January 10, 2012

Romney "Gaffe" Should Strengthen Support for Him

In talking about health insurance yesterday, Governor Mitt Romney commented that "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me."  Of course, this was was immediately proclaimed a gaffe by the political reporters and jumped on by his opponents

However, those who realize that there will have to be substantial cuts in government expenditures in order to control the deficit should welcome such an attitude.  We can only hope that, when elected President, he will be enthusiastic in chopping government programs, even it it means firing people.  We need a hard-hearted budget hawk who will not be dissuaded from making the necessary cuts, and who will not be swayed by the certain howls of outrage from those whose jobs will be lost.  We can only hope that Romney truly means it.

Companies Fined for not Using a Biofuel that Doesn't Exist

Here is a true regulatory gotcha.  The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act required, inter alia, the use of diesel fuel made from biomass, setting a goal of 250 million gallons in 2011 and 500 million gallons in 2012.  However, such cullulosic fuel does not exist.  It has  never been made commercially.  Nevertheless, the EPA will fine refiners for failing to include this product in their gasoline.  The New York Times has covered this folly in detail in today's paper.

Good Video on Deficit

I have previously blogged about the enormity of the deficit and the national debt, noting that the deficit in fiscal 2011 was 36% of total federal expenditures and that the government spent 57% more than it took in.  Now comes a short video that transposes these figures to the context of a single family.  You will like it.