Shutter the EPA

The Thanks Project ^ | 5/27/2014 | Steve Berman

[lifeofgrace]

Here’s a way to cut 15,193 employees and $9 billion from the bloated Federal budget, while injecting $353 billion into the economy:  shutter the EPA.

Actually, instead of simply eradicating it, it could be folded into Americorps, and renamed the National Corporation for Collective Guilt, and the 15,193 EPA employees converted into volunteers.

If there’s ever been an agency of the Federal government with no evidence of doing anything, ever, it’s the EPA (with the Department of Education a strong runner-up, although it’s nefarious “accomplishments” are nothing to boast about).  Really…the EPA was organized around responsibility transfers from existing agencies, all of which still exist in one form or another, and all of which still do the same things they did before the EPA allegedly took those functions over.  Basically, the EPA has always been a Department of Redundancy Department.

Since its inception almost 44 years ago, the EPA has created the Office of Fake Science, the Office of Global Warming Worship, and the Office of Energy Dependence.

There’s only one purpose for the EPA: as a haven for guilt-ridden liberals to fantasize how they will rule the country at gunpoint, although other kinds of fantasizing goes on there (child porn) too.  The problem is, at least some of these fantasies carry the weight of law, making the EPA the National Mafia, shaking down corporations at will.  They are more effective at targeting political enemies than the IRS, and they have less oversight than practically any other Federal department*.

Companies spend about $353 billion (in 2012) a year to comply with EPA regulations, many of which overlap other agencies (see above for the Department of Redundancy Department).  Eliminating the EPA will simply make the USDA (also a bloated hive of crony cash hoarders) and the DOI (ditto) do the same jobs they’ve always done, except using one agency to do it instead of two.

I think moving all those Federal employees into Americorps would cause them to either find real jobs, or if they believe in the collective guilt of mankind sinning against Mother Gaia so much, they should volunteer to work for free.  Another proposal worth considering is to designate the former EPA as a church and make them a religion, that at least goes along with their blind faith in climate change, and dogmatic opposition to anything derived from a fossil fuel (unless it’s Arab oil or South American oil).  Al Gore can be their first potentate.

The best part of eliminating the EPA is this:  nobody would even notice their passing.  It would be like January 1, 2000, when Y2K preppers forecast doom, and then…nothing happened.  The second best part would be that the government could re-open the “bike room” at 1310 L Street, currently housing the EPA Office of Air and Radiation.  It would make too much sense for the arm of the government responsible for everyone’s carbon footprint to actually promote bike riding in Washington DC, so we have to close the EPA to make room for progress.

As for the 15,193 employees whose paychecks would end, I’m sorry, but not too sorry.  Maybe they could apply for some of the 34,000 jobs that are estimated to be lost by the US Chamber of Commerce due to the EPA’s Cross-State Pollution Rule.

Tell your congressmen and senators, it’s time to start plucking some low hanging fruit, and the biggest, most overripe, fungus-infested, rotting fruit on the vine is the EPA.  It’s time it was picked and composted.

———————————————

*The EPA is overseen by no less than 5 major committees and 6 subcommittees in the Senate (none of which have direct responsibility for oversight of all the EPA is supposed to do), and 12 more subcommittees in the House (again, none of which has direct oversight of everything).  Essentially, the EPA can get away with murder and pass it right under Congress’ nose.

[Resettozero]

I think I like the way Steve Berman writes. Not too caustic, doesn’t rely on sarcasm, but with plenty of ZINGS!

Bookmarked his blog.

[barefoot_hiker]

It’s nice to dream, but these agencies control to grow in size and power, under both Dem and Rep. administrations. Pols get a lot of face time bloviating about how they plan to bring these agencies under control, but nothing ever happens.

[umgud]

Can you name the FOUR branches of gov’t?

Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Regulatory

[workerbee]

No, there’s only 3.

The Legislative ceded all its authority to the others years ago.

[Resettozero]

Lines are very blurry these days between the three.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

The operative term for eliminating/reducing the regulatory reach of the EPA is:

diminishing returns

[uncommonsense]

This is the best article that I've read documenting why we need to eliminate the EPA...

"Basically, the EPA has always been a Department of Redundancy Department. Since its inception almost 44 years ago, the EPA has created the Office of Fake Science, the Office of Global Warming Worship, and the Office of Energy"

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Actually, I think we should keep the EPA. And we should issue every single one of them, including the paper pushers, a butyl rubber chemical suit and protective mask, a mop, and a bucket.

Then set them to work cleaning up the most polluted places in America.

[Defiant]

It would be worth a lot more than $350 billion to the economy to be rid of the EPA.

[lifeofgrace]

Aww shucks, thanks!

[lifeofgrace]

Nothing ever happens because people like you say it will never happen. It can happen if we apply enough pressure. The system relies on citizens (not just people living here and complaining) to do their duty and support what they believe in.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Those two depts. should have been shuttered long ago but just let any president try it. EPA will bring on a cacophony of screech from Sierra Club nut jobs and every progressive in the country. Dept of Educ will bring the same pain from the teacher’s union, blacks and progs. That’s why no likely 2016 presidential candidate will suggest it. Only Newt ever had the stones to suggest it.