California Wants to Ban Big Screen Televisions

In the category of I told you so, intrusive government is making its move to control the type of television set you watch. California, that wonderful state that spews out its spawn such as Nancy Pelosi on the rest of us, is considering banning energy hogging big screens televisions. They are concerned that your 60” flat screen puts too much of a strain on the electric grid. If it weren’t so sad and scary, it would be funny.

The California Energy Commission is in the process of setting energy use standards for flat screen televisions by summer of 2011. If the TV uses too much energy, retailers will be prohibited from selling them. Of course, a short drive to Nevada would take care of that. But nevertheless, it is a harbinger of very bad things to come by a government hell bent on controlling you life: from the time you get up in the morning until the time you go to bed; from the time you are born, until the time you die.

The ban will affect mostly plasma televisions, and televisions with screens larger than 40 inches. Estimates range between 20% - 40%, depending on the article one reads, as to how many flat screens would fall within the state mandated danger zone. LCD’s will have some problems, but not near as much. Regulators claim that it will help the consumer by saving him/her a whopping $18.00 - $30.00 per year on energy costs. Whoopee!!!!

Folks, this is just a sample of what is coming down the pike with these control freak energy environmental whackos. They are already telling you the kind of toilet you have to use. I have an illegal one that my plumber purchased in Canada. It’s a flusher gusher. I will promise you that they will be hooking monitors onto your home thermostats regulating how much energy you use to heat or cool your house. They will be installing monitors in your cars to check how many miles you drive. They will be monitoring what you eat, and deny you medical attention if you are overweight. And forget about the summer barbeque. That is next on the list, seriously. The desire of all bureaucrats is to tell you what you can do, and when you can do it, in every facet of your life.

Big government is insidious. It creeps into your life slowly. What sounds perfectly sane and plausible when Big Brother explains those wonderful plans for you will gradually, and inevitably, turn into a nightmare. It happens every time. And once implemented, it is difficult to reverse. Big government consumes everything around it, growing geometrically as its various components try to justify their existence.

The answer to California’s problem is to provide more energy and build out the electric grid, perhaps using some of that stimulus money the Feds are bandying about. Of course, that makes too much sense. People of that ilk never think of expanding the pie, only cutting smaller and smaller pieces.

They are comin’ for you, folks.