Tag green

Why Not Let Free Markets Determine Energy Policy?

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Since Adam’s Smith’s famous metaphor of the “Invisible Hand,” economists in the classical liberal tradition have known that decentralized, competitive capitalism harnesses the self-interest of ambitious and talented individuals. Rather than using their powers to dominate others, extraordinary individuals in a free-market setting stay up worrying at night about how to please their customers.

In contrast, the government bureaucrat doesn’t have the same incentive structure.

A sophisticated critic might agree that in general, markets outperform government agencies. However, the critic could argue that this general presumption fails when it comes to energy markets, because of the threat of climate change. Here—the argument goes—capitalism’s normally efficient outcome is perverted, because businesses and consumers aren’t taking into account the impact of their actions on future generations.

Even if we accept the basic premise of “market failure,” we must balance it against the undeniable prevalence of “government failure. For example, if a cap-and-trade program ever went through, it would not be a textbook plan devised by academics. On the contrary, it would contain all sorts of loopholes and handouts of permits to favor politically connected groups.

When it comes to mundane items like restaurant meals and iPods, most people recognize the tremendous superiority of the free market versus government bureaucrats. Yet this conclusion doesn’t magically flip when we switch to the crucial area of energy. But it should because energy is so vital to our standard of living, we need to remove government interference and free entrepreneurs to serve consumers in this sector as well. Read the full story at:

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The Luck of the Irish

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

image001A View from the Nest

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor

Insight from the Journey across the Sky

25 You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.’ Acts 3:25 (GW)

9 So people who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the man of faith. Gal 3:9 (GW)

Although I am half Irish I have to admit I am not what you would consider lucky. I do not recall ever winning a game of chance and do not even think about betting on a race or playing the lottery. If there is some sort of magic to luck then I am certainly no magician. Perhaps luck is a state of mind. If you think you are lucky does that help make you lucky? Do thoughts of winning games of chance improve your odds of actually winning? Can you ’Think and Grow Rich’ like the book title would indicate? Is there something magical about the Emerald Isle that translates into the Irish being lucky?

Perhaps, because I am not a full bloodied Irishman, my luck has yet to manifest. Perhaps I am only half lucky because I am only half Irish. I guess I should blame my mother for not marrying an Irish gentleman. Yeah that’s it blame it on genes. You would think it should be my heritage to be lucky like the Irish, considering I am part Irish. But alas the only thing Irish about me would seem to be my gift of gab, which I gather one gets from kissing the "Blarney Stone" which I really do not recall ever having done. Oh well, I am still partly Irish and that must count for something.

To be an Irishman one has to be born of Irish ancestry. To inherit Irish genes you must have Irish blood running through your family tree. Just by donning green apparel on St Patrick’s day does not make you Irish anymore than wearing a cross around your neck makes you a Christian. You have to be born Irish, and you must be born again to be a true heavenly citizen.

There are advantages to being a natural born citizen. I am a natural citizen of the United States but not a natural born citizen of Ireland. Although I have Irish blood running through my family tree I did not inherit the rights and privileges of a naturally born Irish citizen. I could not therefore go to Ireland and be treated like a citizen. I would have to apply for citizenship to the Emerald Isle in order to be eligible for the benefits afforded citizens. It is the same with my heavenly citizenship. I had to make an appeal, I had to follow the citizenship rules in order to be adopted into my heavenly family. Now since I have been adopted I can claim benefits afforded family.

My citizenship papers have been signed by the King of King and Lord of Lords. He has written my name in the membership list of all those who applied for citizenship into Heaven. I now belong to two worlds, this one and the one to come. DUAL citizenship! WOW I am a citizen of two worlds. I have two homelands, my current one and the one I will be traveling to one day.

Just like I am part Irish and part German, I can also say I am part sinner and part saint. I have sinners blood running through my veins but also the blood of Christ and the saints of old as well. I am both mortal and immortal because I have the promise of eternal life with my citizenship papers from Heaven. While here on earth I am only mortal. Not lucky perhaps. Not too bright perhaps. Not wealthy perhaps. But blessed none the less, because my new home is awaiting my arrival. It is a place where there is no need for luck, nor any need for wealth. I do not have to chase after the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow because the one who placed the rainbow in the sky has promised me a home on golden streets. Now that is some POT OF GOLD wouldn’t you say?

I may not be considered lucky like some would call lucky, but I can truly say my life has been blessed since leaving behind my natural birthright and trading it for a new heavenly birthright.

So this St Patrick’s day I shall wear green for my Irish ancestry but I shall also wear the scars and stripes of my Lord and Savior who died for me so that I could become a citizen of the new earth. I may not be a lucky Irishman but I am surely a blessed man thanks to Jesus Christ.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

Along for the journey

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