Morning Bell: Free Enterprise’s 100-Day Death March
Posted April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am in Enterprise and Free Markets 
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Previewing the Obama administration’s upcoming “sweeping” environmental regulatory agenda, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told NPR’s Michelle Norris yesterday: “The President has said, and I couldn’t agree more, that what this country needs is a one single national road map that tells automakers who are trying to become solvent again what kind of car it is they need to be designing and building for the American people.” Norris then asked: “Is that the role of Government though? That doesn’t sound like free enterprise.” Jackson responded: “Well it is free enterprise in a way.”
Jackson’s honesty about the Obama administration’s intentions for the auto industry puts an end to White House claims that, with respect to the federal government’s now controlling stake in General Motors, the “goal is to exert as little influence as possible” and “to exit as quickly as possible.” Make no mistake; this administration will be dictating which cars GM will be making in the future.
And General Motors is not the only car company the Obama administration is seeking to control. Last week they announced their intention to turn Wall Street bailout funds from preferred shares in financial institutions into common shares. This gave the Obama administration even more leverage over the nation’s banks, who then agreed (coincidentally we’re sure) to a United Auto Workers union take over of Chrysler.
Today marks the 100th day of Barack Obama’s presidency; a presidency that is every bit as comfortable as Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s was in blending the power of big government, big business, and big labor into one national industrial policy. And just as under FDR’s National Industrial Recovery Act, the result of the Obama agenda will be fewer small businesses, less jobs, and a longer recession. UCLA economists Harold Cole and Lee Ohanian have found that the NIRA accounted for 60% of the weak recovery and prolonged the depression by seven full years.
President Obama’s senior advisor David Axelrod has called the 100-day benchmark “a Hallmark holiday.” Does Hallmark sell a condolence card for the death of free enterprise?
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35 Responses to “Morning Bell: Free Enterprise’s 100-Day Death March”
Ozzy6900, CT on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Yup, it’s a hallmark alright! Turn debt into stock asset, get the union into a management position to govern the workers that pay the dues to the said union and watch the Government become a major stockholder in a free market company. Yeah, a real banner week!
Mike Jenson, Tulsa OK on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
We can call the new car the People’s Car comrade.
Jeff, Florida on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
The people in America do nothing execpt TALK a subject to death. You are a country without action! Your present Government will not listen to any of you, therefore you must act and time is running out. You are going to become a one (1) party nation without action NOW!
Anne Terry, Missouri on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
George Orwell’s book “Animal Farm” is coming to fruition once again. The farmer has been run off and the pigs think they can run a better farm!
BETTY –LEAVENWORTH,KS on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
EVERYONE SAYS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GOVERNMENT’S POLICY’S. BUT IF THEY DO NOT LISTEN– WHAT DO WE DO?
THE DEMS HAVE PLAYED SOME VERY CROOKED GAMES TO WIN THE ELECTION(MY OPINION) AND IF WE DON’T GET CRAFTY AND SMART IN 2010, THEY WILL STAY IN POWER AND DEMOLISH THIS COUNTRY FOR GOOD. I DO NOT THINK WE CAN AFFORD 4 YEARS OF OBAMA!!
Ken Jarvis – Las Vegas on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
The “Free Enterprise System”
died when BuSh took over the FIRST INDYMACK BANK
Why NOT blame him
Instead of OBAMA
WHY DOES THE HF OBAMA TO FAIL?
WANTING THE PREZ TO FAIL
IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY.
LVKen7@Gmail.com
mary genovese capaccio on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
obviously, obama is enjoying the power…he has strategically placed all his cards in order to gain full control…of a socialist nation and that seems what the majority of the people want. they are in the majority now and the more we scream and shout the more power they secure. unfortunately we have been defeated. healthcare is next. all i want to do at this point is crawl in a hole and hibernate. when i wake up…it will all be a bad dream and i’ll see the america that i was proud of.
george, huntersville, nc on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
…”peoples car” is just what i was thinkin’.. wonder where that came from? ..
…am a bit puzzled tho’ .. from where do the shares of gm/chrysler come? .. does the gvmt buy these shares on the open market? .. do the dems then keep a lion’s share of these ‘n then sell the remainder to the union?..or just GIVE them to the union? .. where do the legitimate shareholders stand in all of this?
