Reason #2,833...

...to relegate Senator Government to antiquated political footnote status as soon as humanly possible.

Q: How do you convince people to change their lifestyles, to live differently, or to turn the question on its ear, are voters ahead of the politicians on this stuff? Do they get it, and maybe the politicians don’t?

A: Well, I think, uh, I think voters do understand it. I think it is important for us to send some price signals to change behavior.

Make no mistake about it. In Obamaworld, it will be the job of the federal government to sculpt "acceptable" societal behavioral norms through governmental interference of the pricing of consumer goods.

Ed Morrissey asks:

When have we seen government send “price signals to change behavior” before?

Hmmm...I wonder.

Oh, yes — in the lending markets. When government wanted more loans given to risky borrowers for political purposes, they sent “price signals” to lenders by having Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy up tons of subprime paper, and then mandated their conversion to securities to send “price signals” to investors. How did those “price signals” work out for taxpayers, consumers, and investors?

Oh, yeah, that. I was thinking Zimbabwe and Venezuela.

Obligatory Follow-Up Question: Any guesses on whether or not owning firearms for the purpose of defending one's self and family will be deemed acceptable behavior in the future under the guidelines established by President Obama and the Federal Bureau of Behavioral Adjustment?