Thursday, November 11, 2010

How the EPA cripples the American economy

Reason: It’s not China that’s responsible for American job losses; it’s Washington’s fault for shutting down whole industries and preventing new jobs from being created.

China leads attack on US at G20 summit

Backed by Germany, Brazil and other G20 powers, China accuses the US of forcing the dollar down to trade its way back to prosperity, and says this could trigger a 1930s-style trade war if other countries respond in kind.

Ethanol Could Go on GOP Chopping Block

"Contrary to popular belief, ethanol fuel does little or nothing to increase our energy security or stabilize fuel prices," wrote Kenneth Green, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "Instead, it will increase greenhouse gas emissions, local air pollutant emissions, fresh water scarcity, water pollution (both riparian and oceanic), land and ecosystem consumption, and food prices."

via Lucianne.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

European biofuel plan will cause rise in carbon emissions

Links and comments at Legal Insurrection:  The study, from the Institute for European Environmental Policy, found that far from being 35 to 50 per cent less polluting, as required by the European Directive, the extra biofuels will be twice as bad for the environment.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Day The Earmarks Stood Still: Republican senators propose a low-pork diet.

The author formerly known as Dr. Zero: "Republicans will have a fairly low bar to hurdle in finding places to cut spending, since Democrats felt the gigantic State contained exactly zero dollars of excess fat, and never tired of feeding it billion-dollar bon bons."

Big Brother: New Traffic Camera Checks Taxes, Insurance

Investors.com: "With cameras becoming cheaper and software ever-more sophisticated, governments are likely to rely more and more on Big Brother-type surveillance in the coming years. It’s a lot cheaper than hiring new police officers, with their budget-busting pensions and other benefits."

US Companies Welcome Power Shift

Financial Times:  "...the development could lead to less regulation, taxation and government oversight."

Monday links

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Attack of the food police

The government tells us what medicines we may take and what recreational substances we may ingest, but when it comes to food, we decide what goes down our gullets. Gun-owning barbecuers coexist peacefully with Humane Society vegans. To paraphrase the old adage, your freedom ends where my stomach begins.

But not everyone is keen on emancipated eating. Public health puritans, appalled at the spread of excess weight, think the government should forcefully guide our dining choices. And when it comes to policy, they are getting a place at the table.