By Canovi | November 17, 2011 at 11:28 am | No comments | Political

Thomas Edison produced the first commercial incandescent light bulb in 1879.  This choice invention by Edison literally lit up the world as, once again, a citizen of the United States of America made history… exceptional, wouldn’t you say?

January 1, 2012 will mark the end of production of the incandescent bulb in the U.S.A.  Why?  The federal government, in its infinite wisdom, thinks the bulb uses too much energy.  The feds want consumers to choose the more efficient LED (light emitting diode) or CFL (compact fluorescent light) instead.

Where in the U.S. Constitution is the authority given that allows the government to stop a company from producing a legal product?  According to article 1, section 8, I find none!  Oh, wait, some say clause 3, the regulation of interstate commerce, is the provision that allows Congress to regulate all commerce.  In essence, today’s “leaders” contend that once a product crosses a state line the product can be regulated by the government.  Not just the sale; the manufacture and distribution; the individuals employed by the company, the building(s) in which the product is manufactured, etcetera is fair game.

This interpretation is far different from the founding fathers original intent.  Alexander Hamilton stated, “An unrestricted intercourse between the States themselves will advance the trade of each by an interchange of their respective productions, not only for the supply of reciprocal wants at home, but for exportation to foreign markets.”  He went on to explain that this freedom (from taxation and regulation) will create demand for products when, for example, one State’s supply of grain, or other crop, runs low it can be readily supplied by another.

Since our unduly powerful government with its insatiable appetite for more of the citizen’s property (money) has exercised a mighty hand over its people, what will stop them?

Imagine one day that our “Big Brother” determines that we, as a nation, are too fat.  The menu at Burger King or McDonald’s could change with the enactment of “The American Healthy Choice Act” in which our selection of food will be limited to whatever our beloved leaders decide.

Far-fetched, you say?  In a day when cardiovascular disease is claiming the lives of thousands, Americans are becoming increasingly obese, and the resulting deaths will adversely affect tax revenues, government intervention may not be far away.  Today, the (light) bulb.  Tomorrow, the burger!