The Kerry-Lieberman energy bill would enervate America
By Pete duPont
A year ago the Waxman-Markey energy regulation bill passed the House. Now before the Senate is the Kerry-Lieberman energy regulation bill, which includes many of the same damaging provisions–government control of many aspects of energy generation, distribution and prices.The debate on this bill is of course colored and influenced by the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion, fire and collapse in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20.
In response, the federal government has suspended drilling deeper than 500 feet in the Gulf for six months, suspended exploratory drilling off Alaska’s coast and canceled oil leases off the coast of Virginia and in the Gulf–significant decisions that will reduce our oil supplies in the years ahead. All work has been suspended on 33 previously inspected and approved Gulf deepwater drilling rigs. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana reports that will mean 3,000 to 6,000 immediate job losses and perhaps 10,000 more in the months ahead.
As noted in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, beyond jobs there will be significant economic consequences from the shutdowns. According to the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, 1,400 jobs will be lost for each platform shut down, for a total of some $330 million a month in lost wages.
So with this current catastrophe influencing our energy policies, where is America going? The Kerry-Lieberman bill is a bit less bad than the Waxman-Markey legislation, but only a bit.
David M. Greene: Eighty years ago, something occurred in America that was never supposed to happen. An aristocrat came to the presidency and engineered a policy revolution that created a broad and prosperous middle class where it had not existed as such before.
To do this, Franklin Roosevelt and his party had to rewrite the existing rules of wealth redistribution in the United States such that the traditionally fantastically wealthy overclass (which had grown even fatter as the industrialism of the prior century concentrated wealth yet further) would become merely tremendously wealthy from that point forward, in order to leave enough for others to live a decent life.
Needless to say, this rankled the country club set, but, remarkably, they more or less made peace with this development during the early decades of the post-war era, and largely cooperated with the new economic order. So did their political representatives. The Eisenhower administration was the first chance after twenty years of the New Deal to dismantle the newly created American welfare state, and Ike not only refused to take that opportunity, but famously labeled those in his party who wanted to as “stupid”.
Socialism is what you want? You will get it and then regret it. Enough said from your usual blather.
Ike was a wise man, and a Repub. One of the last decent Prez’s we’ve had. We may never begin electing men (or women) like that ever again.
You guys pull out the Socialism card at every opportunity. We are already a partially socialized country and have been in some ways since the beginning. You can’t face reality. There are no pure countries in existence- in terms of style of government. A mixture has always worked best and that is what we have. Our problem is that it’s become overly corrupt over time. Needs a shaking up- a serious one, and I don’t mean violently.
No Country is “pure” including America. We all have faults. That said, In American we have the ability to fix them. That’s the difference.
I think J-LO got implants. (It’s as on topic as Robbie is!) This guy will not give it up. Rob, isn’t there a Fanniescam website you can foster your economic daydreams on? People might high-five you, virtually speaking. We here do not believe what you do, and will not be talked into your fantasy’s. Now move on!
Let it pass. Life goes on my friend.
Sorry Paul, I let him get to me again. I know, ignore him and he will go away.
Droll, very droll. Now for something intelligent:
The IMF has long been a tool of friedmanists used to enforce worker austerity so as to reap for the american investors all the wealth of whatever market they are looking at. Before Argentina went tits up, they had taken advice from friedman, personally, as well as ideologically, and killed, disappeared and tortured a million or so of their workers. The pogrom against people served to enforce the “austerity” that friedman always demands of his victim “markets”.
In short, the IMF should be dismantled ASAP and everyone who works in that econ-religion should be shunned to easter island or a burning oil rig in the gulf in a symbolic societal collapse, like those they caused so often, that they can enjoy.
I know know why the heading “Generation Gap.” Robbie Boy’s post just explained it. He makes no sense.
Uhh, because we are living under the IMF’s power as well, and it might, just might, have something to do with the “mis-information” about climate change you all say is being “shoved down our thoats.” Could there be a connection??? Paul says- NAH ! Alrighty then. Back to my Soldiers of Fortune magazine…
Climate changes daily which is a scientific fact. Ask Gore about “misinformation” he’s a master at that.
