Drive a puny, fuel efficient car or hybrid; use an ugly little light bulb that emits a dull light and is hazardous when broken; wear a sweater in your own home in the winter and don’t be afraid to sweat in the summer; all in the name of "going green". I’m tired of being lectured to on how to live my life by elitists who don’t even follow their own rules. It’s time to say enough is enough. I would have no problem if conservation and recycling were spoken of in the context of energy efficiency and cost effectiveness, but the green movement has become an out of control religion based on what many experts now believe is a myth, man-made global warming. Americans are constantly bombarded by the media with this message of "going green" that is designed to give people a false sense of "doing good". In the process, they are willing to give up their individual rights one by one and without question. That is why "going green", which was once a cute little message, is now becoming an oppressive slogan.

The science behind global warming, or climate crisis, is not an exact one and there are several questions as to what the real reason behind it is. We are led to believe that carbon is the enemy and we must constantly concern ourselves with our "carbon footprint". However, many experts agree that we are at a low point in the Earth’s history for the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. For example, during the Jurassic Period, which was 200 million years ago, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere was 5 times what it is today. That was a period in which some of the largest animals ever to roam the earth lived and thrived. In December, 2008, there was a United Nations Global Warming Conference in Poland where 650 international scientists met to dissent from and criticize the climate crisis claims of the UN IPCC and Al Gore. However, there didn’t seem to be much media attention given to it. There are also many scientists who say that the Earth is actually cooling. It’s easy to conclude that nobody really knows if global warming is real and to base our lifestyle on what might very well be a myth is just silly.

Even so, the theory of man-made global warming has caused our federal government to adopt absurd energy policies that, instead of protecting our economy and security, are designed to cater to the unreasonable demands of eco-socialists. As it stands right now, fossil fuels are, by far, the cheapest form of energy, yet our representatives in Congress refuse to allow the oil companies to explore and tap into the resources we have available here in America. We currently have billions of barrels of oil in reserves right off of the United States coastline and in Alaska. These reserves could bring down our dependency on foreign oil and reduce the funding of terrorism worldwide. In addition to this madness, the Obama Administration recently raised the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standard on the auto industry, forcing the big three auto makers to make smaller, more expensive cars that nobody wants to buy. This makes little sense when taxpayers are being asked to give General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler billions of dollars to keep them in business.

Not only is our federal government guilty of making nonsensical policies in the name of going green, but the insanity is going on at the state level as well. Starting in 2009, all new cars being sold in California will come with a sticker that will give the vehicle’s "global warming rating". How long until the state taxes the car you’re interested in purchasing to the point that you don’t want to buy it anymore? In addition to that crazy law, the California State Legislature has been trying to pass a bill allowing energy companies to regulate the thermostat in your house in the case of an "emergency". How long before the state government require all homes be fixed with ugly and expensive solar panels? Every indication shows that these incursions into our privacy and rights are only the beginning.

It’s not hard to see why "going green" and the green movement should be a concern to all Americans. We are in dire straits when we are willing to give up our freedom in exchange for the unfulfilled promises and mediocre lifestyle of a European like socialism. Intrusive and absent-minded laws based on unproven theories are mounting a direct attack on capitalism and our individual rights. If you are still interested in going green, be my guest. As for me, I prefer to be guided by the invisible hand of the free markets instead of the iron fist of a bunch of over ambitious hippies.