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A Case for Obstructionism
- Sunday, 28 February 2010
In efforts to recover from recent political defeats across the country, Democrats have labeled Republicans as the party of "No." In the current political context, "No" has been deemed a naughty word. Outside of staunch conservative social circles, one cannot possible brand liberalism, socialism, or communism as naughty words. Why not? Democratic offerings are nothing short of socialist. Economies crash time and time again under leftist weight. In contrast, economies in India, China, and Chile are blooming under newfound capitalistic market approaches. How is it that popular politics trump the practical? The following is not a defense of the Republican party. Instead, it is a defense of "No." Saying "No" to counterproductive programs, spending, and interventionism coincides with defending the Constitution.
Monopolies are the result of capitalism working. Companies battle for market share, innovating along the way. Competitive clashes result in better costs and products. However, once a monopoly indisputably exists, busting lips restores competition. Beyond this, government has no place in determining how companies do business; interventions often hurt rather than help the consumer.
Credit Card Companies
The most recent example of unnecessary government intervention is between consumers and credit card companies. "The law that President Barack Obama signed last May shields card users from sudden interest rate hikes, excessive fees and other gimmicks that card companies have used to drive up profits" (Connelly, 2010, para. 5).
Credit Card companies had nine months to prepare, and they took the time to create new rules to make up for lost profits (Duh!). They jacked up interest rates and made up new fees ("inactivity fee," anyone?) that cut across all spenders, good and bad alike. In addition, millions of accounts were closed, and credit is now even harder for Americans to obtain in an economic recession. Talk about counter productive.
ADA
Of course, it was hailed as sweeping reform. So was the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). No, I didn't just insult the federal laws intended to help the blind and wheelchair-bound. Instead, I insulted the law of unintended consequences. Without fail, "...workers' wages fall in response to a mandated increase in benefits or when employment falls in response to an increase in the minimum wage" (DeLeire, 2001, para. 1). As a consequence, fewer disabled persons are hired now than before ADA! Additional mandated costs are already less attractive. But throw in threats of prosecution through the EEOO by disabled worked, and firms understandably are scared shitless in the land of lawsuit-happy, self-entitled idiots (DeLeire, 2001).
And Back to Credit Cards
Obviously, the aforementioned credit card policy battles are but a microcosm. But is anyone truly surprised at card companies' new policies? When government makes it less profitable to do business, one of three things inevitably happen:
1. the company passes costs to the consumer
2. the company moves to another country
3. the company goes out of business
American citizens lose under each scenario. Rarely do new regulations stimulate competition and spur job growth. "Socking" it to "evil" credit card companies also is nonsensical. What happens when one doesn't pay off a credit card? Just collection calls, mostly. On occasion, companies contract "repo-men" to reclaim property for which one has not paid.
In contrast, the IRS is much more intrusive. One can't merely disagree with the government and decide not to pay taxes. Paying is not voluntary; nobody can take up Thoreau's tactics. It doesn't matter if you can't stand that government authorized $10 million for filling fortune cookies with 2010 Census advertising. Money can be removed from a paycheck before its ever cashed. Otherwise, if one doesn't pay, representatives of the U.S. government can come into your house for an audit, garnish wages, and remove funds from a bank account. One must reevaluate who the "evil" party is.
Furthermore, if one wants to view this through the prism of conspiracy theorists, "unintended results" are, in fact, the desired results. New credit card policies perfectly fit the socialist template. Money is taken from responsible consumers instead of an irresponsible consumers.
Toyota Versus GM / Government
To say that Toyota "royally screwed up" is a drastic hyperbole. Manufacturers recall products all the time. Toyota just happens to have a helluva lot of cars on the road. But that's not even close to the whole story. Relentless, blood-sucking media smearing is all but expected. But a Congressional ass-chewing?
No, Congress pulling foreign businessmen for "questioning" is not indicative of the government's interest in your personal safety. Instead, It was a practical business move. And a damn unethical one at that. When GM went bankrupt as a result of three decades worth of union rule and mismanagement, the government bailed them out and became major shareholders. What better way to increase market value than to pull Toyota execs into a Congressional hearing? As if recalled accelerators and floor mats were the biggest threat to America (as opposed to a bankrupt, socialist economy). Can you imagine if Tokyo had demanded Ford's leadership? The patience of the Japanese is commendable. Mr. Toyota didn't have to publicly cry to earn my respect.
Eminent Domain
If you were educated by America's public school system, you may not have heard of "eminent domain," a process by which the government can seize private property for public use (e.g., parks, roads, schools, courthouses). Ever read the part in the Constitution about how the government can take private property and give it to someone else?
Me neither.
But that's what the government is doing. Eminent domain is being used across the country so private developers can build homes and property that will generate more property taxes. Jim and Joanne Saleet of Lakewood, OH are refusing to sell their home (of 38 years) to make way for condominiums. To make the acquisition more "lawful," their city reset the standards for what constitutes a "blighted" home worthy of bulldozing: three bedrooms, two baths, an attached two-car garage, and central air (Leung, 2004).
Jim and Joanne Saleet won; Suzette Key Lo didn't.
Governor John Rowland, who, by the way, went to jail for corruption, made a deal with the Pfizer Pharmaceutical Corporation. If Pfizer built a global research headquarters in New London, the state would clear 90 acres of land. Lo lost the house that she bought and rebuilt in the 40s. Pfizer never moved in. The the land remains a barren, open field. Eminent domain is now justifiable through increased tax revenue - on behalf of private enterprise. It's not just a slippery slop; it's a landslide. Under this precedent, how couldn't the government justify eminent domain?
Conclusion
The current state of saying "No" to big government isn't merely Red versus Blue. Illegitimate cases of obstructionism reach across both sides of the political spectrum. Was the wasted time pursuing Clinton's sex life legitimate? No.
John Murtha rose from obscurity to compare U.S. troops to Nazis and Russians. Overrated author Kurt Vonnegut appeared on The Daily Show to declare that George W. Bush started the Iraq war over oil. These comments were bogus back then, and history has already proven them beyond reprehensible.
Most recently, at the bipartisan health care summit, John McCain used his precious time to bluster about nothing. Obama responded by reminding him that the election was over. Obama (as if you're reading), I disagree with you on virtually every issue, but I couldn't have said it better myself. However, "Well, we won," is not satisfactory justification for anything. The fact remains that, even though John McCain is an idiot, he was inarticulately trying to voice an objection to government reach. Without fail, each time the government sticks its hands in business - from credit cards to ADA regulation - shit hits the fan with a dissatisfying squish.
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