Disrespecting Business Success Goes Global
I thought that America under the Obama administration was the only government that actually tries to prevent businesses from making money. Through an onerous tax system, oppressive regulations, an ill-conceived energy policy and a lack of banking options, American entrepreneurs are castigated for succeeding and making a profit. The exceptions, of course, are companies that give big donations to Obama’s Democratic Party. But China has mastered the art of not only diminishing... Read More
Rail Dispute Over Keystone Pipeline Follows a Long Tradition of Cronyism
Our nation’s railroad system has always been a source of pride. It helped America expand from coast to coast, and by 1860, nearly every major city was linked by rail. In addition, most farms were within five miles of a rail line so they could ship produce and livestock. Yet, with this growth has come a long history of cronyism connected to the nation’s rail system. We usually recall fondly the golden spike that marked the First Transcontinental Railroad across... Read More
Senate Refuses to Play Let’s Make a Deal on Keystone XL Pipeline
The Senate vote on the Keystone XL pipeline this week was like that old game show Let’s Make A Deal. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., doing a Bob Barker impression, told Republicans if they looked behind Door Number One and voted for his energy bill, they could trade their vote for what was behind Door Number Two, which could be the Keystone XL pipeline, or some other prize. Republicans wisely decided not to play the game and blocked Reid’s energy-efficiency bill after... Read More
Cronyism Steals Taxpayer Money and International Prestige
The Constitution gives Congress the power to raise funds (tax) and appropriate (spend) those funds to check the power of the executive branch by controlling the resources of the president. The thinking was that it would prevent the president from abusing the means to serve his own ends. Somewhere along the line this process has gone terribly wrong, especially under the Obama administration, which gives its “friends” enormous amounts of money and privileges without... Read More
