My geekdom has been completed with dsl. Now I can come home from work on a Friday evening, fire up C-SPAN, and watch the House of Representatives. Haha...I'm not sick, but I'm not well.
The Cap and Trade issue is hugely important. There will be other fights ahead even if the current bill passes the House this evening, but I think this is a historic moment. If it is stopped tonight, it will at least give Americans a chance to really absorb what this is all about. At 3:00 A.M. this morning, another 300 page amendment was added to a bill that had ballooned already just days ago. And yet Democrats are insisting on moving forward with just a few hours to comprehend the entire bill and debate it. The Democrat's process on this bill makes a mockery out of open democracy.
But with that, they will own it. They are deliberately introducing scarcity into the vast majority of energy production in this country. They aren't doing it directly, but by limiting the allowance of permits to emit the byproducts of energy production, primarily carbon dioxide. They will ramp down the amount permitted over time. Basic economics says that as you make something more scarce, it will become more expensive.
Looks like the vote is on.
Update: Passed. 219-212, with 8 Republicans voting for. Hall of Shame to come.
The Democrats have just gone all-in. They are now on a path that says they can dictate the use of energy in this country and what is worthy of that or not, and how much it costs. One can try to say that no, they are just dictating that non-carbon based energy should be used, but non-carbon based energy production is not even close to making up for the gap in what will be needed to grow the economy. The squeeze will be on, and it's going to hurt.
When your electricity bill jumps up, and you suffer electrical brownouts/blackouts, remember this moment.
When you decide not to take that weekend trip because you can't or don't want to spend the money on gasoline, remember this moment.
When you lose your job because the product you help make is now made overseas, remember this moment.
When you lose your job importing the products that are no longer affordable to make here, remember this moment.
When you can't afford the products that used to be made here, but are now only expensive imports, remember this moment.
When you lose your job because all of the others who used to buy your products or services can't afford them, remember this moment.
And as your children and grandchildren scrabble to make a living and only dream of the civilization and freedom you once enjoyed, remember this moment.
And what you did or did not do.
Update II: Serr8d has the Republican wing of the Hall of Shame.
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