Energy Security, Local Broadcasting and Grocery Bags
Politicians call for the U.S. to achieve “energy independence”.
Members of Congress caution the Federal Communications Commission against a new wave of broadcast regulation.
Officials in Britain propose charging customers a fee for using plastic grocery bags.
1. ENERGY
Politicians call for the U.S. to achieve “energy independence”.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on the national security implications of energy policy:
“Today, calls for America to become ‘energy independent’ come from across the political spectrum. Among the most important energy-security advocates are conservatives concerned about national security. To make America less ‘dependent’ on energy purchases from unstable regimes, they have proposed a variety of measures aimed at reducing the use of oil. However, rather than make the nation more secure, the proposed measures have the potential to inflict significant economic damage on America, weakening it at a time when national security demands strong economic resilience.”
2. TECHNOLOGY
Members of Congress caution the Federal Communications Commission against a new wave of broadcast regulation.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Technology Policy Analyst Cord Blomquist on what the agency is considering:
“The FCC is continuing its desperate search for a reason to exist. This year it’s decided to assert its relevance by reengaging an issue that it had ignored since 2004. The “Localism” debate has reemerged and one of the most troubling aspects of this debate is the focus on the supposed lack of ownership of broadcast television and radio stations by women and minorities. While the goal of increasing diversity in the sphere of broadcast media is a noble one, the data being used to justify new rules is specious.”
3. ENVIRONMENT
Officials in Britain propose charging customers a fee for using plastic grocery bags.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on how one grocery chain is reacting:
“What Sainsbury’s is proposing instead is that customers who do not use plastic bags will get points on their store loyalty card. Again, this is brilliant. It takes a fad and turns it to the benefit of the store and those customers who subscribe to it, while not really punishing those who do not see the attraction of the fad. this is an ingenious private sector solution; if the benefits of the loyalty card points turn out to be greater than the benefits of using plastic bags, then everyone will switch and everyone will be better off. If not, no-one really suffers, except for the command-and-control types who want to exercise dominion over not just what goes into your grocery bag, but the grocery bag itself.”
Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI’s blog, Open Market.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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