How does the new environmentalism begin to take on the appearance of a religion? Is there any parallel in history? Let's see if any aspect of past religion as political power can be seen in todays discussions on "global warming" With all the ongoing arguments about  "global warming" it is becoming increasingly clear, thanks to the power of the internet and talk radio that there are other forces at work in the background.  As Woodward and Bernstein were admonished so long ago---Follow the money !   While a lot of the rhetoric centers around "the future of mankind" and promising dire results in our lives and lifetimes, it seems there is a way out after all. The odd thing is, it doesn't require we change anything about our lives except to learn to live with less money.  As Al Gore has shown us, all we have to do is buy "carbon offsets" and we can carry on as usual. In his case it didn't hurt him much because he got his from a company he has at least part ownership of, and therefore his profit from that company will  offset his "offsets" The rest of us are not quite so fortunate. It is obvious that there is a lot of power to be gained from making it a political issue and not a scientific one. Virtually every aspect of our lives could now fall under some catagory subject to regulation and "taxation" in the form of required fees or licenses relating to climate or the environment. This total control of our lives is reminiscent of when the church had total control over everyones lives in old europe and in todays middle eastern muslim controlled states. However we are still in favor of a capitalist system, so we will seek and create opportunities to make a buck while "saving the global environment".  Enter the concept of CARBON OFFSETS as a way to ease  the pain and show our co-committment to the life we want and our "concern" for the environment. What a wonderful idea! We have merely to transfer our too big footprint to someone else with a too small one and everything will be just fine.  Does anyone else see this as nothing more than the old fashioned practice of  "purchasing of indulgences" offered to the wealthy sinning members of the church so long ago? Environmentalism and it's desire that we all submit to some global control body is just another way to strip us of our God given rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness that our founders fought for and gave up so much for that we might be free.