…socialism is a fearsome thing…
obama, how ’bout take a break so we can get one…
Dave, Phoenix, AZ on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Giving the UAW 55% ownership in Chrysler is a death blow to this company. Ford was smart not to take this money or they would be in the same boat as GM with government who can’t even run government effectively running a car company. Obama is a Maxist and wants the Democratic power base to be the loser sector of our society the takers not the producer being successful with the president in the WH is a sin in his eyes. While he has done pretty good financially under our system do as I say not do as I do comes to mind.
michael hutchings on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
one hundred daze out,and one party state,
the republician party infiltrated from above
by dishonest brokers and false planted doves
asking betrayed members to just feel the love,
conservatives they have had enough of.
one hundred daze out and a rino jumped ship,
smart of him because the crew had felt his whip below decks where work is greasy and dark
they had him picked out as nothing but a shark.
lessons learned three more to go
mccain and collins and then snow
clear the rear and face the front
we run the ball now we dont punt.
its better to have your enemy in front
and not behind to hatch
Ben C, Ann Arbor, MI on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
1) Lets call the new car Obama is mandating the “Barrymobile” since it is the car he thinks we will buy.
2) The silver lining to the cloud is the axiom “Becareful what you ask for – you might get it.” Now that the left is clearly in control the only ones they can blame for problems are themselves.
When the fall out from all the trillions of dollars spent hit the ecomony I wonder what Ken from Las Vegas will have to say about the consequences. I doubt the left will realize when their agenda fails the black lash will be profound. Sadly, it is the citizen that pays the conseqences – not the governmental buffons.
jake LHC on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Oh yes do I remember the edsels, the convairs, the hyundi, and obamaslyingdisaster car. With the obamaslyingdisaster mobile we don’t need birth control cause more peole will be tortured in bamamobile accident.
Stand up and stop this inconsiderate incompetent marxist liar now.
obamas” buddy Brago got indicted for trying to sell obama seat
Can obama, and obiden be indicted for selling Specter seat,
probably could draw a crowd with reid, schummmer and more involved
Looks like a good case for a grand jury to me.
obama and obiden
A Million Lies in 100 days
Clayton Yendrey, Three Rivers, Texas on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
The electorate voted for change. What they failed to ask, a failure facilitated by the media, is exactly what change was Candidate Obama planning.
Now we know – the most massive sweep of nationalization seen in a supposed democracy and done without a coup or other usurpation.
How does democracy die? Not to the crash of war but to the cheers of the complacent and uninformed.
An author, Robert Heinlen, actuall foretold this in a way. He wrote that the danger to democracy is that once the electorate becomes dependent on goverment, in short order they discover that they can get more ‘bread and ciruces’ by voting for candidates that promise that. I believe that this is what we are seeing since in this decade we now have more voters than at any time previous who are dependent on government.
jjay – Louisville, KY on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
It really is too bad so many folks can only hope for this president and thus the country – fails.
The last administration continued the process of taking away regulations which began at the end of the previous (Clinton) administration. IT HAS NOT WORKED. Both parties are to blame for taking their eyes off the ball.
Everyone knows there are those of us out here who will take advantage when the chance is given. We see what the banks and investment companies have done with our money when the regs where relaxed – as in “less government is good”.
We need a lot less terrorist hysteria from conservatives who blew it when they had the chance to make things better for the whole nation rather than the top 1% who now control more than 50% of profits.
How is that democracy? The Dems won this one fair and square – without the help of the Supreme Court – that’s how. It’s also capitalism at its worst and has shown us where it needs some control for those who only care about themselves and the hell with the rest of us who go about our jobs and duties loyally.
Jamey, Central California on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
We the people are supposed to rule. With that, big business has made the bed that we all now lie in. By their lack of discernment over actions taken, the road was paved for regulation. If, when you have the reigns of a company, and all that goes with it, and you run amuck, people get pissed. When they bring their complaints to said exec’s, and the complaints fall on def ears, they’re only coarse of action is the authorities. Now the power hungry politicians see an opportunity for more power, and majority vote equals new regulations and laws. So I love to hear those who are running businesses cringe and complain. YOU let this happen. Political correctness did this. Quit pandering to EVERY side of the political spectrum and tighten your belts and do what is right. To hell with your stock holders for a year and tight down the hatches and set the country back on coarse or our country won’t be here!
