Hiding the Truth in Plain Sight

Almost missed: tucked within President Obama's "big announcement" of new lighting standards was a litany of benefits which included a clause that chilled me when I saw it. See if you can spot it.

Obama said the new efficiency standards he was announcing for lamps would result in substantial savings between 2012 and 2042, saving consumers up to $4 billion annually, conserving enough energy to power every U.S. home for 10 months, reducing emissions equal to the amount produced by 166 million cars a year, and eliminating the need for as many as 14 coal-fired power plants.

"Eliminating the need for as many as 14 coal-fired power plants."

As progressives so often do, they are hiding the truth in plain sight. We are being prepared for future government moves to close down power plants that are deemed unnecessary polluters.

You cannot have economic growth and energy independence using only conservation and cutbacks. The United States will become a very different country if the government will not allow the private sector to innovate and perform normally. We already see this coming with the "Cap and Trade" proposal now before the U.S. Senate. We will see even more coming through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other un-elected government entities.

I admit this is my interpretation, but words mean things and in the campaign 1) Obama is on record saying that his energy policies would necessarily drive up the cost of electricity because of his crackdown on coal, and 2) then Sen. Joe Biden, campaigning for the vice presidency, let it slip that the Obama administration would be no friend of coal.

I think you have to take them at their word, and if they are crowing about the ability to "eliminat(e) the need for as many as 14 coal-fired power plants," we should trust that they will try.

Perhaps it will come to the point where the government will issue every American family a ration of Yankee candles every month, and bid us good luck in the coming winter.

Going Mad Over Coal

Coal is now the Official Rock of West Virginia.

Who would've seen that coming?

But the Greenies aren't happy about it.

David Roberts of Grist.com goes into a litany of the evils of West Virginia, set off by his ire at the "official rock" pronouncement.

For instance, West Virginia has the lowest median household income in the U.S., and offers the least low-income weatherization assistance of any state, so perhaps Manchin could declare Sweltering in a Shack the official state pastime.

WV has the most casual and heavy drinkers, so it only makes sense to declare bourbon the official state beverage.

Manchin’s state comes in dead last in educational services and social assistance, but leads in citizens with disabilities, which suggests an official state motto: You’re On Your Own. And with the lowest number of college graduates of any state, and among the lowest adult literacy rates, WV definitely needs a short motto.

The state is winning the race in tooth loss and obesity, so it’s a no-brainer for Manchin to declare milkshakes the official state dessert.

Wow. This guy is really unhappy.

I hope for his sake he doesn't live in West Virginia.