If that was directed to me, I am all for regulation that levels the playing field and gives everybody a fair shot. I support regulation that keeps people from doing economic or physical violence to each other; i.e. regulation that secures our rights. I support reasonable regulation to enforce certain safety standards that the people would have no abiility to protect themselves. Example: truth in labeling; mnimum health standards for food procesing and handling, etc.
I am 100% opposed to regulation that picks winners and losers or presumes to tell us how we have to live our lives or is used as payola.
I was just having this conversation with my husband at lunch: appropriate regulation versus government dictating business decisions to the private sector. Basically, it's appropriate for the government to tell a toy company that they can't use lead-based paint on their toys. It's NOT appropriate for the government to tell them which toys to make and put paint on.
Excellent! Along that same line, I think it is fine for the government to require manufacturers to post the wattage, energy efficiency of their products, how much water they use etc., and it is even okay for the President to encourage recycling, conservation, and responsible use of resources and try to make us feel guilty if we don't.
But it is not okay for the federal government to tell me I HAVE to use a low flow toilet or that I HAVE to buy CFL light bulbs or that I HAVE to drive an energy efficient car or that I cannot buy any legal product that I choose to use so long as somebody is willing to manufacture it.