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cro·ny cap·i·tal·ism (noun)
A pejorative term describing an allegedly capitalist economy in which success in business depends on close relationships between businessmen and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, and so forth.
T. Boone Pickens’s letter of Sept. 2 says: “I believe that with private investment and proven technology, we can generate 20% of our electricity from wind within 10 years.” No one is stopping him from achieving his goal. He should proceed with his plan. He should buy or lease property, install wind turbines, build transmission lines and sell as much electricity as he can. I just don’t want him asking for government subsidies or tax breaks along the way. If he can deliver electricity from wind power more economically than coal, natural gas or nuclear power, he will be rewarded. I don’t want the government spending money subsidizing an industry which cannot sustain itself.
Nor do I want the government creating artificial demand for natural gas by mandating it be used for transportation. The price of natural gas has risen dramatically in recent years and we don’t need to artificially increase the demand for it by using it to fuel cars.
We’ve already seen how government interference in energy markets with ethanol mandates and ethanol subsidies has driven up the price of corn and other food crops.
In response to Mr. Pickens’s request for a plan, here is my plan. Let the market decide, and don’t allow special interests and the government to interfere. When electricity from wind is more economical than other sources, wind will win. Until then, I’d like to keep my electricity, fuel costs and taxes as low as possible.
Dan Agan
Houston
Mr. Pickens’s energy plan is incomplete without mention of California’s Altamont Pass Wind Farm. During its long lifetime it has killed some 100 eagles and about 1,000 other birds a year. It has been in violation of the Endangered Species Act but seems to enjoy freedom from enforcement. We are a nation of law. Mr. Pickens must address this issue in order to have a plan with meaning.
Frank Cotter
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Wilson Research Strategies CEO Chris Wilson discusses Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” comments with host Martha McCallum on Fox News Live Desk.
By Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant
President Kennedy said, “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
As we fought for health insurance coverage of children with autism, we fought a “persistent, persuasive and unrealistic” myth. The constant refrain from those who oppose helping these families is their opinion insurance mandates like “Nick’s Law” raise premiums and increase the number of people who are uninsured.
The insurance situation in other states unravels the arguments on which the opponents of “Nick’s Law” depend. First, compare the number of legislative mandates among several states. Then, in those states with more legislative mandates, one should look at the percentage of uninsured. Finally, one should examine premium costs in those states compared to Oklahoma. Read more…
There was a time when political analysts thought Republicans would win the 2008 election only when pigs fly. However in the middle of a media firestorm over lipstick, the Your Vote Counts team examines why Democrats should be on the lookout for flying swine.
The Your Vote Counts team breaks down the weeks top issues asking: How safe are we on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? How did lipstick get Barack Obama in so much trouble? Whats the good ol Farmers Almanac say about the weather and what does that have to do with politics? Finally, how are local elections shaping up?
From Stan Geiger – An Oklahoma blog
There is a public discourse underway, focused mainly on the generation of electricity. Windmills, nuclear and solar are all options on the table. But the fact of the matter is, most of our oil consumption goes to transportation. We burn oil fueling planes, trains and automobiles. If we are to shed our dependence on imported oil, we must come up with a new transportation fuel. Ethanol from corn isn’t the answer. There is an answer, however, lying right under our feet. It would be good if someone started paying attention to it.
Boone Pickens is right about one thing: we can’t drill our way out of this problem. At the same time, he’s wrong about nat gas being the solution.
Currently, domestic nat gas production barely keeps up with demand. If we start fueling rolling stock with the stuff, it won’t be long before we find ourselves in the same position with nat gas that we are currently in with oil: we will be dependent on foreign sources. Tulsa’s own super billionaire, George Kaiser, has reportedly made heavy investments in the liquid natural gas biz of late, if that tells you anything.
While the U.S. can’t become energy independent relative to oil and natural gas, it can become energy independent through the use of coal. The U.S. is the undisputed king of coal. We have, far and away, more coal reserves than any nation on the planet. China is a distant second. Read more….
Related:
OKPNS 5/17/08 Environmentalist Wackos in OK; The Heck With the Planet, Someone Save the Humans!
Muskogee Phoenix’s Dave Gerard: “So why are we suspicious of oil and gas companies?”
