Energizing an energy policy

The Washington Times ^ | February 2, 2015 | Ed Fuelner

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

If you’re like most Americans, you’re enjoying the fact that it costs a lot less to fill up your car’s gas tank these days. If you’re a fan of big government, you may feel a bit ambivalent, though.

Why? Because one of the biggest drivers behind the drop in gas prices is the rise in directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) here at home. While the government is busy micromanaging the energy industry — trying to saddle it with more regulations while showering favors on so-called “green” companies — the free market is showing how to actually get things done.

Indeed, the country is in the midst of its own oil boom. Drilling and fracking have supported millions of new jobs, including geologists, engineers, rig workers, truck drivers, pipe welders and others. And not just in the energy industry itself: In states with increased production, there’s more demand for restaurants, repair shops, hardware stores, hotels, box stores and laundromats, among other things.

Then we have what government is doing: trying to pick winners and losers itself — and doing a very bad job of it.

Take Solyndra. “The future is here,” President Obama said of this solar-cell manufacturing firm. Perhaps his rosy prediction had something to do with the fact that Solyndra was backed by George Kaiser, a major campaign contributor to the Democrats. Whatever the reason, Solyndra received a $535 million loan guarantee as part of the president’s 2009 stimulus package, and the administration promised thousands of jobs would result.

Solyndra closed its doors in 2011.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Nanny State PING!

[43north]

Crony capitalism similar to what Hitler practiced with the German industrialists but he was much better at it than owebama - at least until 1943 or so...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!