Reason Morning Links: Cap and Trade, Cash for Clunkers, a Chief for the FCC

- The House may vote as early as today on cap and trade.

- The U.S. just might manage to withdraw its troops from Iraqi cities by June 30 after all.

- The cash-for-clunkers law "will lead to the destruction of some good cars that don't deserve to be scrapped."

- The FCC gets a new chairman.

- A victory against a ridiculous occupational licensing law.

- Consolidated celebrity grieving.

Comments

[Rich]

Given MJ's demise, doesn't the House have the dignity to delay its vote?

[P Brooks]

Even Peterson, though, said he was not sure what the offset program would look like: "The truth is, nobody knows for sure how this is going to work."

But that won't stop them from voting for it. Fekkin' eejits.

[Tricky Prickears]

RE: cash-for-clunkers

I have a '92 Buick Regal with 150,000 miles sitting in the yard. It actually runs pretty good. I was going to try to sell it to some migrant farm worker or something. But hell, for $4500, guess I'll be getting that new Camaro after all. Maybe I'll wait a little longer to see if GM offers a "shareholder" discount.

BTW. Did anybody know that in the deal with GM and Chrysler, they are no longer liable for any defects in cars made before the deal?

[brotherben]

According to "Greys Anatomy" death clusters come in 4s and 7s. Prognostications on who's next?

Kung-fu dude don't count as it was weeks ago.

[P Brooks]

This law will lead to the destruction of some good cars that don't deserve to be scrapped. These rides are older and fully depreciated, but still interesting to many DIY auto enthusiasts. These are the cars we endlessly fantasize about buying. Who among us hasn't perused the classifieds and come across something like a 1986 Alfa Romeo Milano that's too cheap to pass up? For $1500, you're willing to take that leap simply because its got a howling, Ferrari-esque V6 and rear-drive chassis. But now that it's worth up to $4500, you'd have to really love that Alfa to give it a home.

This is an utterly absurd example.
To qualify, I believe, the car has to have been licensed and insured (i.e., driveable) for the preceding year.

[creech]

Walter "Libertarians are Evil" Cronkite is rumored to be doing very poorly.

[bendover]

Let me be the first to advance the conspiracy theory the the Obama administration had Michael Jackson killed to take the discussion of Cap and Trade off the front page.

[P Brooks]

June 26 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Senate proposal to impose taxes for the first time on "gold-plated" health plans may bypass generous employee benefits negotiated by unions.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, the chief congressional advocate of taxing some employer-provided benefits to help pay for a $1 trillion overhaul of the U.S. health system, says any change should exempt perks secured in existing collective-bargaining agreements, which can be in place for as long as five years.

The exception, which could make the proposal more politically palatable to Democrats from heavily unionized states such as Michigan, is adding controversy to an already contentious debate. It would shield the 12.4 percent of American workers who belong to unions from being taxed while exposing some other middle-income workers to the levy.

[Kyle Jordan]

"Make no mistake: This is a jobs bill."

Yeah, if by that you mean jobs going overseas where companies don't have to put up with this stupid shit.

I hate this country.

Flat out, I cannot deny it any longer. The vast majority of its politicians are a malignant cancer and far too many of its citizens/occupants are too stupid and or weak to live with the freedoms and ideals it was founded upon.

As if MJ croaking wasn't a shitty enough start to the weekend.

[R C Dean]

Ya beat me, bendover. What a massive gift to the Dems his death was, consuming news cycles that might otherwise contain some mention of cap and trade, the very definition of a bill that has to be passed in quickly and in the dark of night before public reaction kills it stone dead.

[Kyle Jordan]

P Brooks,

Got a link to that entire story? I'm feeling rather masochistic this morning apparently.

[R C Dean]

The vast majority of its politicians are a malignant cancer

No argument there whatsoever.

and far too many of its citizens/occupants are too stupid and or weak to live with the freedoms and ideals it was founded upon.

I'm finding it harder to argue with this, although I will note that Obama's major initiatives are opposed by a majority of Americans. Unfortunately, that majority also gave him the Congress that will pass them, and cannot bring itself to vote any significant number of incumbents out of office.

[z]

The cash for clunkers is also a "broken window" economic program. In addition, cars will be scraped instead of ending up in the hands of some low income people, either by sale or through a charity, who could have put it to some positive economic use like driving to a job.

[Jozef]

Re: Cash for clunkers.

Car mechanics will actually win in the long run. I can still fix pretty much everything in my 1988 Volvo 760, but a new car would need all that computerized engine analysis I can't do in my backyard. As an added benefit, as soon as my car hit 20, I got off the hook for emission inspection here, saving a little extra money and time.

