Emissions standards

Seems we have a new set of emissions standards to deal with here in the US.  And before you get too uptight about it, please know sooner or later it will eventually become a law in your state, because as goes California, so goes everyone else.....

 

Now, before I tell you what the new standard is, I want to preface this by saying I think it's totally stupid, a waste of our time, and a blatant attempt to control even the very buttons we press every day.  First, this kind of standard goes far beyond the rational.  It would be one thing to say it's a public menace, but in truth, it's not.  Second, it would be another thing to say it endangers those around us, like second-hand smoke does.  But the truth is, it does not.  Thirdly, at least if this were shown to improve the public image of the product in question, I could at least live with it.  But this law doesn't even do that.  Have I got you curious what this new emission standard could possibly be?  Check out the following article: http://www.crn.com/hardware/221900314;jsessionid=JXDQGWSCSL0VFQE1GHPCKHWATMY32JVN

1. There is nothing wrong with the TV sets we already own.  We've moved from the horse & buggy days of the picture tube/CRT to flat screens, LED's, plasmas, and even LCD's.  All the newer technology eliminates harmful x-rays present in the older models.  But the trade-off we've made has meant we now have wide-screen gigantic movie-theatre style screens in our own living rooms and dens.  Why?  So we can watch what we want, when we want, and let our neighbors see it too.

2. The minimal amount of radiation now eminating from newer sets dissapates rapidly.  In fact, at more than even a few feet away, it won't touch you - it certainly won't go through walls or outside our homes and become dangerous to our neighborhoods, subdivisions, and communities.

3. The TV set you own has become something of a status symbol.  It's alot like cars were a few years back - the bigger, more expensive one you owned, the more parties you got invited to.  Now, it's the reverse, the bigger screen you have, the more folks will come to your party when you do the inviting.  I'm not saying this is a good thing or not.  I'm just pointing out the obvious conclusion if you follow that line of reasoning.

 

When the government starts telling me what remote control I can own and what kind of TV I have to have to meet some kind of ridiculous, arbitrary standard just so I can avoid a "carbon footprint" or whatever the next trash logic they come up with is, I refuse.  I draw the line right there.  If I want to go to Wal-Mart are buy a 96-inch wide widescreen, get out of my way!  I earned that money & should be able to spend it on a massively huge TV if I want to.  It's called the American way. If you don't like it, feel free to leave.  Because what's next is a TV tax - your TV is too big - has too many emissions - you have to pay a tax.  Wait, you got the XL9200 instead of the XL9100?  Sorry, not on the government's list - you owe a penalty.

 

But wait - I've got it - we need a TV bailout program!  Brilliant!  See, we'll get all the folks to turn in their old outdated, perfectly working TVs for the newer, greener models by giving them a credit on their purchase.  For every old TV they turn in, we'll give them $100 towards a new TV.  What could that be at most?  96 million TV's.  At $100 a piece, that comes to 9.6 billion dollars.  And guess who pays for it?  You do - higher taxes.  So now you're paying yourself for your own bailout.....doesn't make any sense does it?  That's right - it doesn't.  And neither did the cars for cash bailout, and neither did the banks stimulus bailout, etc.  The flaw in the government theory was that not everyone needed a new car or had a bank going bad.  So in effect, those not buying a new car, or who could afford their mortgage paid money to those who did by a new car, or who defaulted on their mortgage, if they even qualified......that's called re-distribution of income by the government, or better stated - robbing the public blind! 

 

Don't say I didn't warn you!  You heard it here first.  If we are forced into buying "green" TVs, a TV tax won't be far behind, and neither will the TV bailout.

 

Sometimes I hate being right.....this is NOT one of thise times.

 

That's my blog and I'm sticking to it!

 

Edge