Christmas Lights

In high school, I refused to join any of the "anti-drug" organizations. Why? Because I couldn't stomach the hypocrisy. At that time, I didn't touch any drugs or alcohol (boy, did that change later...), yet, those in DARE, SADD, etc. were some of the biggest alcoholic and/or pot-heads in the town. You're going to sit there and lecture me about the vices of substance abuse when you drink like a fish???!!!

What brought back this memory 18 years later? Christmas lights.

Tonight, driving back to the apartment, scenes of Christmas shone from seemingly every other house. Lights in trees, lights on the roof. Electric powered snow globes. Santa and all his reindeer flying through the yard. When the sun goes down, the power grid has to take a hit like a 100 degree day in July.

It was nice. I like Christmas. I like the season, the music, and the lights. If people want to spend money on these things, good for them. None of my business. The decorations are nice to view on the way home.

All the extension cords, the bulbs, the Frosty The Snowman, they got me thinking. How many of these people with property lit up like a scene from Christmas Vacation are the same people who, in November, voted for politicians who are proposing draconian measures (aka "Cap and Trade") in order to "save the environment"? How many of these individuals worship anything "green" and lecture me for criticizing?

On March 28th of this last year, we had "Earth Hour" around the world where millions of people turned off there lights in order to save the planet. I said it was retarded. I was labeled a heretic. Now I wonder how many trains of coal is it going to take to power all the Christmas lights and ornaments of our save-the-earth super heroes?

I am so sick of this crap. At the top are the elitists who make the rules for everyone else while they enjoy the finer things. It applies to us but not to them. For the most part, this "green thing" is no different from how religion and ideologies have been used throughout history - a way for the powerful to manage the masses.

Moving down the socio-economic latter are many who say and do things to "feel better" about themselves. Do they ever dig in and actually study the data? Read different opinions and research? No, it is much easier to swallow the propaganda, turn one's lights out for an hour and feel like he is "saving the planet", forget the fact that his Christmas lights will use more energy than some third world villages in a year.

People, I don't care if you want to talk to the tree in your back yard. I don't care if you want to dress it in the festive garb of the season. All I'm asking for is just a bit of consistency. You make me dizzy.