Corporate welfare alive and well in the Obama administration
Who is happiest with President Obama’s nominees to head the EPA (Gina McCarthy) and the Energy Department (Ernest Moniz)? As Tim Carney explains, it’s neither environmentalists on the left nor free marketeers on the right, but the lobby groups that seek as many beneficial — for their corporate members — government subsidies and mandates as possible:
Although Obama regularly talks about ending “corporate welfare,” battling the “special interests” and creating a “level playing field,” he has steadfastly supported government favors for the ethanol industry — favors that increase costs for drivers, taxpayers, ranchers and grocery shoppers.
The Solar Energy Industries Association also applauded Obama’s nomination of McCarthy and Moniz. Solar companies profit from a production tax credit that Obama recently fought to extend, and a plethora of stimulus subsidies such as loan guarantees, tax credits and grants.
Check who’s investing big in solar energy, and you’ll notice a lot of politically connected names, such as Al Gore, Warren Buffett and Vinod Khosla.
And this is not a new thing for the president, Carney notes:
Obama never has been anti-business. His stimulus amounted to billions in corporate subsidies. His health care bill is a boon to hospitals and drug-makers. He was the most important supporter of Bush’s bailout outside the Bush administration in 2008.
Carney’s right. Obama isn’t anti-business. He’s anti-markets.
As I have written before, both liberals and conservatives need to recognize the nexus of Big Government and Big Business is more problematic than either one on its own. Democrats and Republicans both have a bad tendency to scold the industries they don’t like while protecting the ones they do.
Big Green Energy is one industry the Democrats definitely like. As Carney puts it, the idea is: “Politicians and bureaucrats tell business what to do, and business gets to make a profit doing it.”
But only the biggest businesses benefit from that arrangement: Only they can afford the lobbyists who help shape the legislation and absorb the costs the legislation foists on them. The upside for them is they become further entrenched in their markets, keeping smaller competitors at bay and, in some cases, virtually guaranteeing themselves profits. That builds up a lot of economic sclerosis over time, and it’s one reason America has lost some of its competitive edge.
The good news is that our economy is still dynamic enough — as opposed to, say, many of those in continental Europe — to overcome that sclerosis if we start to unwind that Big Government/Big Business relationship. Obama’s nominees for EPA and Energy suggest that won’t be happening in the next four years. The GOP would do well to spend that time changing its own M.O.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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615 comments Add your comment
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
8:09 pm
Jamming number from Al Dimeola:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxwrBDhRlhU
getalife
March 8th, 2013
8:18 pm
“we start to unwind that Big Government/Big Business relationship.”
You cons are against that so Kyle is in the wrong party and should join the majority that actually wants that to happen.
Level the playing, paying their fair share and not making the middle or poor pay for banker’s collapse.
Common sense to help your kids.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
8:20 pm
Moving on to some Genesis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUEAx1ngnf0
Cutty
March 8th, 2013
8:21 pm
So he’s a Corporate socialist? Same as the repubs then.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
8:24 pm
You climb upon a burning rope….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdGhDIueA94
Finn McCool (the system isn't broken; it's fixed)
March 8th, 2013
8:36 pm
Corporate welfare
Mighty fine bunch of welfare you got here. Be a shame if something happened to it. Know what I mean?
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
8:37 pm
Some old Genesis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fllf-WMB0hY
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
8:37 pm
Not sure if this is funny, sad or both…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz-LxZnPjJA
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
8:44 pm
It’s written in the book……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwk0×6U_0fU
MarkV
March 8th, 2013
8:47 pm
Rafe @ 7:35 pm
If Thulsa Doom and Rafe Hollister paid the slightest attention, they would understand a response to a specific comment.
artatlarge
March 8th, 2013
8:54 pm
If you want to talk about corporate welfare, imagine the billions of dollars we could save by ending loop-holes that let major corporations like GE and Exxon pay little or no tax on profits, while at the same time collecting tax rebates?
We could also eliminate the sweetheart tax-rate that George Bush gave to Hedge Fund managers, just because they’re such swell guys.
What subsidies do go to green energy are miniscule compared to the incentives and breaks given to the petroleum companies, who are having their best years ever…while wages and hiring remain flat, benefits dwindle, and CEO salaries go nowhere but up.
Also remember that Obama offered to generate more revenue by closing those very loop-holes, and avoiding this Sequester b.s.; every single Republican voted to KEEP those loop-holes in place while literally taking food from the mouths of hungry elderly people instead.
Those loop-holes have nothing to do with “job creation” either.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
8:56 pm
There’s a cool video biography about the Eagles out on Showtime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-q7Mih69KE
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
8:59 pm
There’s a cool video biography about the Eagles out on Showtime:
My all-time favorite Glenn Frey quote is “Nobody can suck the life out of a room like Don Henley”.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:00 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1gG3G07wjI
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
9:03 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZdlFKYd84
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:06 pm
HD–One of the other folks interviewed, I think David Geffen described Don Henley as a “malcontent”. Unfortunately, Henley’s on-screen performance didn’t help his cause.