[P Brooks]

Sorry, Kyle; I was being lazy.

here

[James Ard]

It looks like the Democrats are sending up their prettiest women to argue for this fugugly bill.

[brotherben]

z, the cash for clunkers will lead to another bubble. Poor folks buying a new car they can't afford in the long run resulting in a buttload of unsellable repos.

[jsh]

Aren't used cars greener, as they don't have the additional carbon footprint of building new ones?

[John C. Randolph]

Wow. That licensing law is about as blatant as it ever gets.

Does anyone know of a city in the US where the taxi companies don't have a stranglehold on the local regulators?

-jcr

[John]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597505076157449.html

I would reccomend this article on the increasing skepticism and breaking down of the scientific "consenus" on global warming. Then this article on the unbelieveable costs of cap and trade.

http://ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=330822830678035

And all of this at the begning of what may be a world wide depression. The world has gone insane. Just insane.

[Kyle Jordan]

"Sorry, Kyle; I was being lazy.

here"

Thanks.

Though I kind of wish I hadn't read it. I think I'm going to try the blissful ignorance route from now on.

[DHS THinks I\'m a Terrorist]

"Julius Genachowski, a former venture capitalist and backer of net neutrality . . . "

How much do you want to bet his position on net neutrality was part of the reason he was chosen?

[Mike M.]

From what I'm hearing, the House switchboards are almost completely overloaded, with almost 100% of the callers not surprisingly opposed to this Kneecap-Our-Trade bullcrap.

I don't think it's a slam dunk that this is going to go through. There are a LOT of blue dog moderate democrats in vulnerable districts in the House.

[P Brooks]

Oregon's certification statute requires that any person wanting to operate a moving company must obtain a certificate. Any time a person applies for a certificate, other existing companies are notified of the application, and are given an opportunity to protest the application. Members of the general public are not given any statutory power to protest an application; only existing businesses are.

Upon receipt of a protest, the Oregon Department of Transportation must hold a hearing where the applicant is required to demonstrate a "public convenience and necessity "for his or her services in the motor carrier industry. Sweet's competitors reported him to the Department of Transportation, which fined him $2,100 and towed his moving truck for failure to be certified under ORS 825.110.

Nice.

Tell me again what a great place Oregon is.

[Kyle Jordan]

One of the things that really grates at me about both the Cap and Trade and Healthcare tripe is how the supporters speak of them.

It's almost always mentioned that they have to be passed NOW! The arrogance they it shows blows my mind. Only surpassed by the idiocy of the arrogance not really being dealt with.

They know these idiotic ideas are bad. They know people won't support them. AND THEY DO NOT TRY TO HIDE IT! How in Gog's name do they get away with this shit almost every time!?

[Ben Kenobi]

Its pretty impressive that all the members of Congress have already managed to read all 1000 pages of the cap and trade bill beginning to end. Cause they wouldn't vote on something of that magnitude without reading it, right?

[JImmy Jones]

Dude that is just too funny no matter how you look at it!

RT
http://www.anon-tools.tk

[domoarrigato]

According to "Greys Anatomy" death clusters come in 4s and 7s. Prognostications on who's next?

Brotherben, we are going to have to start calling you sistersally if you are a Grey's Anatomy fan. Why don't you try watching ice road truckers, like a real man?

[Enough About Palin]

"It would shield the 12.4 percent of American workers who belong to unions from being taxed while exposing some other middle-income workers to the levy."

That is the sort of thing that could cause the country to explode.

[brotherben]

domoarrigato, my wife and teenaged daughter are huge fans. I will admit to watching the show the first 2-3 seasons until it became completely ridiculous.

FYI, as a former long haul truck driver, I am finding Ice Road Truckers to be almost too sensationalised to watch. Deadliest Catch? Those are real men.

[SugarFree]

That is the sort of thing that could cause the country to explode.

Our caped union crusader will be by soon to torture logic to the breaking point in order to justify it.

[Enough About Palin]

"Our caped union crusader will be by soon to torture logic to the breaking point in order to justify it."

I don't care. I would actually go to DC to protest this.

[brotherben]

E.A.Palin, I voted for Obama. I have defended him on several issues here in the past. I do, however, find it troubling that he is so willing to take the UAW to the throat. What's next, cap and trade exemptions for the big 3?

