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Posted on 12/15/2008 1:38:49 PM PST by BGHater
The freedom to fail is an essential part of freedom. Government- provided financial security necessitates relinquishing the very essence of freedom. Last week, the big 3 American automakers came back to Capitol Hill with their hands out to the government. Congress spent this past week debating how much money to give them and what strings should be attached. Though the bailout plan for the auto industry has suffered what I would call a temporary setback in the Senate, other avenues for public funding are being explored through the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department. I am afraid the American auto industry will soon learn that having billions rain down from Washington will not be the blessing one might expect.
The government, after it subsidizes an industry, tends to become a very demanding benefactor. Politicians may not have any real idea about how to build a car, run a bank, educate a child, heal the sick or build a road, but they are quite adept at using carrots and sticks to manipulate and threaten those who do. Most of the federal control over education, roads, healthcare, and now banking and soon auto manufacturing, is done through money, mandates and conditions. The bailout proposal we were considering would force automobile manufacturers to submit their business plans for the approval of a new federal "car czar." This bureaucrat would have the authority to approve the automakers’ restructuring plan, monitor implementation of the plan, and even stop certain transactions he determines are inconsistent with the companies’ long-term viability.
One could argue that if billions of taxpayer dollars are going to flow into a failing industry, then representatives of those taxpayers have "bought" a say in how that industry is run – which is precisely why bailouts are such a bad idea for both the industry and the taxpayers. The federal government has neither the competence nor the Constitutional authority to tell private companies, such as automakers, how to run their businesses. I would have thought that failed experiments with central planning and government control of business that caused so much harm in the last century would have taught my colleagues the folly of making businesses obey politicians and bureaucrats instead of heeding the wishes of consumers, employees, and stockholders. But the auto industry is in danger of learning for themselves one of the oldest lessons in politics: he who pays the fiddler calls the tune.
It is not the job of government to sustain business. The government should get out of the way, and instead examine excessive regulations, tax policy and red tape that have been hostile to manufacturing in this country. We should get back on a sustainable economic course in this country, or we are doomed to collapse, as the Soviets did, under the crushing burden of big government and a strangled economy that can no longer pay for it.
When you’re right, you’re right.
I think we know which of the two it will be. We also know how well our elected run the government, Oh yes, that’s pre-Obama, we are saved.
Key line in the entire discussion about bailouts, shipping jobs overseas, unemployment, all things business...
Ron Paul nails it here...
“...The government should get out of the way, and instead examine excessive regulations, tax policy and red tape that have been hostile to manufacturing in this country....”
Our economy is a mix of free market and socialism, i.e., capitalism on the way up and socialism on the way down.
Hey.....maybe this guy should run for President....or something???? It's not often that you read of an elected official making this much sense. (winking as I write)
Does Year One of Our Lord Obama start today or January 20? We don’t need another one of those calendar screwups like the Gregorians pulled.
Well the KOOK is right agin. Makes you wonder??? Powell..Mclame RINOS No wonder I was for Paul.
Most republicans (RINO’s) support socialism. ANd if you point out to someone that their guy supports socialism they come at you with knives drawn.
Unfortunately the ‘socialism’ doesn’t disappear on the “way up”. If anything it holds back waht could otherwise be possible.
The revolutionaries in France had a Year Zero in their calendar, unlike Julius Caesar’s calendar. And having a Year Zero would be a constant reminder of the historic significance of Zero’s reign. So it would never do to start off with Year One.
possible piing
If we’re being offered a choice, I’ll go with Economic Freedom.
If we’re betting as to outcomes, I’ll have to put my money on Socialism.
Apparently, every nation has to learn everything the hard way; and you thought that just applied to teenagers!
Yeah, but the whole economy will collaspe if the UAW doesn’t get what they want.
/s
Yup. I can’t figure out how bankrupting the government, on companies that are admitted failures, helps anyone at all.
***The federal government has neither the competence nor the Constitutional authority to tell private companies, such as automakers, how to run their businesses. I would have thought that failed experiments with central planning and government control of business that caused so much harm in the last century would have taught my colleagues the folly of making businesses obey politicians and bureaucrats instead of heeding the wishes of consumers, employees, and stockholders.***
This should be common sense. Says something about the age we live in...
BTTT
“The federal government has neither the competence nor the Constitutional authority to tell private companies, such as automakers, how to run their businesses.”
It doesn’t matter. They will do it anyway.
For the moment at least, the rule of law is trumped by color of law and most importantly federales with the means and willingness to operate under such color of law.
bump
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