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
9:09 pm
Bruno
Henley has always struck me as a decent drummer, decent singer, great writer, and somebody I’d never want to be in the same room with.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:09 pm
Like that 9:03, HD.
So, any predictions about the Braves?? I think Ryan Howard is still a question mark for the Phillies.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:12 pm
I’d go “decent singer” at best for Henley. I much prefer Glenn Frey’s vocals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWtSuz-7sq4
Bob
March 8th, 2013
9:14 pm
“Foolish European governments are trying to reign in their deficits by cutting government spending. Predictably and inexorably, reduced government spending in a sluggish economy produces economic recession and job loss.”
Annie sue, Europe is a basket case. Canada has cut spending and is doing fine.
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
9:16 pm
Bruno @ 9:09
I’d say the Nats are the division favorites, the Braves and Phillies battling it out for 2nd, with age being the big question mark for the Phils. Long season and a lot can happen, though. You can’t get hot for 162 games; eventually the best team will emerge. I think the Braves will miss Prado more than they realize. A couple years ago, Tim Hudson was quoted as saying he was the “heart and soul of the team”. I also wonder about Justin Upton. The guy has a world of talent and given that and his young age, you have to suspect there’s a reason the D-Backs spent better than a year trying to move him.
Thulsa Doom
March 8th, 2013
9:17 pm
“In some ways, folks like Jimi Hendrix did more to bring people together than the Civil Rights leaders ever did IMHO. Ditto for Charley Pride over on the country music side, and for comedians like Bill Cosby and Flip Wilson.’
Hendrix was a rock star to me but before my time as I was but a tot during his reign. For me it was George Jefferson, Fred Sanford, and Jimmmy and Good Times that brought white people closer to black America. Rerun and Roger were cool too. And who the hell didn’t love Fat Albert.
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
9:18 pm
Canada has cut spending and is doing fine.
Canada also came through the Great Meltdown in pretty good shape because they had sensible banking regulations. They never jumped into casino mode like the U.S. did.
Thulsa Doom
March 8th, 2013
9:19 pm
MarkV,
Rafe exposed your lack of understanding of stats very well. Not much you can say except to rant a bit more if you wish.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:22 pm
One cool thing about the Eagles is that they all are good musicians, so they sound good live. In part of the documentary, it was claimed that Randy Meisner was unhappy with the amount of lead vocals he was getting. Henley was critical of him, though he sounds good here back in 1976:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOKExv6_h5s
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
9:30 pm
Henley was critical of him, though he sounds good here back in 1976:
If you listen to this song, post Randy, his harmonies are sorely missed. (There are very few perfect cuts but in this case, I think this one is. I can’t think of one thing that could’ve made it better)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk1g6jJTsXY
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:30 pm
The Dem plan for the deficit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaGUr6wzyT8
bluecoat
March 8th, 2013
9:33 pm
Mark did it ever enter your mind they can be one and same.Along with numerous other aka’s.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:35 pm
I am bluecoat.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
9:36 pm
Kind of a cool little ditty from Jason Mraz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGCJNH1oX68
MarkV
March 8th, 2013
9:41 pm
Thulsa Doom @9:19 pm
Neither Rafe nor you have exposed anything, except your total lack of comprehension of written word, which apparently you have not been capable of improve in spite of the hints.
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
9:43 pm
J D Souther wrote this and Rondstat did it as well but this is the best version for me. The depth of the vocal really sets it off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvDHMV4LlT8
(Couldn’t post the studio version because there’s a borderline obscenity in the You Tube link)
Thulsa Doom
March 8th, 2013
9:48 pm
“Neither Rafe nor you have exposed anything, except your total lack of comprehension of written word, which apparently you have not been capable of improve in spite of the hints.”
MarkV,
What can I say? You got me there pardner. I do not understand and cannot interpret liberal gobbledeegook. Its a dialect of incoherent rambling that is like German or Russian. I know it when I see it. Doesn’t mean I understand it though.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
March 8th, 2013
9:49 pm
Thanks Thulsa!
bluecoat
I have never used a sock puppet, but admit I tried today to create one, to use to talk to Finn’s puppet, after he accused me of being unable to keep them straight, but they have this blog fixed to where if I enter any name I haven’t used before it sends the comment to moderation. Not sure if that is the case for others, but it did it every time I tried today, so I gave up. I think Finn’s aka’s were grandfathered in, of course Finn denies that he and Cheesy are one and the same; they talk back and forth to each other, congratulating each other on their wit; it is quite unfunny.
