Thread: EPA: Quietly We Go Like Sheep to the Slaughter

U.S. Department of Energy, Incandescent bulbs, Renewable Energy, Radical environmentalists

Quietly We Go Like Sheep to the Slaughter

- Nathan Tabor Tuesday, May 24, 2011

When President Jimmy Carter and the U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Energy, little did Americans know at the time that pencil-pushing bureaucrats would slowly and silently create a colossus centralized government power.

To understand the rationale for suddenly creating a bureaucracy, one must be familiar with the Carter Administration. Arguably the worst president in U.S. history, Carter faced double-digit inflation, domestic and foreign policy failures, and a fuel shortage so severe that drivers would actually shoot or beat someone who dared to jump the gas lines that stretched for numerous city blocks.

In an attempt to bring order—at least, at gas stations—drivers were allowed to buy gasoline on alternate days according to odd or even numbers on their license plates. If you license ended in an even number you could gas up on Monday. Odd number? Tuesday was your day.

In addition to the shortage, gasoline prices skyrocketed as well, in turn contributing to double-digit inflation.

Formed as a result of this gasoline crisis by President Carter’s signing of legislation named The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, the original responsibility of the fledgling agency was energy policy.

Eventually, the Secretary of Energy included the nation’s nuclear weapons program, nuclear reactor production for the United States Navy, energy conservation, energy-related research, radioactive waste disposal, and domestic energy production to the department’s list of government responsibility.

DOE is today involved in more basic and applied scientific research than any other US federal agency. It is President Barack Obama who unveiled a $26.4 billion budget request for DOE for fiscal year 2011, including $2.3 billion for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Obama’s budget aims to substantially expand the use of renewable energy sources while improving energy transmission infrastructure. It also makes significant investments in hybrids and plug-in hybrids, in smart grid technologies, and in scientific research and innovation.

As part of the $789 billion economic stimulus package in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress provided Energy with an additional $38.3 billion for fiscal years 2009 and 2010, adding about 75 percent to Energy’s annual budgets. Most of the stimulus spending was in the form of grants and contracts.

As with any government entity, the DOE is constantly growing in size and power. For example, a new regulation will impact every single household in the nation in the coming months.

Under the new law to be enforced by the DOE, all light bulbs must use 25% to 30% less energy than today’s products by 2012 to 2014. The phase-in will start with 100-watt bulbs in 2012 and end with 40-watt bulbs in 2014. By 2020, bulbs must be 70% more efficient.

Incandescent bulbs were invented over 120 years ago, and environmentalists claim they could be replaced by many superior technologies if only the right regulations and financial incentives were put in place.

The alternative to the incandescent bulb is the Compact Fluorescent Lamp. However, observers believe CFLs present their own environmental problems.

“These bulbs contain mercury. That’s the only way they can work. The mercury vapor reacts to electricity to produce the light,â€

Tennessee Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn and Republican Representative Joe Barton of Texas were supposed to be among those actively working to reverse the ban on incandescent bulbs. Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander however seems to be pushing for greater punishment by government and utilities on the American people should they not comply with stricter use of energy. His big push for Big Brother Smart Meters and higher rates that follow are examples.

Watching the speech in Congress of Texas Representative Ted Poe (You Tube) on how to dispose of CFL bulbs is illuminating to say the least.

2 Corinthians 5:7, it is written, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."