[domoarrigato]

brotherben,

I'm not going to give you a pass for having women in the house. Your job is to sit around in your underwear drinking beer and watching sports this weekend - just to show them you are still in charge of the remote. It's your fucking birthright, for gods sake, grab a pair 😉

[Enough About Palin]

"Los Angeles police said detectives would launch a thorough investigation of the death. They cautioned, however, that they did not believe Jackson was the victim of foul play and that the investigation was standard after the death of a person with his level of fame. Authorities said they would examine whether Jackson had been taking medications that contributed to his death; an autopsy is expected to be performed today."

Extra special investigations for dead celebrities, tiny plastic American flags for the rest of us.

[Mike M.]

It's almost always mentioned that they have to be passed NOW! The arrogance they it shows blows my mind. Only surpassed by the idiocy of the arrogance not really being dealt with.

Let there be no doubt: if Kneecap-Our-Trade gets rammed through, it will ultimately become the biggest tax increase in the history of this country. Left-wing scumbags like Chad will get their wish.

And it won't ultimately be borne by businesses, and it sure as hell won't be on the rich only. It will fall on every single person in America who needs heating and air conditioning.

Anyone who doesn't want their monthly utility bills to quadruple had better make their feelings known pretty quickly, because the socialist scum running the country is determined to do a fast track ram-job on this.

[MNG]

"who could have put it to some positive economic use like driving to a job."

Look, it's a dumb program, but the idea is that this "positive economic use like driving to a job" would come with a "negative environmental effect" with its own price tag, but one not borne by the maker of the costs. Hence the search to create such costs, because a bare system of voluntary exchanges doesn't seem to deal with some externalities very well...

[stuartl]

We were thinking of selecting our new car taking advantage of the cash for clunkers bill, but then figured that the bill would be tailored not to help us because we make too much money. So we bought a car getting slightly less gas mileage than our old one (functionality won). We have heard Obama's message loud and clear that we are a disfavored class.

[R C Dean]

Its pretty impressive that all the members of Congress have already managed to read all 1000 pages of the cap and trade bill beginning to end.

Nah. Waxman and Pelosi junked the 1000 page bill reported out of committee, replaced it with a new 300 page bill that will get three hours of debate, and be voted on before anyone has a chance to do more than spill their coffee (or whiskey and soda, if you're a Kennedy) on it.

[Warren]

? A victory against a ridiculous occupational licensing law.

Sweet

[R C Dean]

Hence the search to create such costs, because a bare system of voluntary exchanges doesn't seem to deal with some externalities very well...

I'm still waiting for an analysis of the net externalities created by driving to your job, both positive and negative . . . .

[Ska]

I wonder how hard it would be to open a bar in Bermuda....

[MNG]

RC Dean
I'm not a scientist, Batman is a scientist. But there are many of those kinds of people who say that all the driving that we do is bad on the environment.

[P Brooks]

Taxes "shouldn't be taken from the backs of workers who have bargained away wages and other things for their benefits over the years," Burger said.

Those poor, poor, union workers. They slave tirelessly to make the world a better place, for a pittance. A Fucking Pittance, sez I, and now those heartless bastards want to tax their free healthcare.

Another promise trampled in the dirt. It's tragic.

[brotherben]

domoarrigato, mrs. brotherben just called. She said to tell you to quit bustin my balls. It's makin stuff fall outta her purse.

[domoarrigato]

Nah. Waxman and Pelosi junked the 1000 page bill reported out of committee, replaced it with a new 300 page bill that will get three hours of debate, and be voted on before anyone has a chance to do more than spill their coffee (or whiskey and soda, if you're a Kennedy) on it.

I believe Kennedy's drink it sans soda, just on the rocks, or straight from the bottle if the road is too bumpy for a glass.

[MNG]

The clunkers for cash thing of course is not really an attempt to place costs on externalities, it's an incentive (rather than a punishment) program to get people to stop doing something that is thought harmful.

But these kinds of things often strike me as dumb, like those retarded "cash for guns" drives...

[P Brooks]

"The clunkers for cash thing of course is not really an attempt to place costs on externalities, it's an incentive (rather than a punishment) program to get people to stop doing something that is thought harmful. political grandstanding, with the side effect of funneling money to favored clients.

[MNG]

Most of those programs are bullshit political grandstanding (see "guns for X")

I mean, even were I pro-gun control, what kind of fucking lobotomy would I have to have had to think that would reduce gun violence? And yet when I see them on the news the people running them are grinning like they are saving the world...

[domoarrigato]

brotherben,

you gotta get those puppies out of hock and hit up a stripclub or something.

[stuartl]

"...with the side effect intent of funneling money to favored clients."

