George Rebane

Just a couple of observations from the other side of the tipping point.  The collectivist grip on our lives gets tighter by the day.

Local leftwingers will demonstrate against the XL Keystone pipeline reports the 3feb14 Union.  The usual suspects from the Nevada County Climate Change Coalition (NC-CCC), coordinating with CREDO, Rainforest Action Network, the Sierra Club and 350.org are inviting like-minded pilgrims to join them at 5pm this afternoon at Sutton and Brunswick with candles and song.  Their claims of the pipeline becoming a “huge source of carbon pollution” is on its merits insane, yet that condition is one which we can freely exhibit any time we want in this fair land.

The big concern of the looney left legion of Obama followers is that Fearless Leader is running out of excuses to delay building the pipeline.  The factual basis for their opposition has been missing in action for years.  But for these folks that is the least of their concerns which focus mainly on moving America into concordance with Agenda21 objectives which cannot be attained or implemented in an environment of affordable energy.  And now you can join in, just bring your candle and dress warmly.

Apropos to this is the latest report from Europe.  Manhattan Institute senior fellow Robert Bryce tells us (here) that “while renewables subsidies have punished Europe, shale gas has cut US emissions.”  The EU has already put paid to the Big Lie about green energy creating millions of new green jobs (Obama promised 5M new jobs in the US alone).  Now the Europeans are discovering that their energy costs have gone through the roof with all their renewable projects and subsidies.  They are pulling the plug on these as fast as they can, and hope it’s not too late to save their manufacturing sector which is becoming more uncompetitive by the day.  Germany is returning to the massive use of coal as its green energy projects collapse under mounting costs, while it continues to decommission its nuclear power plants.

Meanwhile, the abundance of natural gas has allowed the US to cut carbon emissions by almost 11% over the last eight years, while EU with their massive green programs has failed to achieve a 10% reduction, and has reaped high unemployment in the wake of its mandated madness.  Now they are doing their best to roll back to a cheaper energy configuration before they pauper their economies.  And don’t tell anyone, but China increased its carbon emissions by 4X of Germany’s total emissions in 2012 alone, and that coal fired choo-choo train ain’t slowing down.

Our own social engineers are also busy on many fronts.  The worthies at the Federal Trade Commission are in the process of passing regulations that will now involve them in the design of your new Apple iPad.  Why?  Well, it turns out that some little darlins are ordering all kinds of apps on their parents’ pads without their parents’ permission.  So, instead of having people rein in their kids, they have complained to the feds about the government’s need to get in there and do something that will make life more miserable for the rest of us so that they can continue to either ignore their issue, or focus on dispensing self-esteem to their little bastards (I use the term ‘bastard’ in its formal and probabilistic sense, given the nation’s rate of government promoted illegitimate births, and the likelihood of which homes the preponderance of such problems may arise).  More here.

Let’s end this with a real knee slapper.  It seems that the People’s Republic of Vermont will now impose international maple syrup standards on its iconic industry comprised of hundreds (thousands?) of small maple syrup makers all across the state (more here).  Some of these folks are multi-generational boutique producers who have their own special recipes that give their product distinct flavors enjoyed by customers over the decades.  Well, that makes no never mind with the central planners in Montpelier who, of course, know better.  No matter that some Vermonters are willing to mount the barricades on this latest government overreach, the bureaucrats just announced that everyone will have until next January to toe the mark or face fines.  And you know what happens if you think you’re still a free citizen, minding your own business, and don’t want to pay the fine.  (Some still wonder why every other government bureau, department, and administration is now packing heat, and even setting up SWAT teams.)

[4feb14 update]  No 'Celebrate America Day' at Ft Collins High School in Colorado (here).  Why?  Because it might cause distress for immigrant students attending the school according to the school's administration.  Now why in the world would it do that for either legal immigrants or illegal aliens here to become American citizens?  This is perhaps the most stupid shit thing I have heard coming out of the mouths of progressives who sentiments toward America today are more than suspect – Agenda21 über alles!  In the America I grew up in, such administrators would have been out of a job before the sun set, and never be allowed anywhere near where American children were being educated.  As you can tell, I am pissed.