Posted on 06/14/2010 7:24:20 AM PDT by Ed Hudgins
A scramble by Democrats on Capitol Hill to prevent a particular vote on a particular bill highlights for us two of the most pernicious threats to our liberties. Here’s the story.
In 2009 the Obama administration’s Environmental Protection Agency classified carbon dioxide gas—what you exhale from your lungs and what all plants breathe in—as a dangerous pollutant that the federal government can regulate. This means the EPA can regulate automobiles, manufacturing facilities, and pretty much every activity necessary for the support of human life.
But under the Congressional Review Act, passed as part of the Republicans’ Contract for America in the 1990s, a simple majority vote of both houses of Congress can overturn an executive branch regulation. And Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski has introduced just such a bill, which could garner support from Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller from coal-producing West Virginia and a few others of his party who worry about voter backlash against President Obama.
Obama would certainly veto such a bill, and Republicans as yet do not have enough votes to pass it. Still, Democratic leaders are trying to prevent a vote from being taken because even a losing vote could be an embarrassment to Obama. But the real embarrassment is the anti-carbon regulation itself. Consider the two pernicious ideas that, combined with human irrationality, are behind this regulation.
The new sacrilege
To begin with, for decades environmental cultists have been indoctrinating Americans to see the environment—that is, everything that isn’t us or isn’t made by us—as somehow of value not to us but, rather, above, beyond, and independent of us. Trees aren’t of value because their owners can enjoy walking through a forest of them or cut them down to make their houses. Those trees are sacred! They deserve respect…
(Excerpt) Read more at atlassociety.org ...
“Carbon, Cults, and Control Freaks”
I’m getting tired of these endless mormon threads!
Mormon???
The Competitive Enterprise Institute will bestow the Julian Simon Award on Steve McIntyre and Ross McKitrick for their efforts in debunking Mann's hockey stick at CEI's 2010 Dinner, June 17 at Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill 400 New Jersey Ave. NW Washington, DC 20001.
M&M will also be presenting A Congressional Staff and Media Briefing "ClimateGate, The Context and the Cover-up" 6/17/10 Noon to 1:30 PM ; 406, Dirksen Senate Building, Lunch provided
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