Pasadena Politics

Well, as if the Government in California does not have enough to do, they have decided that you, yes you, are not intelligent enough to decide which TV is best for you.    Actually, it is more of a matter of which TV is best for the environment… well, the commission’s conscience more than the environment itself.    The absurdity, as with the majority of any regulation, is that they assume an informed buyer should chose a certain way.   They assume that they know what the wise decision is and so, by their regulation, imply that you are unwise; that you are not capable of deciding what is best both for yourself and the world around you.

Well, given disclosure, given access to knowledge, people can know what is best for them and without government regulation.  Which, coincidentally, is why keeping government from regulating the Internet is as important as keeping it from regulating Freedom of Speech:  knowledge is power.  

Now, personally, I have always been conscientious towards the power consumption of the equipment I use.   When LCD monitors in 1999 were affordable enough, I purchased one because I knew they used less power and they took up less space.    Note: my knowledge was executable when the price was more in line with my budget.    People buy Plasma TVs, not because they are energy efficient but because the image is superior.    As a consequence, they pay more money in electrical bills for that increased power consumption.   

The market is self-regulating in that regards.   So long as people’s rights are respected and information is made available concerning a product, they can be trusted to make informed decisions.   The offence of regulation is that it steps on the rights of the individual while treating them as children.  

Oh, did I mention California was considering steps to regulate the color of your car?   While not a ban, it would certainly have the effect of limiting your choice.   Not because you were informed, but because you were regulated. 

Think about the Incandecent bulb ban (’phase out’). The idea is to save the environment by using less electricity which will in turn require less fuel to produce said electricity.  Of course, this effort misses the important point that the Mercury in CFLs is a hazard to the environment and man and I can attest from personal experience that CFLs do not last as long as claimed.   I have never had one last longer than 12 months, let alone 60.   Again you have the issue: government regulation interfering with your right to make an informed decision and worse forcing you to chose an option that is more hazardous.