So you don’t believe that an agencies like the IMF could be spreading mis-information about global warming (that it is real and AGW)? That is what I was saying above. That is the connection that I am proposing – in your favor I might add- that there are some powerful forces that DO use propaganda for their benefit… Understand now?! I am just asking if you agree that there is a possible connection here… that’s all. Gore has little, or nothing, to do with what I’m talking about.
Numerous agencies spew misinformation. The IPCC, Gore and his minions, Sierra Club, our own EPA, etc. the names go on and on. Who is there to really trust anymore with the “Facts” other than what I personally read/research/ponder and observe just like you? We have a difference of opinion for which I have no problem. Without discourse no problems are solved. Simple fact.
You say that, and yet you really don’t respond directly to my questions, or specific points. I don’t consider that discourse, and that kind of “conversation” will obviously never solve anything. Thanks anyway, I guess.
Discussion is the beginning. Specific points agreed upon is the “End Game.” Ever play Chess? Called check or check-mate. That said, there’s usually, not always, an agreement between both parties that solves the majority of the problems by parties. I take it more discourse is needed?
“Bury me face down will ya, don’t want me coming back up in your face do ya?” Scot comin out of me.
There is no real discourse here. You are pretending again.
Your comments make no sense in reality. Pasted comments with no substance not coming from you and then being chastised for not being in total accord in what you paste and cut. You are right, no discourse.
Goodbye cruel site,
I’m leaving you today.
Good bye, good bye, good bye.
Goodbye cruel site,
there’s nothin’ more to say.
Good bye, good bye… good bye.
*courtesy of Pink Floyd
I take it you never played chess.
Another move, into check mate:
When the capitalists moved the manufacturing capabilities outside the borders of the US they were also able to undercut their opponents’ base of support, the unions. The more they moved facilities overseas the weaker the opposition got. This allowed them to further attack the supposedly high wages of the unions as there were more and more non-union workers. The plan was brilliant, and worked fabulously. They were able to reduce labor costs and pocket that money. They were also able to convince the populous that the problem was not that they were keeping a disproportionate amount of the wealth, but that the unions were the ones making to much … they split their opposition.
Now there are college educated people who are making less than union workers, not because union workers are overpaid, but because college grads are underpaid. Furthermore, many college graduates see themselves as being in a higher class than union workers, which prevents them from banding together to protect themselves.
Unions need to show that the wage they demand is fair, and is what all hard working people should be making. They need to expand into office areas, and other non-traditional union areas. They need to gain a broader solidarity.
“Supposed high wages of unions?” Off-shore? Why? Do you understand economics? College students making less than “Union Workers?” Yes. Have two of them. Union workers unemployed, daughters working for a just living getting what the market will bear. Employers payroll runs a minimum of 50-65% of expense. Do they pocket the difference,? Hell no, it’s called staying in business, investing in R & D and trying to be competitive on a cost basis. You are an entitlement young person that must realize reality someday. Suggest that you get out of that cocoon you live in.
Oh, so they don’t pocket the difference? How then do they stay in business and also not starve to death?! Sheesh Paul, your ability to express anything logical is frightful.
BTW just for the record I am 48 years old. And I’ve worked for every type of employer you can name, except for the Feds. So stuff your self-rightous arrogance.
Salaries being the largest cost is one part. Rent, utilities, insurance, health insurance, lease obligations etc. eat up the rest. How do they stay in business? In today’s economy, that is a good question. It’s not easy for any industry today and I represent over 50 plus industries and very few are expanding not knowing what next month will bring as to taxes, additional government intervention etc. Fear of the unknown creates inactivity in the marketing/manufacturing of a product or service. It’s not arrogance it is a fact of life. Suggest that you deal with it. Can hardly wait until November 2010!
Stuff it and your high school economics lesson.
Checkmate. You cannot answer a factual statement. Most Left wing liberals cannot when confronted with facts. By the way, a community organizer answer at best. You were trained semi-well by Alinsky. Suggest you read his book in more detail.
Apparently I take it you did not like my factual response?
Your “response” was an opinion, not a “fact.” You are entitled to that. Enough said.
My response is a fact. Deal with it. Employers that employ you are!