I drove by a house in Madison that was sold recently. There were service trucks and Sears delivery trucks in the yard preparing the new owner's home.

I did not see any contractors who might install wind, solar or any other energy technology. I did see, however, a van installing a cutting-edge security system. Estimating the dollar value of all the goods and services being delivered, the new family could have well-afforded an alternate energy system.

They chose, instead, to install a security system. That pretty well depicts the American choice of priority: Paranoia about being robbed while exploiting our common environment.

Peter P. Sirois

Madison