So, to all you American-types... who’s been following Pres. Obama’s “Cap and Trade” bill?

If you’re unfamiliar with it (since the news is more interested in Michael Jackson, understandably), it’s an energy bill meant to combat the effects of global warming (or “climate change,” or whatever the PC term is for it nowadays) by, for one thing, taxing companies that burn coal and offering incentives to companies that use PC (“green” ) technology (even if such technologies are substantially less efficient than traditional ones, and even if, in the long run, they do nothing particarly to help the environment*). A lot of people on the news have been going on and on about the higher costs of living we’re all going to suffer because of this bill (see that inefficiency bit)... after all, when energy costs are ramped up (a side effect inherent in increasing regulation), not only do we pay more for electricity, but also more for every good manufactured or shipped. Which is... really, every good. So... people don’t like getting hit in the wallet. What else is new?

But that's all small beans as far as I'm concerned. Do you folks know how this bill is going to effect you... personally and directly? 300 or so pages of amendments were added to the bill the night before the House approved it. Did your dear congressmen read these last-minute amendments? Ha. So... did you know that this bill demands such nice little laws as you having to pay to make your house “green”-compliant before you can even sell it? I say! Why I do believe that that infringes on our freedom!

This bill also regulates the construction of new homes, dictating that they be installed with such features as electric car jacks for battery-powered cars.

Soon, the Obama administration may be pushing for bills regulating what cars you can buy (they better be green ones!)... what jobs you can perform (you at the coal plant, you’re out!)... where you can live?? (Wouldn’t want you living too far away from the office— that would give your commute too big a carbon footprint! Silly citizen. )

So yeah. Wow. This Cap and Trade thing is seriously freaking me out, and it isn’t over a matter of higher utility bills. I can see it chipping away at our freedoms... and there’s no telling where this chipping might stop, because if it’s for the name of “greenness” and if it’s sanctioned by the Holy Obama, why, that makes it “right!”

But lemme tell you, it’s not right by me. So Americans, wake up already. Our freedom is being taken away by little laws, not an overnight revolution. Let’s not get to the point where you need a card stamped to leave your state... or the country. And for now, hope the Senate turns down Cap and Trade! ><



In other news... kinda a funny story. I lost my balance on the porch behind my house yesterday and wound up falling through a wooden railing six or seven feet onto my head. I think I sprained my neck... but bizarrely enough, I also decimated both my ankles (at least temporarily), which has made it difficult if not impossible to even walk. Jeeze... XD


Also... a belated RIP to Billy Mays. He brought a smile to many a face with his crazy ads, and he was prematurely cut down in his prime. May his memory live on...




_{(*Because think about it... if we decrease energy-production here in the US for the sake of green technology, other countries around the world will just make up for the differance using their own unregulated and more effecient processes. I'm telling you... let the market determine the means of production! >< (Money makes the world go 'round...))}