Sedona AZ (December 18, 2014) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:
Why Did ACC’s Bob Stump Single Out This Public Speaker?
Information & Perspective by Warren Woodward
Sedona, Arizona
About 30 people spoke at the recent “smart” meter meeting at the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). For some reason, the ACC chairman, Bob Stump, has chosen to single out one of them for the benefit of his Twitter subscribers.
Not once but twice, Bob Stump has sent out “tweets” calling attention to Floris Freshman who spoke wearing a hat she made herself to shield her head from EMF.
Bob Stump retweeted
Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter · Dec 12
Smart meter opponent wears bike helmet covered in tin foil/cloth to reduce RF exposure at @AZCorpComm meeting
[This “tweet” included a photo of Floris taken by Randazzo, the AZ Republic reporter]
and
Bob Stump @BobStump · Dec 15
At 2:02:29, Floris Freshman: “bicycle helmet covered in aluminum” combats #smart #meters. http://azcc.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=1773#.VI-RgWvoya9.twitter …
The ACC is tasked with the responsibility to protect AZ ratepayers by weighing the costs and benefits of all state utility requests.
No other person at the meeting received this attention from Stump. Why?
I think it’s a fair guess that Stump is taking delight in calling attention to Floris and her “bicycle helmet covered in aluminum” for the purpose of ridicule.
Floris told Stump during her testimony that she had suffered head trauma, and gave her reasons for wearing the hat. For that she gets singled out for public ridicule by the chairman of the ACC? How sick is that?
Even if Stump thinks her hat is funny, is it right for the chairman of the ACC to call public attention to it? Isn’t that rather undignified, immature and disrespectful for someone in his position?
How does it encourage people to take part in the political process and exercise freedom of speech? Many people are nervous enough to come forward and speak. What sort of message is Stump sending to Arizonans? ‘Come to my meetings and I’ll make fun of you?’ Is that it?
For his juvenile, uninformed harassment of Dr. Martin Blank – a man with two PhDs, one in physical chemistry and one in colloid science – I wrote previously that Stump came off like an obnoxious brat. This recent Stump episode only confirms my assessment.
Republicans, other ACC commissioners, indeed all Arizonans should be embarrassed to have someone so lacking in decorum in charge of their elected regulatory agency.
Stump, resign. You are unfit. You are unbecoming of the office you hold.
PS – Here’s how Stump defines himself at his Twitter account:
Chair, Phoenix Opera/AZ Corporation Commission; ‘candidate to watch’ – National Journal; ‘a dashing tuxedoed figure’ – AZ Republic; AZ-NYC-DC. RT ≠ endorsement
“A dashing tuxedoed figure”? Are you kidding me? Why not just put “Look at me; I’m wonderful.”
A “candidate to watch”? Uh, I think I’ve watched enough, thank you.
For the best Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!
TAKE ACTION – APS SOLAR & REGULAR RATE PAYERS – ACC did not offer any opt out to APS solar rate payers. Please voice your opinion and go to http://www.azcc.gov/Divisio…/Utilities/forms/CommentForm.htm
Name of docket: APS APPLICATION Schedule 17
Docket Number: E-01345A-13-0069
As your comment put . . .”I am against discrimination of Solar Customers.”
Further explanation:
Arizona Revised Statutes that apply to the attempted discrimination of solar customers from participating in equal opportunity to Opt-Out from all harmful ‘smart’ meters on one’s residence.
40-334.Discrimination between persons, localities or classes of service as to rates, charges, service or facilities prohibited. A. A public service corporation shall not, as to rates, charges, service, facilities or in any other respect, make or grant any preference or advantage to any person or subject any person to any prejudice or disadvantage.
A.R.S.40-361.B Every public service corporation shall furnish and maintain such service, equipment and facilities as will promote the safety, health, comfort and convenience of its patrons, employees and the public, and as will be in all respects adequate, efficient and reasonable.
The subject is still open for discussion.
“An ad hominem (Latin for “to the man” or “to the person”[1]), short for argumentum ad hominem, means responding to arguments by attacking a person’s character, rather than to the content of their arguments. When used inappropriately, it is a fallacy in which a claim or argument is dismissed on the basis of some irrelevant fact or supposition about the author or the person being criticized.” [Quote from Wikipedia]
In my opinion nothing is more unprofessional or more clearly shows these commission members are not qualified for the positions they hold, not to mention their inability to communicate, than answering factual information with ad hominem attacks. Ad hominem arguments got us into the war in Iraq (Hint: There was no factual information for WMDs, aluminum tubes for reactors or yellow cake from Nigeria.)
The American Way is to debate the issue in a public forum where everyone can attend and say his/her piece. Sedona has such a place at the public high school. I think the commissioners are resorting to ad hominem attacks and refusing to answer questions because they are incompetent and have been put in their positions as a layer of insulation for the real decision makers. Prove me wrong.
People don’t care and politicians are.a reflection of that – – sad sad sad — for our nation – –
Why do politicians have to care @Bob, there’s no repercussions. Look how Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are considered viable candidates for President, when neither have the qualifications to be a postmaster.
Phylla…since when is US Senator, Secretary Of State, & Governor not qualifications for President?