They banned our perfectly good light bulbs. They banned trans fat. They even banned chimneys. Now, they're trying to take our HDTVs. Thems fighting words!

"The California Energy Commission is proceeding with a proposal this summer to ban the sale of TV sets that do not meet new efficiency standards when they are turned on and displaying a picture — a measure of power consumption that is not currently regulated at all."

I have a 50" Panasonic Plasma. It's friggin' brilliant and the less energy sucking LCDs cannot compare to it yet, but let's not impose any stinkin' regulations.

"The Commission, says the law's main goal is to reduce the strain on the energy grid, which will help avoid building expensive new power plants. It cites the fact that TVs are among the fastest growing electronics in the business and are slated to grow further.

But that's a deceptive citation because recent TV growth has focused on LCDs and other 'greener' TVs.

Energy-hogging TVs are on their way out, without the help of the government or an overriding desire by consumers to own energy-efficient TVs. Most buy LCDs because they're simply cheaper and are finally approximating the quality of larger plasma televisions."

The free-market works. Unfortunately, that is something my state of California forgot a long time ago.