"It is axiomatic that government power will be employed to favor those who are organized to obtain benefits from it. Businesses and other groups will lobby for laws or regulations that favor them, or seek government money directly. They do this instead of innovating or selling cheaper or better products, or otherwise benefitting the public. This is entirely rational behavior on their part, but it does not benefit society as a whole. These incentives are inevitable when there is a controlling regulatory state that creates its own momentum to become increasingly powerful, expensive, and burdensome."
Scary. One of my suppliers admitted that they lobbied Congress to create more regulation in their industry, not to keep people safer, but so that they could sell more product. (They didn't admit that point to Congress however.)
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Science Chic wrote: Good articles Neptune - thanks for posting this!!
Thanks, deciding what to quote on this one was real tough.
On a side note, I heard a snippet of conversation on the radio today to the effect that there is a tape of Sharon Angle bashing the republican party and that it was really going to hurt her. rofllol
As for the House, the old bulls grudgingly accepted a few months of forced earmark rehabilitation this year -- but once they get out of rehab, these Lindsay Lohan Republicans will try to go right back to their old ways. The last time the GOP held power, the number of earmarks grew from 1,300 to more than 13,000. In the face of this record, promises of moderation are not enough -- total abstinence is required. House Republican leaders need to answer forthrightly: Will they ban earmarks if they win the majority?
Voters have a right to know -- before Election Day.
Marc A. Thiessen is a visiting fellow with the American Enterprise Institute and writes a weekly column for The Post."
