› Cap and Trade’s Snake Oil Salesman

Cap and trade is not that complicated.  Recently Ag Secretary Vilsack has been out promoting cap and trade and touting its benefits to farmers.  Well, let’s look at these benefits that Sec. Vilsack is selling to the American people.

Sec. Vilsack is selling this terrible legislation by pointing out the money farmers can make from planting trees which is considered a “carbon offset.”  Therefore, during a recession those in Washington would rather re-forest our land, which Vilsack said would provide “significant income opportunities to America’s farmers and ranchers.”  This is absurd.  When did even the most basic rules about supply and demand leave Washington?  Or did Washington kick these rules out themselves?

The USDA released a report stating that subsidizing farmers to plant trees would result in decreased livestock production and it would bump up commodity prices.  (More government interference in our economy again!) It is as simple as this.  Cap and trade is bad for America and it is bad for the world!  As farmers find more value in planting taxpayer subsidized trees as opposed to actually producing anything, supply will decrease.  Without a proportional decrease in demand, we will inevitably see even more inflation in food prices.  Thus far America as a whole hasn’t significantly noticed already inflated food prices.  If they pass cap and trade not only will this result in increased energy costs for businesses and the people, but will result in even greater economic strain as Americans can’t afford their utilities and their food.

Why is it that Congressman Boswell and the 111th Congress are so focused on passing legislation that is economically devastating?  There is nothing good to come from this bill.  They are basing this on junk science and they refuse to even vet the science to ensure us it is in fact without manipulation and error.  Instead, they would rather politicize climate change to redistribute wealth globally rather than focusing on job creation and boosting our economy.  This bill will increase unemployment, hinder small businesses that are in a position to expand and it will tax the middle-class who will see the greatest cost burden as businesses pass the tax in the prices of their goods and services.

We cannot stand for elected officials who have no grasp whatsoever on the economics of the legislation they are passing.  We cannot afford to allow them to vote for legislation that is bad for America.  We cannot force our grandchildren into financial slavery by increasing our debt to give climate change reparations to the world.