12 Days of Solutions, Day 8: Unleash the energy of America
December 17, 2012 at 3:39 pm in News by Tea Party Patriots 19 Comments
Americans across the country are watching Washington bicker and fight. Meanwhile, millions of people are looking for work, and millions more have given up looking. All in all, it’s a pretty sad state of affairs in the world’s greatest country.
How can this be fixed? While there is no silver bullet, there are changes to public policy that could take America in the right direction. One of those changes would be for the federal government to reduce its paralytic restriction of the energy industries in America.
What are some of the changes that should be made? Consider the economic boom that would happen if the following took place:
- More drilling in Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuse, among other places.
- The Keystone Pipeline was completed.
- Drilling permits for oil, natural gas, shale, etc. were common.
- The federal government eliminated subsidies to ethanol, oil companies, etc. – totaling billions of dollars.
- Fewer regulations against nuclear power plants.
- Green energy loans disappeared, such as the ones under the stimulus now being investigated.
- Elimination of tax credits, such as the billions for the wind energy industry.
If only Washington would act on these sound principles of smaller government, freer markets, and securing our national security. Countries like Venezuela, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and other nations would be deprived of funding for their anti-American activities. Billions of dollars in deficit reduction would come from more tax revenue, no more subsidies, and fewer bureaucrats working for the various Washington agencies that oversee energy. We could even lower tax rates slightly, as billions in tax credits wouldn’t be going out to special interests.
Most importantly, of course, Americans by the thousands could find jobs that otherwise wouldn’t exist.
Unfortunately, this is not even an option for most of the bureaucrats and politicians in the Beltway. They would rather argue and fight over how many taxes to raise and how little spending to cut than actually do things to help the American people.
I’m not for fewer regulations on nuclear power plants. Did you see what haapened in Japan when one blew up? Who wants half a state radioactive for 500 years? We can do just fine with coal, oil and natural gas.
We just need to get of green energy and recycling.
I agree! God blessed America with immense natural resources. China is dominating the rare earth elements because they don’t worry about their environment. We have tons of rare Earth elements in the United States but with all the EPA regulations cannot compete with China. These elements are strategically vital for future technologies.
To develop future technologies, we actually have to send money in the right direction. The administration that came with Reagan did this. After Reagan left office, everything the dot-com boom needed for it to happen was developed and in place. Conversely, the administration we have today is robbing our children and grandchildren and great-grand children to stuff the pockets of cronies under the guise of developing new technology.
I looked at who was supporting Obama in 2008. After Super Tuesday, 2008, I made this statement:
“If Obama wins the election, we will see a horde of thieves descend upon Washington that will surpass any administration in the history of the United States.”
Does anyone doubt this has happened?
To be clear, another reason why we cannot compete with China in rare earth metals is because their commie govt subsidizes it along with lithium ion batteries and solar panels. How can our free markets compete with commie tactics?
That is why Solyndra and A123 Battery systems went out of business. Obama thought we could compete with Chinese subsidized industries.
Hellfire,
They are starting to mine rare earths in Greenland which is close by.
I think we need to start subsidizing rare earths too because they are strategically vital. We subsidize corn, soybean and wheat why not rare earths too.
Hellfire,
You know that is a darn good idea, simple, effective, something everyone can agree on.
We should take it or something similar and make it a Tea Party party issue and get it done
Jerry, it’ll be tough because that is Obama’s idea. We can’t be seen siding with the President without being shunned and called a Commie Liberal. So I guess we lost the rare earth metals to the Chinese.
Obama’s idea is to have our country run like China is currently run- crony capitalism, ultimately controlled by the central government.
If you really think this “works” better than free people living in a free market environment with protected property rights and the rule of law, you haven’t been paying any attention to history.
I agree Craig – That’s why we lost the rare earth metals market because no company can be profitable without gov’t subsidizes….Chinese are like the Liberals and don’t play fair!
That’s the most absurdly stupid statement I’ve seen in a long time.
Ever hear of Andrew Carnegie? He started a company that was successful and profitable for a very long time, without government subsidies.
Long after Carnegie died, his company did turn to the government for help, and the government helped them right into bankruptcy and decline.
It’s an interesting story, Carnegie was quite impressive.
Craig, How can a company survive without making profit? The reason why rare earth mining companies have shutdown in the US is because of the Chinese gov’t subsidizes. I appreciate how all you do is cherry pick and criticize everyone’s post. You are what the Liberals call a “Hater”.
Andrew Carnegie didn’t have to compete with Chinese gov’t subsidize to take over a strategically vital resource. Also, in Carnegie’s time there were no EPA regulations, OSHA or a minimum wage. Your entire comparison is absurd using selective thinking.
“…no company can be profitable without gov’t subsidizes….”
That’s what you said Mr. Fire, and I stand by my criticism of the statement.
Perhaps you live somewhere that there are no companies that exist without government subsidies. In the U.S. , there are still millions of companies that exist and earn profits without government subsidies.
What you are advocating is central government planning of our economy and crony capitalism. Neither one “works” and both require that the economic freedom of individuals be denied.
If you are in fact worried about having our country “win” the economic battle, I can only tell you that free enterprise always outperforms central planning.
You took my statement out of context Mr. Craig “Hater” Sickler, and I know you read my previous statements judging from your prior condescending post. You sir, are a miserable nitpicker. You nitpick everyone’s post from any thoughts outside your narrow mind, and respond with a stupid, absurd statement about Andrew Carnegie.
The US Gov’t has subsidized numerous projects throughout our history. Let’s see Nuclear Power, Darpa Net (Internet), Microprocessor, Proximity Fuse, GPS satellites, National Hwy System, Jet engines, mapping the human genome, etc… Don’t think private industries would have or could have invested in the atomic bomb or National Hwy System.
Negotiations with Democrats have only led to disaster, and the population duped by the media into blaming the Republicans. I reference the economic collapse of 2008 caused by the Democrats subprime housing mortgage underwriting program. However, the Republicans conceded little to no oversight to the Democrats in 2003 in exchange for the Democrats supporting the war effort in Iraq. So, even though the Republicans didn’t cause the collapse, their concession to the Democrats allowed it to happen.
The same is true with the debt. A stupid person thinks they can do the same thing and expect a different outcome.
NO MORE DEBT. NOT FOR ANY REASON.
Make the government grow up and live within the means provided by the economy. The planned expenditure for government exceeds the ability of the economy to fund. It is the definition of insanity… if the actual intent is to maintain a solvent government.
Rare Earths are used in cutting edge batteries and as possible replacements to silicone circuits. We cannot allow the Chinese to corner this market along with other Green Energy technologies. Obama should declare it a military and strategic necessity.
Obama should stick to allowing Congress to make the laws, and then he should follow them.
Congress should stick to the Constitution and not make “laws” which the people haven’t granted them the authority to pass.