Yet another encroachment on our freedoms

[kandrathe]

Smoot-Hawley was an import tariff. How is socialized heath care or cap and trade anything like an import tariff?

The net effect of Smoot-Hawley, however small its macroeconomic effect, was to worsen an already weak economy and depress the GDP.

The reimplementation of Paygo (a pay as you go budget(reduce spending or increase taxes) is a good idea, were we not in a recession/depression), an additional trillion dollar Health Care System, and the economic chaos of a cap in trade system, (again, long term benefits with near term costs) along with whatever other new chaos brought about by more acts of "Change", will further confound a floundered economy.

The worlds demands for goods and services are like one big pie. With the US self selecting to curb its economic power by siphoning off productivity and diverting capital to projects with no profitable impact. I mean seriously, what do you think the net effect will be of suddenly reducing energy consumption in the US to 80% of the 1990 level (as promised by Obama)? Yes, a cleaner environment and less CO2 emissions until people start burning their trees for heat and cooking.

By these types of actions (socialist neo-Luddite pipe dreams), we are in essence choosing to be less competitive. This is economic carnage to quickly implement what some people believe to be an environmental nirvana. Who will pick up the productivity slack? China?

It's ok, I've lived off the land before in my life, so me and mine will survive this. But, I fear for the millions who will die due to lack of heat and food. In the world food chain, this has typically been Africa and South Asia, but who knows.

What is the "Cap in Trade" plan of the EU and how well does it work?