Obama’s Cap and Trade Bill and Light Bulbs

The passage of the new climate bill is a terrible thing as it is the largest tax placed on Americans.  While the concept might seem great, the cost of cap and trade is passed on to the consumer.  The purpose of the bill was to help us get away from  foreign oil.  It will actually do the opposite.

When oil producers have to pay a tax, it increases their costs.  Those costs get passed on to us.  Once the costs get too high, the only thing the domestic producers will be able to do is shut down refineries and reduce production.   This bill is going to raise the cost of oil so much that we’re going to start importing oil again.

Besides this effect, it doesn’t help that 300 pages were added to the bill at the very last minute.  How many of the democratic congress men actually read the bill?  To top it off, Obama’s “Energy Czar” hasn’t even read the bill.  Jimmie, from the Sundries Shack has a nice opinion on that.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Aiming to keep the focus on climate change legislation, President Barack Obama put a plug in for administration efforts to make lamps and lighting equipment use less energy.

“I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and businesses,” the president said, standing alongside Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the White House.

And by “better” the administration means “whatever crappy expensive new lighting General Electric happens to be making that might possibly eke out an infinitesimal energy savings, damn the cost to you or your employer”.

Now Obama wants to regulate your lightbulb. I knew that we would have big government with Obama, but this is more than I would have thought.  If Obama would let capitalism run its course, we would have more efficient bulbs.  It is not government that is the creator of new ideas, it is the entrepreneur.  As Obama and his government get more mixed in with business, they will continue to stifle the economy.

Obama pointed out the following in the article.

He pointed to the state of California as an example of what stricter energy efficiency standards could achieve. In the late 1970’s, California enacted tougher energy policies, which the president said, helped create millions of jobs. Today, he said, Californians consume 40 percent less energy per person than the national average.

Ya, California is an example of all that is good. <Sarcasm>  Does that also include their $24 Billion in deficits this year?  Government should be small.  It should mind its own business and let the people take care of themselves.