The politics of "hopelessness"

I believe that should be the frame of reference for this most recent atrocity. While we were out opposing regulated healthcare, Congress came up with something better to do than make us wait in line for hours upon end at the Hospital. They virtually ensured we would be jobless while we waited in that line.

Yes, I am tracking American politics from abroad and, yes, it may be a sign that I am a bit obsessive.

The "climate bill" is a massive over-response to global warming concern. It is a 1,000 page bill, with a 300 page amendment granting new subsidies to the ethanol industry that no Congressperson could possibly read. Why? Because this amendment was added less than 24 hours before a final vote and was not made available to Congressman, let alone the public, until a few hours before final passage. The bill makes a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of the United States to levels before the American Revolutionary war. I typed that correctly: this bill wants 350 million people (and an industrial infrastructure) to have less of a carbon imprint than 10 million people and their cows.

To see who voted for this foolishness, click here.

The idea that this is possible is purely fanciful - I hope - and the bill likely exists so proud Prius owners can pat themselves on the back. Surprisingly, I am fine with the principle of cap and trade and being cautious about our collective environmental future. I am not fine with pursuing the pipe dream that 350 million people can consume less energy than 10 million. That is simply infantile and irresponsible. I am not fine when the way you pass this bill is by paying off Congressman with a 300 page amendment the night before the bill goes to floor.

The politics of hope have become "hopeless" when Speaker Pelosi is running around Capitol Hill buying off Representatives.

If the bill were simply some self-congratulatory measure, I would be okay with that. This happens all the time. However, this is a self-congratulatory measure that (a) threatens jobs and industry, (b) replaces it with government subsidy and regulation and (c) is aimed at a hopeless objective. What is more, it attempts all this in the middle of a recession! (Though I guarantee all who voted for this bill blame a certain former President for our troubles...)

In short, we are going to spend a whole lot of money getting nowhere. Unfortunately, this seems par for the course as of late. The following blog post pretty much sums it up:

As you undoubtedly know by now, Congress voted on Friday to change the weather -- or more accurately, the climate. The idea that a government of one country could appreciably change the world's climate over the next 40 years is the ultimate hubris. Legislators may think they are God, but they're not.

The blogger Maxed Out Mama captures the silliness:

This is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in my lifetime.
Let's hope it can be stopped in the Senate. Even if it is, our nation has lost something here, and that something is the principal legislative body's grasp on reality. It is as if the House of Representatives suddenly passed a vote to reduce gravity by 10 percent in order to lessen the costs of obesity to putatively cut Medicare costs in the future. Truly amazing.

A few months ago, if someone had to come up with a way to spend as much money as possible and create as few jobs as possible, the Stimulus Bill would be pretty much the ideal piece of legislation.

And with the Climate Bill, if someone had to come up with a way to waste as much money as possible, destroy as many jobs and as much wealth as possible, and do as little as possible to improve the environment, the Climate/Energy Bill would be pretty much the ideal piece of legislation.

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Please call your congressman and ridicule them for this inane response to a sophisticated problem. Please call you Senator and implore them not to pass this foolishness. Please forward this link to others so that, if they agree, they can also call.

PS - If your friends and family don't agree to contact their Congressperson, refer them to me. I guarantee I have less debt than Rep. Pelsoi ($11,000,000,000,000.00 and counting) ... perhaps I can find a way to pay them off.