science background, when push-comes-to-shove, immediate economic or scenic interests tend to prevail over long term protections for the environment.  

Ignorant of the impacts, landowners frequently strip the shoreline of small trees and shrubs so that their view is unimpeded, thus allowing polluted runoff to much more rapidly invade the waterway, and depriving lakeshore wildlife of the sheltering habitat that maintains a healthy aquatic lifecycle.

A bill that is currently being shaped in the House, H.223, represents a bold effort to save that habitat before it’s too late to do so.

As all of the lakes of Vermont are central to the public good, providing both economic and recreational benefit when their vitality is maintained,  the interests of the people are best upheld when efforts to protect those waters are coordinated on a statewide level and can benefit from the knowledge and training of ANR’s environmental science specialists.

It is with that in mind that shoreland regulation is proposed to

 Protect water quality, wildlife habitat, bank stability…protect the uses and values of lakes such as recreation, angling, tourism; and the property tax base….avoid expensive lake restoration in the future… (and) respond responsibly to economic development along lakeshores.

This bill does not in any way represent an effort to end or limit enjoyment of the lakeshore by landowners who currently live and recreate there.  Nor does it undermine the rich commercial potential of lakeshore properties. It only seeks to establish common sense zoning regulations to protect aquatic assets so that their value may be enjoyed by Vermonters for generations into the future.  

No one wants to spend time on a dead or dying beach.  It is therefore in the best interests of lakshore property owners to support H.223, as it will protect them and their valuable property from destruction and losses that might occur as the result of irresponsible practices  elsewhere on the shoreline.

H.223 is still in the formative stage, but already opponents of regulation are raising the usual alarms, suggesting the bill is  “another” attempt to take away landowner’s rights of self-determination.  Nothing could be further from the truth. It simply recognizes that the lakes belong to everyone.  As lakeshore habitat tends to cross town and county boundaries, impacts of poor management cannot be regarded as the isolated concern of a single town or village.

It is only good sense to establish statewide zoning rules to govern the management of our lakeshore, and to do it now before we get swept up in another building and development boom.

To my eye, the big news out of Town Meeting Day, our annual orgy of Vermont exceptionalism, was the overwhelming acceptance of local school budgets. According to the Vermont School Boards Association, 220 budgets were accepted and only 16 defeated — close to the state’s average for the past decade.

The obvious interpretations:

1. Vermonters are willing to pay for a public sector that is accountable and meets their needs.

2. Despite the constant mewlings of political figures from Bruce Lisman to Peter Shumlin and the incessant propagandizing of Vermonters First and other champions of far-right rhetoric, Vermonters are not “taxed to death” and don’t believe that their taxes are too high.

3.  Despite constant mewlings about the failure of public education, Vermonters are satisfied with their local schools.

4. If you do the right thing, even if it costs money, the voters will back you up.

With Vermonters continuing to pass virtually every school budget set before them, I don’t see how you can draw any other conclusion. Vermont is a liberal state that believes in a well-funded and effective public sector — even more so than its often timid political leaders seem to believe.

The oft-rumored Great Vermont Tax Revolt has once again been called off, for lack of interest.  

Small sidelight to Shumlin’s presser today. He was asked about the VPR report, cited by me in this diary, indicating that the federal sequester might open the door to consideration of tax increases.

And he did his level best to shoot it down.

Let me just say a word about that, because I did see a press report recently that interpreted my words differently than perhaps I expressed them, or maybe it was creative reporting.

He then pivoted to his talking points about the awfulness of the sequester, and then said:

My point is, Vermonters don’t have the tax capacity to bail out the ineptitude of the federal government. Period. No exceptions. We do not have that loot in our pockets.

When he talked about “creative reporting,” I don’ know if he meant Bob Kinzel or me, or possibly both. As for Kinzel, he was simply quoting the Governor. As for me, I’m not reporting, I’m offering analysis and commentary. And yeah, I do try to be creative. While also being as accurate as I can be.

Here’s the key passage from Kinzel’s piece:

The governor has strongly opposed most efforts to raise taxes this year but he says he might have to re-evaluate this position if the sequestration process drags on.

“If this thing were to go for any length of time we’d have to rethink everything that we’re doing.”

I saw wiggle room in that quote. If the Governor didn’t mean it that way, well, maybe he should have put it differently.  

Note: This is the promised expansion of the brief headline item i posted earlier today.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt sorry for Tom Salmon before.

Our esteemed former Auditor, now out of the spotlight*, became a convenient target for political slings and arrows today, as Governor Shumlin called for new legislation regarding Tax Increment Financing (TIF) along with forgiveness for any possible violations of current TIF law by local communities.

*Anybody know if Tommy Boy has accepted any of those lucrative out-of-state offers he’d supposedly received?

Salmon, you may recall, released a 2011 audit that harshly criticized the TIF law’s ambiguities and called on four communities to give the state Education Fund a total of $6 million to make up for alleged underpayments. Shumlin echoed Salmon’s conclusions about the iaw, but rejected Salmon’s $6 million demand. Instead, he said, “Let bygones be bygones. Let’s clarify the future and wipe the slate clean from the past.” (Photo: the Governor speaking today on the formerly mean streets of Winooski, now sanctified by the power of the TIF.)

