We’re seeing the beginning of what I expect will become a trend—using “Green” and “saving the planet” as a government pretext for burrowing deeper into our pockets. Government, in this case, can be anywhere between Washington DC and City Hall. Politicians are catching on to the vast area of un-mined territory that has yet to be exploited for more of our tax dollars—“the environment.” The price of oil has triggered the latest in a series of moves to exploit the greatest fraud of modern times, “global warming” into a delicious menu of new tax possibilities.

The gaggle of assorted malcontents, loosely defined as “environmental activists” couldn’t be happier. At last they have hit upon something that fulfills their long sought-after aim to force the public to change its behavior. They have long preached that only they know best and the world would be so much better if only the rabble would see the light and follow the better way. It isn’t because the government believes any of the rubbish being put forward by the environmentalists—far from it. It is, rather, because they know a good thing when they see it, and can’t pass up an opportunity to squeeze more vote-buying cash out of the taxpayer.

The city of Denver has developed what they call their “Climate Action Plan.” This scheme makes residents who use large amounts of electricity and gas pay higher utility bills; increasing insurance rates for people who drive long distances to work and demanding that homes be energy efficient before they are sold.

New York City nanny Mayor, Mike Bloomberg has decreed that all taxi cabs in the city shall be hybrids within five years. He has also set a goal of reducing “greenhouse emissions by thirty percent by 2030. This is being called PlaNYC 2030. As Mike Brodsky puts it in his column, “'MAMA Mike' is at it again - telling New Yorkers how to live their lives. This time, he wants us to cut down on electricity. And pay a hefty price up front - for the hope of saving money down the road. But Mayor Bloomberg's not just offering advice; he plans to force us to live as he sees fit: i.e., frugally, over the long-term - and green.”

“Environmentalism is once again being recognized as a mainstream issue by both parties,” said Jeremy Symons of the National Wildlife Federation. While he is thinking of spotted owls, the politicians are thinking of greenbacks.

In England, a country already burdened by heavy taxes, primarily due to their version of socialism, Sir Tom Blundell is professor of biochemistry at the University of Cambridge and chairs the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP). He recently told the BBC, "We need a carbon tax, and it needs to be applied where the CO2 is generated. This will produce extra taxes for domestic users." Other ideas being pitched are taxes of up to £2000 on new vehicles that are deemed the “worst polluters.”

While none of these new laws have been passed in Texas yet, it’s only a matter of time until our state lawmakers jump on the bandwagon with “me too” legislation. California is usually where loony ideas are first hatched. It’s where most of the screwy laws are enacted. Other states wait to see if California voters will stand still for the new stuff and if they do, the new laws are copied elsewhere. Texas will eventually get around to it as well.

Politicians want to be seen as doing something about this alleged “problem,” even if it is mostly imaginary. What a better way of doing something than taking credit for all the wonderful things these new taxes will be spent for. When all the horrid things that the Global Warming scare mongers have predicted don’t happen, the politicians can claim that they prevented disaster by wringing all that money out of you and me.