Ed Fresquez on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
We, as Americans need to wake up, it is time to take a stand against this off beat administration. The obama folks are taking us for fools and we are allowing it to happen. This 100 days of watching our nation crumble from a nation under God to a one nation under other world leaders. obama is will not be the running the nation if he is not stopped. he will be a puppet doing what other world leaders tell him what to do. It is obvious that he is not man enough to make his own decisions. Ask for advice, but you should still have enough moral principle to use that advice and make a healthy decision. The is what he doesn’t have.
Sliver Wisconsin on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
OOPS, In case my phrase “taken out” is misconstrued by big brother who is monitoring this website I should have said “voted out”, sorry I will pray on my rug for forgiveness.
jc, central texas on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
To Ann Terry: Animal Farm – Swine Flu – coincidence?
Ralph Foster, Baytown, TX on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Why are’nt the people of this country not addressing the 3 worst forms of child abuse?
Namely, Abortion, unwed mothers, and divorce.
Where are the fathers?
The Constitution has become irrelevant since
life has been discarded by Roe vs. Wade.Liberty and pursuit of happiness were replaced by Television and the Dept of Education (NEA).
God help us , we deserve what we voted for.
Ourselves only.
R. L. Foster
Mike in Conyers, GA on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
So long USA, and welcome to the U.S.S.A(United Socialist States of America). 100 down and over 1000 more to go, and our “savior” has managed to degrade the view of our country from every nation in the world, wreck the free market system and convice the dumb masses that his tax plan and stimulus package will cure the “Recession”. I honestly don’t know if we can make it another 3+ years
Dr Duncan Druhl, France on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Well,
90 days ago I forecast that this depression’s longevity would at least meet that created by FDR’s management to that effect over 70 years ago. It looks like I was correct. However, this time the world will not wait for the US to recover. Nations are already establishing alternative trading partners and regimes that will leave the USA out. Why? Well, the president made it abundantly clear that the USA will not be their former allies’ first line of defence against aggressors anymore and the allies are taking this to mean that the USA will no longer be a stable and dependable market for their goods and services, either. In a sense, in his European desire to be a nice guy, the president made the necessity for what might be called a reverse Smoot-Hawley, in that nations formerly dependent on the US recognised that they will have to fend amongst themselves. Many associations, governmental and NGO have already been established to take care of this.
So, what the US will get out of their “enlightened president’s” brilliance as detaching the US from foreign entanglements, is the release of the US from first market status with most of the major world traders.
No, it won’t be announced, but the increased trading exchanges between countries that were minimal will be accelerated and the US will be left out. Why? Well, consider that getting the government involved in the production of your goods and services immediately makes them less competitive, n’est-ce pas?
The world is not willing to be the US’s victim this time around. The US will have to stew in the brew concocted by the man who would be king.
Walter Eck on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
From the beginning I told my wife, watch, Obama will not force the Auto Co,’s into a regulare bankruptcy because that would truly fix the problem. that is union wages and benefits (that only congress excedes). He will save the unions and have the tax payers pay the bill for union excesses. It is about to come to pass, watch as Obama save the union vote and union campaing contributions. We the taxpayers will be vitims of Treasure department laundering taxpayer’s money to the unions and back to the Democratic Party. Even Slick Willie couln not pull something like this. The Taxpayers answer should be “buy only FORD CARS and starve the unions. !!!”
Sliver Wisconsin on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Hey I bet you’re all wondering where the first comment is I guess I wrote something I shouldn’t.
Sorry another trip to my rug.
David Sayers, NC on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Oh yes komrades, is it not an exciting time to be a witness to all this socialist/marxist crap. Lets see, Chairman Obama and is gang of Publtburo thugs are going to take over banks, auto makers and Lord knows what else and you have good party members like Komrade Ken cheering this disaster on. I can’t wait to see what these little pieces of junk that Chairman Obama thinks we would want to buy.Probably a Yugo copy with some really sharp paint,you’ll have four shades of orange to choose from. I’ve been a Chevy owner all my life but I’ll never buy another one unless it’s used pre 2009.
loopdog on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
The end is near!
