Trump Carrier Deal Weathers Bogus ‘Crony Capitalism’ Charges

Lifezette ^ | 06 Dec 2016 | Jim Stinson

[GonzoII]

When President-Elect Donald Trump helped convince Carrier Corp. to keep 1,069 jobs in the Indianapolis region, you would have thought he had all employed all manner of socialism to achieve this success — judging from the criticism lobbed by political adversaries.

The opposition to the Carrier deal came mostly from the Right — but in some cases, came from the Left, too.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, an early Trump supporter, called it “special-interest crony capitalism.” The Weekly Standard founder and the father of “NeverTrump,” William Kristol, said it violated the rule of law and was arbitrary government bullying (although Trump is not yet sworn in). Kristol also called it crony capitalism.

And Paul Krugman, the left-wing economist and columnist for The New York Times, called it — what else? — crony capitalism. Krugman said on Twitter that it violated the spirit of Republican’s free-market talk, which is remarkably restrained rhetoric for the sometimes kooky Krugman.

[fruser1]

"Curious"

You presume a lot.

MY criticism of the Carrier bit centers around equal protection under the law. Unique tax breaks for who you want, for whatever purpose, would be against that simple principle.

I could care less about whether or not the Carrier event is called "crony", nor do I care about the economics of it.

The other principle would concern gov controlling less, not more.

Those principles do have merit. If you don't see it, I can see why you're so upset over the slight criticisms this stuff has generated.

You also presume this is a never Trump reaction. I'm sure there are some never Trump folks who criticize Carrier solely because they are against Trump, but that doesn't mean all who criticize are never Trumpers.

You need to work on your reasoning ability a bit, or stop drinking so much coffee!

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2016/12/china-thumbs-nose-raises-tariffs-on-imported-luxury-cars/

[MNJohnnie]

Screaming a fraudulent premise louder does not change fiction to fact. This what is being done here. The false premise is being mindlessly regurgitated over and over in the hope it will magically change fiction to fact.

[9YearLurker]

Nastily deceptive article. Palin said she didn’t know the circumstances re: the Carrier deal and talked only about crony capitalism generally.

[fruser1]

Screaming a denial louder does not change fact to fiction.

[Mollypitcher1]

I expect to see new company startups with the new world Trump is promising. “ Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.”

[xander]

That’s good to hear. The MSM report sounded out of character for Sarah. What is the source for the correction? Could not find it within the bazillion threads of criticism.

[Bratch]

Governor Palin disses Glenn Beck’s "Fake News" site, The Blaze

Posted on December 06 2016 - 12:04 PM - Posted by: iizthatiiz

---

Governor Sarah Palin doesn’t seem too happy with Glenn Beck’s site, The Blaze:

"If it’s Monday, it’s delete the press."

As a victim of fake news for years now, I’m accustomed to waking up to headlines like these – false, fake & foolhardily written. Keep it up media! Really, please do. The more you attack, the more we win.

– Sarah Palin

Apparently, the Governor was unhappy with the characterization of a recent Blaze article that claimed she had turned against President-Elect Donald Trump, grouping the Blaze headline among other fake news articles in the image she shared:

 

 

She also provided a Snopes link demonstrating the falsehood of a ‘fake news’ piece that began circulating recently.

---

[enumerated]

“This dogma that any reduction in government taxation MUST be “paid for” by increased taxation on others is utterly absurd nonsense...”

Well said, and one of my biggest pet peeves.

Another aspect of this absurdity is the related idea that a deal like Carrier is “picking winners and losers” and therefore not “equal protection under the law”.

The problem with this application of the equal protection doctrine is that it fails to address difference between an opportunistic good vs. a selective good.

In other words, if you can save only one person from a sinking ship, then by all means save one! Don’t refuse to do so on the grounds that it is favoritism. It is only favoritism if you have a choice and you choose based on favoritism.

I think identifying a company on the verge of making a publicized decision whether or not to export 1200 jobs to Mexico from a state where your VP elect happens to be Governor, presents a unique opportunity to do a good deed.

There is no “picking” of winners and losers here, only the opportunity to save some jobs, and reduce some excess taxes and regulations at the same time. A classic win-win for the workers, the company, the state and the president elect.

And a win for the republic and for conservatism, as it advances the founding principles of Liberty and economic prosperity through limited government.

Well done Mr. President, and shame on all you fake-conservative neverTrumpers.

I’m actually inclined to give Sarah Palin a pass just this once - I don’t know why she stepped in it this time, but it was out of character - she usually gets it right.

