It’s been said — and has too often been the case — that what starts in California spreads across the country.

Do not rationalize what is likely coming next from the “left coast” as yet another crazy idea because what is on the table there smacks of George Orwell’s “1984.”

No freedom-loving American will be happy; most will be sad, and many will have had “enough!” So be aware, pay close attention.

California bureaucrats are about to give birth to state control of residential home thermostats! How would bureaucrats there, or anywhere, be able to control an individual citizen’s temperature range of choice?

It can be now done by using remote radio frequency control of the household thermostat in each individual citizen’s personal residence. And that is what the California State Energy Commission is proposing to do.

If those who want this power (no pun intended) get their way, bureaucrats would be able to remotely increase (or decrease) your thermostat setting by 4 degrees.

Whether you’re sitting in California or in another of these United States as you read this column, think about this: Your own thoughtful setting of the household thermostat in your home could be overridden by a state regulator.

For example, during the winter you may have been setting your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 65 degrees while sleeping. If California implements this program, your settings could be remotely overridden to 64 degrees and 61 degrees respectively. In the summer heat, regulators would be able to raise your thermostat setting by 4 degrees at any time.

Yes, you can expect to hear state officials, special interest groups, et al, tell us it is necessary to, “spread the pain,” and to “avoid or minimize energy brownouts and outages.”

Energy brownouts and outages are not limited to California. Shortages and outages occur from time to time in every state or region of our country. Except when caused by weather or human error, brownouts and outages are avoidable, in California and every other state.

California and several other states need to immediately approve and start expedited construction of additional energy generating facilities within their borders.

The truth is that too many bureaucrats and elected officials in California — and elsewhere — use too much of their human energy to incrementally lower the lumens of citizen’s individual liberties in their pursuit of personal power and control over others. As a result, freedom’s light is burning colder.

What can individuals do about it? Here are some thoughts:

Americans would be wise to write or call their governor to ask: “What is your publicly declared position on our state government, or any level of government, using remote radio frequency control of a citizen’s household thermostat?”

The same question must be asked of each candidate for president. Straight answers only required of incumbents and candidates for governor and president.

If Americans ask the question repeatedly and listen to the content of the response from each one, they will know better who deserves their further consideration for support.

The soothsayers will say this is about energy independence. Don’t be distracted and misled by the rhetoric. While is may be about energy, it is even more about your independence.