Ceiling Fan Police?

Stephen Moore (no relation) who writes today in Political Diary is not a big fan of the new energy bill. Besides all the pork for various energy businesses, he also thinks it may be a little overreaching in its scope:

What hasn't been reported is the huge and intrusive regulatory apparatus this bill creates for basic home appliances. To give the reader a flavor of the technical mumbo-jumbo contained in the bill, consider the provision dealing with ceiling fans: "All ceiling fans made after January 1, 2007 shall have certain functions like adjustable speed controls, speed controls separate from the lighting, reversible fan rotation options, etc." The bill is ambiguous as to whether money will be authorized for ceiling fan police to monitor home ceiling fans to ensure compliance.

This Orwellian bill similarly regulates battery chargers, vending machines, portable electric lamps, space heaters, freezers and refrigerators. Recall that some ten years ago, when Congress regulated toilets to save water, irate Americans were stuck with toilets with such paltry water pressure that they didn't flush. Many went to Canada to purchase bootlegged toilets. We may soon have to do the same to obtain freezers that, well, freeze. The bill includes $450 million for a public education campaign for such purposes as ensuring that Americans have the proper air pressure in their car tires and that their air conditioners and heating systems are energy efficient. There is even $6 million to encourage Americans to ride their bikes rather than drive, so we can be more like the Cambodians. (best line in the article-HolyCoast)

This all means there will soon be an office of bicycle promotion at the Department of Energy. It won't be long before that office is regulating air pressure in bicycle tires. It seems like only yesterday that Republicans were pledging that a GOP Congress would lift the regulatory burden off the back of American workers and families. Now almost every home gadget that we buy that comes with a cord will also come with a whole new set of rules and edicts. And you can bet on this: The energy this bill saves will not be your own.

I'll give up my ceiling fan when they pry the controls from my cold, dead hand.