Posted by
Bob Siegel on Friday, June 26, 2009 5:04:42 PM
It couldn't be timed better: Today our House of Representatives votes on a bill nicknamed Cap and Trade. I'll bet over two thirds of the country doesn't even know what this bill is all about. Maybe you, yourself, never heard of it before. Well, don't worry. Most of Congress doesn't understand either. The bill is 1200 pages long and few, if any, of our politicians have read the phone book thick pages, even though it's shorter than the stimulus package bill that they also didn't read.
Cap and Trade (code for "Clean Energy Bill" ) was cranked out quickly and jammed through by our
administration. Why the rush? Well, for one thing, taking time would mean debating the subject. Our current administration and current congress does not seem to enjoy debate. A real discussion, after all, would question the whole purpose of this "clean energy bill" in the face of some 700 scientists around the world calling the whole Global Warming paranoia a hoax. Yes, 700! That's 3 times the amount of scientists who sponsored the U.N's Global Warming resolution. But we can't take the time to hear these people out. Neither should we dare point to hot spots like Arizona, which had record cold winters this past year.
And there's another reason for a bill that burns rubber faster than those unfriendly cars whom they plan to outlaw. Obama promised that there would be no raised taxes on the Middle Class or small businesses, only on evil rich people. Technically, Cap and Trade is not a tax because it will not be collected by a tax agency. It is, instead, a mega-morphed gas and electric bill which some estimate will cost Americans 3000 dollars a year more than what they already pay. You see, our government, by joining with gas and electric companies, is imposing a tax disguised as a monthly stipend that you are already used to paying. It's a pretty good disguise, actually. The envelope and logo will look exactly the same. It's only when you open it up and see the cost that your eyes will pop out of their sockets. But the very fact that you someday see this bill, means the law will have long since passed without you having time to ask President Obama if this kind of, sort of, violates his no new tax pledge.
The idea here is for our government to help us save energy by taxing energy more, thus discouraging the usage of bad energy and funding clean, green energy at the same time. Great way to kill two birds with one stone but let's not describe it that way. It might encourage environmentalists to find an even newer tax.
So you see? Obama did keep his promises about no new taxes. Oh yeah, sure, you'll be paying three grand a year extra but that is not a tax. Why? Because we don't call it a tax!
As for Obama's other promise about no new legislation without first putting impending bills over the internet so the public can be aware of them, well he's probably just being sensitive to a populace which won't care this weekend. They're too busy mourning Michael Jackson and the Michael Jackson story is going to be THE ONLY THING you see on our 24 hour news networks. Never mind, Cap and Trade. Never mind North Korea. Never mind Iran. Oh yeah...That nationalized health care thing that would literally destroy our country is also coming up....Once again, never mind!
I do agree that Michael Jackson's death is real news and important to the many people who loved him and viewed him as a cultural icon. Some headlines the first few days along with handful of television specials are certainly in order. But is it naive to hope that ostriches will take their heads out of the sand long enough to see our freedoms removed?
Meanwhile, I wonder how much energy will be used up when people open their little envelopes and immediately call electric companies to find out what the Sam Hill is
going on. Just about this time next year, June 2010, Greta Van Susteren
will probably be ready to start winding down on the Michale Jackson story and people might be able to
discuss other matters, such as, a government which steals more than Ali
Baba's 40 thieves! OOPS! By innocently referring to a classic children's tale, I accidentally mentioned Middle East thieves, even though it was meant as a metaphor for Washington criminals. I guess I'll worry about that one later when the Hate Speech bill also tiptoes through. I should be safe for another week or so.
This is Bob Siegel, making the obvious, obvious.
Also by Bob Siegel:
It Doesn't Matter What He Does! It Only Matters What He Says!