Think back to the joys of childhood. When I do, my thoughts go to things like sweetened cereal, exploring my world on a bicycle, recess, and so many truly simple pleasures. I remember the weekly excitement when my mother would sit down with us children to dispense our allowances. My own children cannot fathom it, but I remember when a nickel a week made me feel rich. I also remember the agony of being forced to surrender a portion of my booty to the college savings box that perched high on my chest of drawers.

Despite the generosity, it seemed at times tyrannical that my parents would give with one hand and take away with the other. In her wisdom, mom explained that she didn’t have to give me an allowance, that a condition of allowance was setting some aside in a savings account, that this for my benefit, and that someday I would be glad she taught me this lessons.

As an adult, I’ve learned that there is, however, a true grownup version of “tyrannical allowance”. This occurs when the government uses its coercive power to dictate what you are allowed to do and what you must do with your personal funds, though the government did not give you the money nor has it a legal claim on those funds. We see this abuse of power on clear display in the healthcare bill the House of Representatives just passed. In that bill, Americans will be forced to own health insurance or pay a penalty. To my knowledge there is no precedent of the federal government forcing Americans to purchase a product or service.

Such an unconstitutional power grab by Washington pales by comparison to what is being considered in the name of global warming. Just consider the Cap and Trade bill that the House passed earlier this year. If this legislation becomes law, it is yet another step we take as a country toward European style environmentalism. Given the threat posed by such a course, it seems wise to consider where this path is leading us.

In the United Kingdom, a member of the House of Lords (equivalent to our Senate), is endorsing a plan that “grants” each Britain a “carbon allowance”. Don’t be confused by the language. This allowance is merely a euphemism for “restriction”. This scheme would create personal carbon accounts preloaded with a specific level of carbon credits. These accounts would restrict Brits from consuming above a certain level of carbon producing products and services. They would be required to provide their account numbers when purchasing anything that increases their own carbon footprint and credits would be subtracted from their account for making the offending purchase. More for an airline ticket and less for a ride on the electric trolley, for example. Like a bank account, when one’s account hits zero the account has to be replenished. In this plan, consumers would be forced to buy additional carbon credits to make more purchases.

Which products and services add to our carbon footprints according to self-proclaimed carbon experts?

• Airline travel
• Gasoline consumption
• Electrical power consumption
• Products which require power for their production
• Products not produced locally (their transport consumes carbon based fuel)
• Non-local fresh food
• Beef and other high-flatulence meat products

After a while a person begins to ask, what wouldn’t be on the list?

Not only would such a plan create a significant tax on businesses everywhere with a resulting dampening of the economy, but it is an all out assault on personal liberty.

Will we also follow this British plan for carbon reduction? Our nation is clearly following a radical environmental agenda. Not radical because it will help the environment, but radical because it empowers the government to use its coercive power to control nearly every aspect of our lives. Better that a benevolent government would educate and inspire us to a more environmentally friendly lifestyle than to big-brother us into misery. Let us do what we can to change the course of this path.

Take a moment today to discuss with your family and friends where you stand on this issue and what steps you each can take to ensure our nation continues to enshrine personal liberty and what role the government should play in carbon production levels.

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