The story is everywhere so I'll skip the links. For those of you who believe the climate models, this is a great day. The EPA will save you from global warming. For those of you who believe what you observe, this is an Orwellian novel.
Before you get too worked up about this, remember that the EPA is a pseudo-scientific agency. Yes, there are scientists and they do have their chemistry sets. Beyond that, they are a political agency doing the behest of the ruling party. Consequently, the EPA can declare a naturally occurring substance a pollutant that requires regulating... even though the portion of the substance present in our environment that can be attributed to man's activity is minuscule.
But let's see how this plays out. Here are some possibilities:
- Any vehicle of any type using combustion engines will be subject to higher taxes either directly or through significantly increased fuel taxes
- Electricity produced by coal, natural gas, or diesel fuel will be subject to higher taxes
- Homes heated by natural gas will be subject to higher taxes
- Electricity consumed beyond a pre-set limit will be subject to a tax surcharge
- Disturbing ground cover and releasing CO2 will be prohibited and fined unless a permit is paid for
You have just begun to see the backlash. Tea parties will be supplanted by protests by those affected by this misguided Obamian adventure into science fiction. That's anyone included in the dot points above. The only thing getting hotter are necks under collars. The only hot air threatening us is emanating from the EPA.
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