News

Dec 22, 2009

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-California) is one of the main architects of the House of Representative's "cap and trade" bill (H.R. 2454) that narrowly passed the House in July. Waxman, an extremely liberal member of Congress, modeled his bill, in part, after similar laws that had already passed California's Democratic-controlled state legislature. Some of these state laws are now beginning to take effect in America's most populous state.


One example is the California Public Utilities Commission requiring all utilities to install new "smart meter" boxes on homes and businesses in the state. The new meters will give public utilities greater control and monitoring ability over private household and business energy use.

The new system will eventually affect the way we use energy. Using their new meters, the utilities will be able to change rates -- in the middle of the day, if they wish. Ultimately, they will even be able to monitor and control home energy use when the "smart grid" is online (see page 122, section 141-146 of the legislation). This technology will ultimately allow "big brother" to control thermostats and temperatures of refrigerators and freezers as well.

So imagine my reaction recently when my local utility company showed up to install a "smart meter" on my house. I objected, but was told by the utility supervisor of the "smart meter group" that, as a customer, I didn't have the choice of opting out. But what I found most surprising was what the second-tier supervisor admitted to me. She said chip technology will be in place soon to control our thermostats, noting that it's just a matter of time for it to be implemented. And she added that "we still have the choice" of opting out if we want to. Yeah, right!

Liberal politicians think they know what's best for all of us. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), for example, wants nothing less than total control of our personal energy use. And it seems contradictory, don't you think, that these same Democratic leaders don't appear to be interested in abiding by the same rules they want to force upon us?

It was during the presidential campaign last year when Barack Obama said "we can't...keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times and then expect that other countries are going to say okay." Yet White House senior aide Barry -- responding recently to a question about President Obama cranking up his thermostat this winter -- simply stated: "He's from Hawaii...he likes it warm."

So why is this issue so important? Because it's another example of big government continuing to reach into every aspect of our lives. I don't appreciate government bureaucrats telling me what temperature I can set on my thermostat, freezer, or refrigerator. It's a blatant invasion of privacy.

The cap-and-trade bill has yet to pass the U.S. Senate -- but look out! It's on Democrats' agenda for next year. When viewed as a whole, the legislation is nothing but a job-killing and freedom-killing bill...and that's why it must be stopped at all costs!