Vince Daliessio’s Recent Comments

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  Greasing Their Alms

  The continuing problem I have with many people in the environmental movement is an unconscious, or even a studied resistance to simple economic concepts. Those small domestic producers receive almost none of the benefits of the massive subsidy regime (and are especially harmed by the military subsidization of Middle-East crude), yet they would be the ones harmed the most by Umbra's proposed "harrass and sue" policy. Why not cut all subsidies, including phony EPA "standards", and our current massive "World Invasion", and let the chips fall where they may? So what if gasoline prices rise to $10 a gallon - isn't that a good thing for the environment?On Umbra on oil subsidies posted 4 years, 2 months ago 3 Responses

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  Is Our Democrats Learning?

  Regarding the drought-shrunken corn in Illinois - don't cry for the farmers - they will get both higher prices due to low yields, and deficiency payments from the government to make up the difference. They will be back overproducing again next year. Meanwhile, the criminally ridiculous "Energy Bill" will guarantee that ADM will profit no matter what the yield is.On Passage of energy bill highlights lack of united Democratic opposition posted 4 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses

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  Greasing Their Alms

  Umbra correctly identifies government subsidy as the evil influence it is in the energy industry. However she squanders this insight by hoping aloud that the same strategy used to "go after" Big Tobacco will now be used to go after "Big Oil". This is nuts. Why would you want to cartellize the oil industry even more than it is now, make billionaires of amoral scumbags like Peter Angelos and Bill Lerach, and raise prices and regulation all around, all while shortchanging the actual "victims"? Why is this considered a good thing?
  I have an alternate suggestion. Simply cut all subsidies and regulations on the industry, and substitute a real property rights solution, i.e., make them answerable in court for trespassing with their pollution (for this to work, we also have to get rid of opt-out class actions, but that is another issue). Once out from behind the shield of the EPA, the oil industry will have to act more responsibly to keep themselves solvent and out of court. If this increases costs, this will also benefit the environment, because more costly oil will cause consumers to consume less and look for alternatives. The regulatory and litigitory approaches have failed utterly. Pollution continues to increase, while we waste time tinkering with regulations. Why not try free markets?On Umbra on oil subsidies posted 4 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses