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Absolutely mind-boggling the pace of government regulations put into effect to control and regulate citizens and farmers during the early years of the 20th century, causing famine, death, waves of people, literally everyone that was not in bed with government, being hauled off to prison camps for minor infractions of the “Code”, and in the end the downfall of Russia because of onerous regulations that were absolutely ridiculous, yet people lived in fear, AND DIED, from them. People that were just trying to survive by raising a few chickens… Millions were put to death, even children on the altar of what is best for society and the common good.

It appears we are headed there just as swiftly through Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, and the mantra - GO GREEN.

How sad. Our once great nation filled with strong individuals has met its match. Will we rise to the challenge that the peasants in Russia were unable to meet?

We can only hope…

In addition to campaign threats to “bankrupt” the coal industry & impose “cap and trade,” both of which will impose huge economic burdens on our already overburdened economy, there is in Congress now a move to further cripple business and industry in our country. The EPA is soliciting comments to regulations controlling CO2 emissions from BUILDINGS. Search “http://EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0318-0402” to get to the government’s website and go to the comments section. On page 70 of the comments find Comment submitted by William L. Kovacs, Vice President, Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce which outlines the massive oppression such legislation will inflict on our economy. Remember only Western, industrialized nations will bear this burden.

James A. Peden convincingly demolishes arguments that CO2 causes global warming.
“http://www.middlebury.net/op-ed/global-warming-01.html”

Canada Free Press has good 11-part series on history and politics of the CO2.
“http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3021”

If GHG emissions from agricultural sources are regulated under the CAA, numerous farming operations that currently are not subject to the costly and time-consuming Title V permitting process would, for the first time, become covered entities. Even very small agricultural operations would meet a 100-tons-per-year emissions threshold. For example, dairy facilities with over 25 cows, beef cattle operations of over 50 cattle, swine operations with over 200 hogs, and farms with over 500 acres of corn may need to get a Title V permit. It is neither efficient nor practical to require permitting and reporting of GHG emissions from farms of this size. Excluding only the 200,000 largest commercial farms, our agricultural landscape is comprised of 1.9 million farms with an average value of production of $25,589 on 271 acres. These operations simply could not bear the regulatory compliance costs that would be involved.

I suspect that the Title V permitting costs were used to to calculate that per animal tax.

Very important: realize that this is not a tax on cows, pigs or other livestock. This is a ‘tax’ on any emissions. According to the EPA documents they will gain the power to regulate your home, your apartment, your corn field, your rice paddies, your livestock and any other source of greenhouse gases (GHG). Yes, I said corn and rice field. Any crops that produce or disturb the soils to till may produce GHG and fall under Title V regulations.

You say, well, I don’t have 200 pigs or 500 acres of corn field. Perhaps, but do you like to eat? Consumer food prices will be driven up.

You say, well, I buy from local farmers with less than those minimums. Perhaps, but do you really think those minimums will stay the threshold? No, the EPA will continue to expand it’s powers.

Then remember the little bit about homes… They want to regulate your home. Forget having a wood stove. Forget cooking over the grill in the summer. You will have to make your house meet EPA standards, pay fees to get it inspected and approved or have it condemned. Want to talk housing crisis? Very few homes in America will meet the standards. This means all those homes will get dumped on the market for pennies on the dollar. That will create a new round of foreclosures and depress real estate prices further. The EPA is throwing gas on the fire.

This is far beyond a mere $20 per pig tax. Go comment now.