I’m finally convinced that certain segments of the Democrat base are truly demented! It’s amazing that they can’t see that they have willfully invested in the defeat of their own country, just so their political party can win elections. The tripe below is no better than Tokyo Rose’s propaganda during World War II to demoralize our troops.
From Alternative Tulsa:
On September 11, it gives us no pleasure to report the following deadly statistic from the Associated Press:
An insurgent attack on an eastern compound killed a soldier Thursday, bringing the year’s death toll to 112 and making 2008 the deadliest for American forces in Afghanistan since the U.S. invaded the country in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Read more…
Related:
Red Stater: Today We Are Americans- Period.
Fried Green Onions: The day our world stood still and the aircraft left our skies
Inhofe Commemorates Seven Year Anniversary of September 11th
Sinister:
We have a little advice for our friends over at okiepolitics.com. If you’re going to be masters of the political spin like we are, (tongue firmly planted in cheek) at least choose quotes of ours that can really be open to debate. Here’s an excerpt of what they posted today:
“One simple quote from our friends at OKPNS” is a classic conservative argument to youth: “Would you really want to bet your election on a large turnout of young voters?”
Yes.
In short, instead of providing for a free and fair discussion, our friends at OKPNS perpetuate the conservative talking point: keep the kids away — they might just have a thought outside of our fubar groupthink. OKPNS may as well have said “If you are for Senator Rice — do not even bother to vote.” Will team conservative’s message be able to keep the twenty-somethings away from the polls?” Read more…
Here’s what we actually said this week on lightweight Andrew Rice’s Senate bid and okiepolitics assertion that Rice still “stand(s) a legitimate chance” because he allegedly “polls best with young voters.”
“So what we draw from this analysis is this: if Rice can somehow extend the election for another six months or year, he’ll pull within maybe 10 points of Inhofe???? Would you really want to bet your election on a large turnout of young voters? How motivated do you think they will be if they perceive it to be a lost cause for Obama in Oklahoma?” Read more…
We’re not trying to discourage young people from voting. It’s simply a fact that they historically don’t vote. In addition, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that if Obama continues to be down by plus 30 points in Oklahoma come November, young voters will say “what the hell” and not show up at the polls.
Washington Post 3/4/07
“With their Web logs, Facebook profiles and college rallies, the 2008 presidential candidates are lavishing attention on a group that displays unbridled enthusiasm early in the campaign but tends to lose interest when the voting starts.
More than half of the people in the United States age 18 to 24 who are eligible to vote typically are no-shows on Election Day. By comparison, some 70 percent of those 45 and older cast their ballots, according to the Census Bureau. Read more…
Oh, yes, we believe the Channel 4 poll because they continue to demonstrate such high ethical and journalistic standards.
NOT!!!
Just days after a Democrat chatboard outed the now-discredited Flashpoint duo for hosting a fundraiser for a politician they had unethically pimped on their show. We have the real evidence. (Click here)
Here’s a comment from one of the disgruntled Dems:
“Why are Turpen and Stuart Price allowed to support Republicans while holding positions within our party? Hello, ODP Chairman Ivan Holmes, how about sending out one of your press releases or holding one of your town square meetings to explain this?”
So Why Is Commissioner Jeff Cloud Smiling?
KFOR released a poll showing the object of their misplaced and inappropriate affection leading in the 6-year seat for Corporation Commission. The poll shows Jeff Cloud leading Democrat Charles Gray 52-37%.
First, given his incumbency, Cloud should be embarrassed at the margin: the incumbent should be leading by a much larger margin over Gray. Second, who in this world is going to believe KFOR? Considering the unprofessional and unethical brown-nosing Turpen and Humphreys have given Cloud, we can safely assume the race is much, much closer. After all the revelations we’ve broken here about Cloud’s controversial activities, it could be Gray is leading the race. What we do know is that anybody who believes a KFOR poll is, shall we say, unwise to do so.
OKPNS has chronicled over and over the serial dissembling and brazen dishonesty of Flashpoint. Once again, we know they’re lying. How do we know? Their lips are moving!
Related:
OKPNS: (7/23/08) Rush IS Right: Helps OKPNS Expose Edwards, Cloud as Liberals
