PrintJuly 14, 2009
Palin makes the case against cap and tax
Sarah Palin makes a well argued case against Obama's cap and tax in an Op-ed in today's Washington Post:
There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn't lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America's economy.
Job losses are so certain under this new cap-and-tax plan that it includes a provision accommodating newly unemployed workers from the resulting dried-up energy sector, to the tune of $4.2 billion over eight years. So much for creating jobs.
In addition to immediately increasing unemployment in the energy sector, even more American jobs will be threatened by the rising cost of doing business under the cap-and-tax plan. For example, the cost of farming will certainly increase, driving down farm incomes while driving up grocery prices. The costs of manufacturing, warehousing and transportation will also increase.
The ironic beauty in this plan? Soon, even the most ardent liberal will understand supply-side economics.
The Americans hit hardest will be those already struggling to make ends meet. As the president eloquently puts it, their electricity bills will "necessarily skyrocket." So much for not raising taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year.
It will be very interesting to see how Sarah Palin uses her position as one of the big Republican names not in office.
People like Dick Cheney, Newt Gingrich, and Rush Limbaugh have all carved out an independent niche from which they can comment on the day's issues and advocate for solutions to our problems. They are not hamstrung by electoral politics. They don't have to pull their punches. They are footloose and fancy free when it comes to promoting themselves and their issues.
Palin may have been born for this role. If she is managed smartly (a big if given the confusion exhibited by her staff since the election), she can be extraordinarily effective, criss crossing the country, drawing huge crowds, and raising gobs of money for GOP candidates (and probably the occassional conservative Democrat although don't hold your breath on that).
Her main drawback at this point is that she doesn't know the lay of the land. And, of course, a need to beef up her knowledge on some issues like foreign affairs. That will come with time. What she really needs are national politicos who can utilize her talents to the fullest, not overexposing her, and putting her in front of the right audiences to talk about the right issues.
This Op-Ed is a good start, giving exposure to her views on an issue on which she is an acknowledged expert. Look for a few more of these in the national media as Palin asserts herself and becomes one of the big players in the Republican party.
Hat Tip: Ed Lasky
