Regular readers would recall that I have often argued against all forms of welfare, whether to capable individuals or corporate entities. In fact, upon review of the OWS videos posted in the last week, you might find that I agree with the protesters on the latter part.
Those who are local (here in Grand Traverse County Michigan) might also be able to note that my disagreement with using the public purse to support such things indeed extends to local economic efforts, where the purse is opened, and loans or grants are in play. I don’t believe government officials have any business in leveraging one business at the expense of others, especially when taxpayer funded resources are used to place the advantage.
The unassisted local competition pay taxes as well, and it is immoral to take from them to give to their counterparts. Then there are those who prefer not to support particular businesses, yet are forced to participate through the taking of their own wealth.
As an elected official, I give voice to those who do not support such measures. I am more often (than not) opposed by a majority on the board who would like to claim they ‘create jobs’ by the re-appropriation of taxpayer moneys.
But by golly, it seems a majority of real voting folks have a view closer to my own. From a recent Heritage poll:
KEY FINDINGS
- Voters throughout the country express strong opposition to the federal government choosing specific energy companies and industries within this sector to provide financial subsidies. Nearly three quarters of voters (72%) oppose the federal government choosing which companies within a certain industry will receive financial subsidies, with a majority (54%) strongly opposing. This strong opposition is bipartisan, reaching 70% among Independents, 66% among Democrats, and 82% among Republicans. Voters are also negative toward energy subsidies in general, as only 39% favor the federal government providing some energy companies with financial help in the form of subsidies (50% oppose).
- …
- … Opposition to the government picking “winners and losers” is evidenced by voters’ negative feelings toward Solyndra, an energy company that recently filed for bankruptcy only after receiving a $535 million loan from the federal government and a public endorsement by President Obama. Nearly two thirds (65%) agree that Solyndra going bankrupt is a “perfect example of why the federal government should not be in the role of picking winners and losers, no matter what industry or company it is.”
Imagine that. (be sure to see the entire results list at their site.)
Most folks hate it when the government favors one company, or industry, yet so many legislators, government executives, and bureaucrats would still pursue the centrally planned models. Models which consistently fail, apply disadvantages to domestic competitors, and as one might surmise, puts the taint of failure on the efforts of capitalism.
A corrupted form of which the OWS protesters are quite correct to demagog when speaking of “Wall Street”.
So what to do?
Support truly free markets. Free markets will bear out the best and most efficient ideas, cost only the investors who are willing to risk when failures arise, and have a moral cause and effect model. The false model that employs government funding, selective regulatory environments, and favored industries ALWAYS fail on some level that truly matters.
However, be prepared to start looking at local grants, and be especially skeptical anytime some elected decision maker says “Its free money.”
Our kids will be paying already for our capitulation in redistribution of ANY form as it is. Local government entrepreneurs grow up to be big federal government entrepreneurs, but are using funds not procured by their own wealth building efforts, but by wielding the hammer of government, and the sickle of taxation.
We must reject economic development efforts other than simple reductions of taxes and adverse regulatory climates.
