Viewer Awareness Advised

I've long thought that only once government do-gooders start banning things like beer, chips and television will the masses wake up to the fact that bureaucrats have robbed them of every last liberty.

I'm not sure that's the case anymore.

In the EU, plasma TV's are about to become the purvey of organized crime.

Giant energy-guzzling flatscreens are expected to be banned under legislation due to be agreed by the EU this spring.

Plasma screens have been nicknamed the '4x4s' of the living room because they use up to four times as much electricity and are responsible for up to four times as much carbon dioxide as traditional cathode ray tube sets.

It isn't even surprising.

It should be obvious to everyone by now that there isn't a single human product or behavior that can't be justifiably regulated by governments under the auspices of protecting the environment.

I challenge you - look around your room. See if you can pick even one single thing that couldn't be taxed, banned or regulated because it might be produced in a way that was more eco-friendly.

We're poised on the brink of experiencing the most heavy handed, intrusive and explosive growth of government regulation of personal and property freedom in the history of the planet.

And it will be led by people who mean well, but think nothing of your property rights and who are more than willing to use the force of government to achieve their goals.

I wonder if hideyourtv.com is still available.