Gregoire sidesteps legislative discord, signs executive order to stop climate change [WA]

Liberty Live {Evergreen Freedom Foundation] ^ | 5/21/2009 | Amber Gunn

[sionnsar]

Despite much fanfare, grandstanding and a whole bunch of twenty-somethings packing hearings with hopeful faces and "Cap & Invest, YES!" stickers, Governor Gregoire's requested climate change legislation failed.

 

No matter. The governor signed an executive order today that all state agencies must "develop emissions reduction strategies and set benchmarks for industry emissions." If you can't beat 'em, steamroll 'em, right? She is, of course, within her legal right to do so. More details on her executive order from the TVW blog.

 

Governor Gregoire is showcasing Hayek's classic dilemma of the economic planner. Essentially, Hayek notes the obvious--that agreement is hard to come by in a democracy. Eventually, the economic planner must assume control (by whatever means possible) or abandon the plan. 

 

The democratic process is what leads to squabbling and gridlock--a planner's worst nightmare. As a result, Hayek rightly points out that democracies tend to divest greater power to 1) boards, commissions, agencies and other unelected bodies that can "get things done" or 2) one person (like the executive branch) that can just decide for everyone else and end the bickering.

 

More efficient? Absolutely. Conducive with liberty? Not so much.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

[OrioleFan]

They tried to move some finish work to the old Stapleton Airport in Denver once, but Clinton’s Transportation secretary, Pena, had too much financial interest in getting the place shut down after DIA opened, that Denver killed it.

[Signalman]

All they needed to stop climate change was an executive order? Why didn't dems try that before now?! Surely Obama can stop climate change with a mere wave of his hand.

"Listen, all my subject.I command thee, STOP CLIMATE CHANGE".

There, done.

[CDB]

King Canute on the Seashore

Thanks, Kabar! That is a beautiful link to the King Canute story.