[Rich]

*Finally* got ahold of Henry. He said they can't postpone the vote; but Ed agreed to rename the bill the "Michael Jackson Clean Energy and Security Act"!

Seriously, *when* this monstrosity becomes law, the consequences -- intended and unintended -- will be devestating. And get your pitchforks now, while they're still legal. Seriously.

[brotherben]

domoarrigato, lemme see what the wifey says...

[J sub D]

Let me be the first to advance the conspiracy theory the the Obama administration had Michael Jackson killed to take the discussion of Cap and Trade off the front page.

No you idjit. The GOP had Jackson terminated to take Mark Sanford off the front page.

[Tricky Prickears]

This cap and trade is a jobs bill. It will create plenty of jobs for attorneys, accountants and consultants that will be hired to try to decipher all of the shit that's in it.

I'm all for making a transition from fossil to renewable, but this is not the way to do it.

[Tricky Prickears]

Let me be the first to advance the conspiracy theory the the Obama administration had Michael Jackson killed to take the discussion of Cap and Trade off the front page.

No you idjit. The GOP had Jackson terminated to take Mark Sanford off the front page.

Can we say it was a bipartisan effort?

[Enough About Palin]

"Taxes "shouldn't be taken from the backs of workers who have bargained away wages and other things for their benefits over the years," Burger said."

Isn't that really applicable to ANYONE who has a job with benefits???

[SugarFree]

Iran has released a statement claiming that Neda was killed by the CIA.

[Mike M.]

Seriously, *when* this monstrosity becomes law, the consequences -- intended and unintended -- will be devestating.

It's nothing less than a knife to the hamstring of America's economy that will never heal. We'll never again be able to achieve economic growth beyond the tepid levels western Europe has become accustomed to. And I suspect this is exactly what some people are hoping for.

[Peter]

Iran has released a statement claiming that Neda was killed by the CIA.

"I'm not saying that the CIA had done this. There are different groups. Could be intelligence services, could be CIA, could be the terrorists."

Just blame it on the terrorists...

[domoarrigato]

brotherben, brotherben, tsk tsk tsk,

you are going about this all wrong. Tell (do not ask) the wife, that you are going to the stripclub. When she flips out, tell her she can come along with you if she wants, but she'll be expected to perform.

[domoarrigato]

Iran has released a statement claiming that Neda was killed by the CIA.

Inevitable - I am just surprised they didn't finger the Mossad. Never hurts to blame teh jewz. maybe MNG will take up that tack...

[James Ard]

Great news, cap and trade is doomed, at least for today. Knowing the Dems didn't have the votes, Pelosi scheduled a bunch of votes on other stuff to twist arms. But it looks like they aren't going to get the votes, hell 30 democrats voted against the rules vote.

[Mike M.]

Great news, cap and trade is doomed, at least for today.

From your lips to (fill in your preferred deity's, if any) ears!

But this zombie is certain to get up off the ground a few more times before it's truly over. At least we've gained some time.

[robc]

Most of those programs are bullshit political grandstanding (see "guns for X")

Even guns for tots?

[brotherben]

The vote was 217-205 and the bill is on the way to the house floor.

[Mike Laursen]

The Flying Spaghetti Monster doesn't have ears, you insensitive clod!

[Peter]

Michael Jackson hated Cap-and-Trade.

It's only "Human Nature" for Democrats to "Wanna Be Startin' Something" when they see a "Smooth Criminal" such as carbon emissions, it isn't always "Black Or White". "Remember The Time" when their "Earth Song" was kept "In The Closet"? Well Al Gore changed all that with his "Scream" about the "Dangerous", "Off The Wall" "Man In The Mirror" that we now know as global warming. The earth is no longer a "Pretty Young Thing", it has people wondering "Who Is It" and "Will You Be There" for future generations, and all I can say is "Give In To Me" "Billie Jean" and "Dirty Diana", because "The Way You Make Me Feel" like a "Stranger In Moscow" has made me want to leave "Blood On The Dance Floor" in "This Place Hotel". And all I know is this "Baby Be Mine"ing coal all his life, so "Beat It" with your "Thriller" and let me "Burn This Disco Out".

[prolefeed]

Re "cash for clunkers"

Henry Hazlitt's "Economics in One Lesson", chapter 3 explains why this is a stupid and wasteful idea.

I've got the whole book loaded on my computer's bookmark toolbar so I can explain rebut the fallacies of HNR lefties.

[Mike Laursen]

Damn, Peter, how long did you work on that?

[hmm]

Do they get to pump their own gas now as well?