[Mr. K]

They don’t ever seem concerned about “paying for” any of their other social programs.

[Mr. K]

her own Facebook page

[Mollypitcher1]

I would not call this a “Sweetheart Deal” which seems to be the moniker placed on it hereabouts! I would call this a “Pathfinder Mission” and Trump hit, if not a home run with all jobs remaining, he at least hit a three bagger.
He singled out Carrier because the action was IMMINENT! He offered no sugar coating which every other business will not receive. He has announced to the entire world his intentions to lower corp. taxes as well as individual taxes and all I see in this action is calling attention to what he has been talking about all along, the exit of American jobs under the present and preceding administrations. America First means exactly that; AMERICA FIRST.
If a mere 7 million on the table causes mud slinging and catastrophic crises among the “DOUBTERS”, I think they had better do a bit more research and certainly a lot more concentration on thinking outside the box. BTW, the 7 million was on the table months ago, long before Trump was elected. Indiana had offered it to Carrier to stay, but they had refused. EVERYbusiness in indiana is going to get the tax reductions Trump has promised. This Carrier del was NO SWEETHEART DEAL, it was a good business deal all around and focused the business leaders across the country on the fact that Trump is going to DELIVER on his promises, unlike any politician before him in recent years.

[sargon]

I am not going to stand by and give President Trump a free pass when he engages in policies that we have been excoriating Obola for.

Good. You shouldn't.

Unfortunately for the point you're trying to make, that doesn't apply in this case.

The difference between "policies" like getting Carrier to stay here, versus blatant Cronyism such as happened with 0bama and Solyndra, couldn't be more profound.

To try to conflate the two is the height of anti-Trump propaganda.

By the way, last time I checked, "President" Trump is still a private citizen.

So lemme take a wild guess: former Ted Cruz fanboy?

[Spok]

The Democrats like to ignore where all the Wall Street and corporate money was-behind Hillary.

[Blacklisted]

Yes, this crap all started with Sarah Palin’s principled stances, and that's why the House, the Senate, and the Presidency are now in the GOP’s hands.

[Texas Eagle]

So lemme take a wild guess: former Ted Cruz fanboy?

No. One of the earliest Trumpeteers on FR. Just not an ass-kisser.

Cronyism takes many forms. This is an obvious form of cronyism because it took place in the home state of his VP and because that one company is the sole recipient of the deal.

[sargon]

Cronyism takes many forms. This is an obvious form of cronyism because it took place in the home state of his VP and because that one company is the sole recipient of the deal.

Nonsense. What is this "deal", and how do you know that the benefits it conveys won't accrue to any other corporation in the same line of business?

Solyndra is cronyism. Tax breaks aren't, unless one subscribes to the Marxist notion that a corporation's revenue somehow inherently "belong" to the state in the first place.

The only deal I'm aware of is a "tax break" of $7 million over 10 years, which, needless to say, will be well compensated for by the taxes which the 1000+ employees will be paying by virtue of the fact that they still have their jobs.

Tax breaks certainly do not automatically qualify as "cronyism", and even if they did, the "cronyism" you're referring to apparently applies at the state level, so I guess you can vilify current Indiana governor Mike Pence, a staunch conservative by all accounts, for practicing such abject and shameful cronyism.

Give me a friggin' break! It's "cronyism" to keep 1000+ jobs in America by amortizing a measly 7 million dollar tax break over 10 years? Absolute balderdash.

As I mentioned, Solyndra is cronyism at its height. Lower taxes are simply good general policy.

[trebb]

Yep - Sarah disappointed me and Coulter seems to have jumped the same shark with her “Trump is going squishy on immigration” crap.

[PA Engineer]

I'lll spend it holding his feet to the fire.

You have always been a never Trump troll. You went out of your way to spam almost every pro-Trump thread during the primaries. Why would anyone consider your opinion now? People just have to go and read your history.

[Rashputin]

But the Chicken Little brigade was all over that story with never a thought about waiting until the Lying Media wasn't the only source for the story. The liars in the major media know just what hot buttons to hit to start infighting among Trump supporters.

It's going to get worse, too. People had better wake up and actually ignore the media they claim they know are liars instead of selectively swallowing the bait they chum the water with.

That means ignore the media completely, don't read it. They have all sorts of subtle ways to prepare readers to accept their BS. The Intelligence folks sometimes spend years preparing an audience to accept their trash and the media in this country is working from their playbook. It didn't work with Trump because people ignored them.

Do that all the time, ignore them. Don't fall for their lies and subtle shaping of issues.