As I wrote here the other day, the so-called "energy" bill that just passed the Republican-controlled Congress is an absolute abomination, a pork-laden, budget-busting house of horrors that doles out billions of dollars in corporate welfare to super-rich companies like ExxonMobil and ArcherDanielsMidland, not to mention the nuclear power industry. What's truly amazing about this Bush/DeLay/Frist bill is that it actually manages to seriously harm our national security, our budget, and our environment in one fell swoop. You know, it truly does take a village -- of idiots, that is - to produce something like this! Interestingly, I had one person calling me a "liberal" (as if that's supposed to be an insult) for opposing this "energy" bill from hell. So, I did a bit of web surfing to see what CONSERVATIVES have to say about this thing. First, here's the libertarian Cato Institute, a believer in "limited government, individual liberty, [and] free markets":
So what are we to make of the 1,725-page, $14.6 billion-dollar energy bill now racing toward the president's desk? It is built upon the assumption that investors in energy markets are underfunding worthy projects; that politicians have superior insights into these matters; and that the best remedy is to rig the market so that political preferences win out over market preferences.The bill is full of production incentives for oil and natural gas. [However,] there is simply no reason to subsidize oil and gas production, particularly when the companies on the receiving end of those subsidies are at the moment making truly stunning profits.
The same goes for conservation. With energy prices this high, consumers have ample incentive to economize on use. Complaints that the bill fails to do enough in this regard are complaints that consumers are either too dumb or too shortsighted to spend their money well. Some may well be, but on the whole, it's unlikely that Congress can make more productive decisions about how to spend our energy dollars than we can. Fuel-efficient cars and appliances are out there if consumers want to take advantage of them.
Next, what does the Heritage Foundation, committed to " free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense," think about this bill? Heritage hates it!
It's bad enough that the energy bill now working its way through Congress may cost taxpayers close to $36 billion over the next five years. Worse, it actually contains provisions that would increase the cost of energy in the years ahead.[...]
In the hands of Congress, the energy bill has morphed into a farm bill, an environmental bill, and above all else, a massive pork-barrel bill. But what we really need is a true energy bill...
[...]
Overall, the energy bill is a net loser for the American people, and will likely cost us both as energy consumers and as taxpayers.
What about about Myron Ebell of the free-market Competitive Enterprise Institute? He hates it too. As quoted in today's Washington Post, Ebell says about the "energy" bill, "Every industry gets their own little program. There's pork in there for everybody."
Finally, here's Taxpayers for Common Sense, "dedicated to cutting wasteful government spending and subsidies," on the "energy" bill:
This is the 'Let the Good Times Roll Energy Bill' - every energy special interest is driving home with their backpockets stuffed with taxpayer money. Make no mistake, this energy bill is much worse than no bill at all.It is wrong to be doling out billions to the oil industry when profits are at a record high. And at the end of the day, it is impossible to subsidize our way out of our nation's energy challenges. All this bill will do is pad the pockets of the ExxonMobil and ChevronTexacos of the world.
The majority of the bill is a hodgepodge of subsidies, tax breaks, and other giveaways to Big Oil, King Coal, Corn Country, and utilities. This bill single-handedly bankrolls the 'renaissance' for nuclear power by giving the nuclear industry cradle-to-grave subsidies that will drive up the debt by billions of dollars.
At a time of sky-high energy prices and a growing dependence on foreign oil, this nation desperately need smart energy policy that doesn't break the bank. Lawmakers must be smoking something if they think that this smattering of subsidies and tax breaks will do anything to lower prices at the pump, or reduce our foreign oil dependence. Despite the massive price tag, the bill will bring no end to our energy woes.
In the end, this bill was driven by politics; lawmakers care more about their political future than the nation's energy future. Republicans wanted to give the President a much-needed victory, and Democrats wanted to inoculate themselves from attacks of being soft on rising gas prices.
Anyway, so much for "liberals" being the only ones against the "energy" bill. The sad thing is, this will be touted as a "victory" by Republicans, the Bush White House, and even some Democrats. On the contrary, it is a big loss for all of us -- unless, perhaps, you're a major stockholder in ExxonMobil, ArcherDanielsMidland, or the nuclear industry. If not, you're just one of the 99.9% of Americans who are out of luck on this bill. Don't let anyone fool you, this is nothing more than government by the special interests, for the special interests. And don't forget who we have to thank for that: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Tom DeLay, and the Republican-controlled Senate. Well, at least the Saudis are happy. Thanks guys.