Global Warming Allergies, Change at the SEC and Accounting for the Cost of Government
Global warming gets blamed for an increase in allergies.
Paul Atkins steps down as Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Taxpayer advocates observe “Cost of Government Day.”
1. TECHNOLOGY
Global warming gets blamed for an increase in allergies.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on whether changes in our climate are man-made or not:
“…it’s pretty conclusive that, all other things being equal, more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to a warmer atmosphere. However, it’s clear from the recent plateau in temperatures, while greenhouse gases have continued to accumulate, that all other things are not equal. We really don’t know very much about the other ‘forcings,’ as they call them, that go in to deciding the global temperature, and clearly need more research on them. We also don’t know very much at all about the history of climate beyond 400 years ago. We need to know not just what regulates the atmosphere, but whether temperature swings are unusual or not.”
2. BUSINESS
Paul Atkins steps down as Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Center for Entrepreneurship Director John Berlau on the Atkins legacy:
“Whether you were a small investor looking to build your nest egg by exercising your judgment on risk and return, or a small entrepreneur seeking public capital to build your innovative new business, Paul Atkins was looking out for you. He was a great advocate for publicly-traded companies and their shareholders, primarily because he realized that the interests of these two parties weren’t necessarily contradictory. He argued forcefully that legitimate investors and entrepreneurs suffer when regulatory burdens take away from a company’s focus on shareholder return.”
3. ENVIRONMENT
Taxpayer advocates observe “Cost of Government Day.”
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on how the cost of government regulations – piled on top of taxes – are often ignored:
“The chattering classes are unconcerned over the ill effects of the regulatory Leviathan; indeed, they cheer it. In June, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman blamed inadequate food regulation for everything from health scares to foreign policy troubles with South Korea. The Republican administration now proposes sweeping new regulation of America’s financial sector. Clearly, many have the impression that the American economy is as lawless as the Wild West. To be blunt, that impression is wrong.”