He also made it clear that he stands with the communities, not the audit. When asked if that $6 million should be considered a debit against the state Education Fund, Shumlin replied:

Well, some would argue that. I would argue that it was never really there, because the towns’ interpretation is pretty clear that they didn’t owe it.

In other words, the towns are right and Salmon was wrong.

Makes sense from a purely political point of view, I guess. Choose between a party turncoat who made loads of enemies and squandered his credibility, and is now gone from the scene; and the mayors of Vermont’s largest communities, who have given their support to Shumlin even when it meant crossing party lines.

Yeah, let’s go with the mayors.

After the jump: Some pretty strong anti-audit comments. Plus reaction from the current Auditor, Doug Hoffer.

For those just joining us, TIF is a way to subsidize development in troubled communities. It issues bonds to finance development projects, and uses the extra property-tax revenue created by the development to pay off the bonds. Vermont’s current law contains no enforcement mechanism, and left substantial room for interpretation by local officials.

Shumlin announced his call for amnesty and a legislative do-over outside the Champlain Mill development in downtown Winooski, which he cited as an example of the good that has been done through TIFs in the past.  He surrounded himself with mayors and other local officials, who were happy to join the Salmon dogpile. For example, Brian Palaia, Milton town manager:

This has been a concerning matter for the past two years, since the state auditor decided to cast aspersions upon this important economic development tool.

Aspersions, indeed. Funny way to characterize an audit. Later, Steve Jeffrey, head of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, referred to “the kinks and little problems we’ve run into with the TIFs.” Yeah, six million bucks worth of kinks.  

Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding sought to isolate Salmon by invoking his successor:

The current auditor supports the proposal in front of us. because there’s a great deal of uncertainty about where the numbers come from, and it doesn’t do anybody any good to keep arguing over numbers that may or may not be accurate, and instead get the rules clear and the enforcement clear moving forward.

See, it’s just too darn CONFUSING to figure out who’s right and wrong, so we’re just going to forget the whole thing.

As for “the current auditor,” Doug Hoffer wasn’t there. I asked if we was invited, and Shumlin spokesflack Sue Allen said that Hoffer “couldn’t come.”

Couldn’t, or wouldn’t?

LATE ADD: I just received the following reaction from Doug Hoffer by e-mail:

But really, for all my snark, I can see Shumlin’s point of view. The state law was badly written, to the point where it may truly be impossible to say who really owes how much. And, he argues, TIF is too important an economic-development tool to put on the shelf while we figure out who’s right and who’s wrong. Better to just start from scratch. If we can get it right this time, maybe this is the best thing for all concerned.

That’s the important thing going forward: what mechanisms will the Legislature create for oversight and enforcement of TIF requirements? Vermont doesn’t have a great record with economic-development initiatives; the original TIF law isn’t the first to either be ambiguously written or to be ignored in practice. Take, for example, Howard Dean’s corporate tax credit program, subject of a pretty savage report by then-Auditor Elizabeth Ready.  

It’s not clear if Shumlin’s proposal has actually been written yet. I asked him if his TIF plan was based on Salmon’s recommendations, and he said “Some of it, yes.” But when I asked him to elaborate on the differences, he quickly changed the subject.

A good TIF bill would be, on balance, a good thing for Vermont. But the bill needs to be strong enough to eliminate room for funny business, and enforcement needs to be tough enough to eliminate the sweetheart deals that sometimes arise from poorly-managed tax-incentive programs.

The devil, or the angel, will be in the details.  

Hi. I’m John, and I have diabetes.

I’m okay, though; it was caught early, and it’s under control. But here’s the story, and how it relates to our health care debate.

I’m in my late 50s. I’ve been overweight for most of my adult life, and yeah, the main culprits have been sugar and carbs. Plus, there are diabetics on both sides of my family tree, and genetics is a big risk factor.

So, early January, routine visit to my doctor. He comes in with that adorable hangdog expression he wears when I’ve disappointed him with bad numbers or weight gain, and tells me I have diabetes.

It was a surprise to me, because I didn’t have any symptoms. Aside from my weight I felt pretty good; but my blood sugar was in the danger zone.

So, off to see the diabetes educator, and off to the pharmacy to get myself one of those finger-sticker thingies. Gotta cut back on carbs, eat more protein, and if I snack, it needs to be planned and balanced. And I gotta stick my finger twice a day.

And it’s worked.  

I’ve changed my diet, my blood sugar readings are way down, and at my one-month follow-up visit with the educator, she was extremely happy with my progress. Star pupil.

Here’s the thing. Diabetes is an insidious disease; you can have high blood sugar for years before it starts wreaking havoc on your body.  

But I have good health insurance. I can see my doctor regularly for a minimal co-pay. And that’s how my diabetes was detected early, before it began to destroy me. And thanks to my insurance, I have access to prescription drugs, finger-stickers, and informational support.

If I didn’t have insurance, or if I had the really crappy kind, I wouldn’t have been seeing my doctor regularly. I would have gone on eating a lousy diet until the diabetes was kicking my ass. In the short run I would have cost the system nothing; but within a few years I would have become a very expensive charity case.

And, if you care about the human dimension, I would have been in really bad shape and may well have died young.

The moral of the story: Universal health care. It’s the right thing to do. And if it’s done correctly, it’s cheaper than the alternative. Let’s do it.