Obama’s business comments, China & capitalism, and EPA’s state take-over

Today in the News

OBAMA “YOU DIDN’T BUILD THAT” BUSINESS COMMENTS – JOHN BERLAU

Openmarkets.org: Yes, President Obama, Howard Johnson “Built” Your Favorite Motels, And Private Equity Saved Them

Over the weekend, President Obama sent a message to all American entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs. The message was, “Nothing special about you!”

Both Obama’s and [Elizabeth]Warren’s attacks on entrepreneurs suffer from the same basic flaws. First, the existence of general government programs that future entrepreneurs may benefit from, such as roads and schools (as opposed to specific aid to entrepreneurs selected by the government, i.e. Solyndra), does not take away from entrepreneurs’ achievements or create any kind of individual debt. This is because –putting aside the question of whether these programs are wise — entrepreneurs already paid for them as taxpaying citizens before their success, and will pay even more afterwords, even without the tax hikes Obama is advocating.

 

CAPITALISM & CHINA – FRED L. SMITH, JR.

CCTV-America: Is China doing capitalism better than the United States?

From ‘The Heat’ July 14, 2012 – CCTV America anchor Mike Walter interviews Peter Schiff, the CEO of Euro Pacific Capital Inc., and Fred L. Smith, Jr., the President of Comparative Enterprise Institute.

QUESTION: Is China doing capitalism better than the United States?

 

 

STUDY – EPA vs THE STATES – WILLIAM YEATMAN

US Chamber of Commerce: EPA’s New Regulatory Front: Regional Haze and the Takeover of State Programs

EPA’s Regional Haze program, established decades ago by the Clean Air Act, seeks to remedy visibility impairment at federal National Parks and Wilderness Areas. Because Regional Haze is an aesthetic regulation, and not a public health standard, Congress emphasized that states, and not EPA, should be the lead decision makers. However, EPA—with some help from its friends at special interest groups and the controversial “Sue and Settle” Rulemaking process— has devised a loophole to usurp state authority and federally impose a strict new set of emissions controls that cost 10 to 20 times more than the technology the states would otherwise have used.