Michael H. Smith
March 8th, 2013
9:51 pm
indigo
March 8th, 2013
4:20 pm
Okay stupid this one is for you and your idiotic bewilderment. Do tell all of us who you named just what you and your dear Marxist leader obumer plan to do to stop your so-called man caused global warming? How will you reverse this trend immediately and restore global climate stability?
Go for dumbmass!
Oh wait, silly me, TAX, TAX, TAX and TAX IT SOME MORE!
Yeah, that’ll stop it.
indgo, if you happen to stumble across something resembling a functional brain please do not disturb it, you’ll not understand how to use it.
breckenridge
March 8th, 2013
9:53 pm
“On March 27, DOMA will come before the Supreme Court, and the justices must decide whether it is consistent with the principles of a nation that honors freedom, equality and justice above all, and is therefore constitutional. As the president who signed the act into law, I have come to believe that DOMA is contrary to those principles and, in fact, incompatible with our Constitution.” Bill Clinton, March 8, 2013.
But did he inhale?
Thulsa Doom
March 8th, 2013
9:53 pm
Finn and Cheesy are definitely different personalities. The only thing they have in common is that they don’t make sense. Cept maybe when I’m incoherent from heavy drinking.
@@
March 8th, 2013
9:58 pm
Sorry for the late response. I’ve been catching up on episodes of “Breaking Bad” in preparation for the new season. I normally don’t watch TeeWee but GEEZ…… that’s a great show!!!!!!!!!!!
Politico:
How many synagogues are in Saudi Arabia? How many US business men are coddling that repressive regime for contracts at this very moment?
I’d rather they be drilling here.
Back to catch up.
breckenridge
March 8th, 2013
9:59 pm
“School policies baring discrimination against LGBT students could result in teenage boys invading girls’ locker rooms.” Tony Perkins, Family Research Council, 3-4-2013.
Oh to be young again.
bluecoat
March 8th, 2013
9:59 pm
Bruno wish I had your education(one equal to)now as I think I have said before one of the best dogs I owned was named Bruno.( I mean no disrespect)So when I see your name I think BOW/WOW.Not Trickle Down////
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
10:03 pm
Bruno wish I had your education(one equal to)now as I think I have said before one of the best dogs I owned was named Bruno.( I mean no disrespect)So when I see your name I think BOW/WOW.Not Trickle Down////
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
March 8th, 2013
10:03 pm
MarkV
I comprehend that you think rate of growth of the debt is somehow the be all/end all of a discussion regarding who is responsible for the nations debt. The potential harm of a debt increases significantly as the debt to income (GDP) ratio increases. We are at 80% now and current projections show us to be at 100% by 2015. Yes, we have been higher shortly after WWII, but we paid that down quickly after the war.
Reagan tripling a 300 B dollar deficit is not even close to what adding 60% increase to a 10T dollar debt is. Your argument based on % of increase is inane, but there seems to be no end to how far you will stretch your argument to support Barry.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
March 8th, 2013
10:05 pm
300 B dollar debt vice deficit.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
10:05 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pudLAQhZ8Vs
Michael H. Smith
March 8th, 2013
10:07 pm
Big Government/Big Business relationship.
Strange how so many objective conservatives on this blog understand that key point you made Kyle. These idiots on the left that Comrade Lenin would never have called “USEFUL”, remained totally duped into believing that their fascist socialist democrats are so anti-big business to their Marxist’s souls that they would never dare be caught in bed with those Big Evil Rich Corporations: Yeah, right!
The GOP would do well to spend that time changing its own M.O.
I reiterate: Spot on Kyle!
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
10:08 pm
I never watch American Idol but I just happened to be flipping around the other night and caught this. Talented girl and a pleasant voice…………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCmJv8vcef0
Hillbilly D
March 8th, 2013
10:09 pm
But this is why she should’ve picked another song. When the King (especially in his inspired period) has done it……….it’s been done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUXsWeVYtD0
The man didn’t do it with smoke and mirrors; he was the real deal.
Thulsa Doom
March 8th, 2013
10:13 pm
Sadly I am disappointed that the left on here doesn’t see the harm in big govt and big business teaming up together. If they can’t understand the danger of govt picking winners and losers or of gubment favoring heavy regulation which benefits huge businesses that can readily absorb the cost over smaller competitors then what do they understand? I woulda thought we all would have been in favor of seeing the 2 not being in bed together.
Bruno
March 8th, 2013
10:16 pm
Some nice Jesse Colin Young:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHr_MPgZZs
Thulsa Doom
March 8th, 2013
10:16 pm
“The potential harm of a debt increases significantly as the debt to income (GDP) ratio increases. We are at 80% now and current projections show us to be at 100% by 2015.”
Rafe,
Are you sure about that? I thought there was a big stink made about this a year or several months back- that for the first time ever that the nation’s debt exceeded its GDP. Our debt stands at 16.7 trillion at latest count I think but our GDP is only about 15 trillion. Unless I’m mistaken I think we exceeded it already.