Monday, May 18, 2009

Industry is warming up to Obama's climate plan

Sprawling across about 9,000 acres of rolling farmland in southwestern Indiana is one of the world's biggest aluminum smelters, operated by Alcoa Inc. The maze of rectangular buildings and giant smokestacks consumes enough electricity to supply a city of 200,000 -- power generated by burning more than 2 million tons of coal a year. So it may be surprising that company executives are pushing Congress to pass a version of President Obama's plan for combating global warming. After all, Obama wants to slap hefty fees on facilities like Alcoa's that pump millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Those fees could raise costs for the company and leave it vulnerable to foreign competitors. But a growing number of coal users have come to believe that, with the right tweaks, Obama's plan would not only help the environment but boost their profits. Politically, the decision to get behind the broad outlines of climate legislation mirrors the push by insurers and pharmaceutical companies to remake the nation's healthcare system: In both cases, corporate strategists concluded that some government action was likely, and they might fare better at the table than on the sidelines...LATimes

Nothing new here as history repeats itself. Big Business in cahoots with Big Government. BG increases their coffers and size, BB increases profits by limiting competition via BG's regulations.

Personally, I'm for the era of the Big Individual. I'd apply a cruel bit and cut the rations of BG. Limit BG to it's primary function: protecting the rights of the BI. Open up the pasture gate and make BB compete against all comers.

In summary: The unholy alliance of BB and BG reeks of BO. Saddle up, put some distance between you and the BO, and bring on the BI!

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