Mike Sheahen, Hickory, North Carolina on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
All semantics and smoke & mirrors notwithstanding, Centralized/government control of, for example, means of production (such as, but certainly not limited to automotive), and/or finance, etc, are all central to and integral parts of Leftist government elitist and statist Marxist Communism/Socialism by all its’ aliases, etc.
Yet Obama and his Comrades deny that they are Socialists? Talk about denying being Socialist through the mouth, yet making it evident through the actions!
If Obama and his Comrades aren’t such Leftist government elitists and statist Socialists, then Karl Marx isn’t synonymous with “The Communist Manifesto”; consequently, Vladimir Lenin (real name Vladimir Ylich Unlyanov), Joseph Stalin (real name Joseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili), Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, and Mikhail Gorbachev, never in any way followed it as General Secretary (leader) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party government of the United Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R./Soviet Union), and their Comrades around the world, then or now to this day, neither then nor now follow any such government elitist and statist Communism/Socialism in any way; Hitler wasn’t a (National) Socialist, the Earth is flat, the Sun orbits around the Earth, and anything to the contrary to those things is “a conspiracy to mislead”.
Nope. No such “conspiracy to mislead”.
Indeed the actual facts are that Karl Marx is synonymous with such things as “The Communist Manifesto”; consequently, Vladimir Lenin (real name Vladimir Ylich Unlyanov), Joseph Stalin (real name Joseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili), Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Konstantin Chernenko, and Mikhail Gorbachev, each did indeed follow such things, such as when they were General Secretary (leader) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party government of the United Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R./Soviet Union), and their Comrades around the world to this day do actually follow such government elitist and statist Communism/Socialism in any or every way they can; Hitler was in fact a (National) Socialist as NSDAP [a.k.a. "NAZI Party"] translates to and means “National Socialist German Worker’s Party”), the Earth not flat, the Sun does not orbit around the Earth, and so there is in this note of facts no “conspiracy to mislead”.
Observe, think independently, do your own homework, and you will find that the effort to mislead is Obama and his Comrades denying they are Socialists while they prove and show how they are Socialists, as in how they “fast track” and “ram through” as much Socialism as they can, as fast as they can, and while they can, even breaking their own promises and rules in order to do so (such as letting both us, the people, and members of Congress have days to see what’s actually in legislation, both before it’s voted on in Congress and before Obama signs it [such as the massive so-called "stimulus (Porkulus) bill" and the recent so-called "omnibus (Ear-mark) bill])”.
Mike Sheahen, Hickory, North Carolina on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Correction: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R./Soviet Union).
RT, Orange County on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
President Obama is a Marxist with a hidden agenda – a leftie and clueless with respect to domestic / international affairs, fundamental economic. The closet socialist is playing footsy with the Europeans while drinking tea with Iran and Korea and plundering America’s core assets, capital base, and moral fabric.
I need to unite! We cannot tolerate 3+ more years of this character and must avenge ourselves – harnessing our collective anger and seeking methods of change. Our keen insights must be understood and appreciated before an united vision can be achieved!
Barb -mn on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Wake up Ken Jarvis. Your leader is taking alot more in less time! He’s a liar! A pacifier!
Judith of The Late, Great Michigan on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Mr. jjay; Curious about a statement you made. You said that the top 1% controls more than 50% of profits. This makes no sense. Where did you get this incorrect and misleading info? It doesn’t mention that the top 10% wage earners pay about 70% of the taxes. And it also doesn’t mention that these individuals’ wealth is usually tied to business equities, assets, capital, investments in their own businesses, etc., etc. It is the wealthy who create companies and jobs and take all of the risks, financial and otherwise. The less tied up by crippling regulations, the better.
Prospering businesses=growth=jobs=greater income and potential for all employees. Also more tax revenue for the govt!
Don’t fall victim to the class-envy syndrome that is being promoted by the liberals. It is so destructive for everyone.
Could you please name one country where Socialism/Marxism/Communism has worked better than the Free Enterprise system?
I contend the troubles here in Detroit were caused by unions, poor business decisions and govt interference, not Capitalism.
You don’t need to take my word for it, but time will show just how devastating the new admin policies will be on the US economy and country as a whole.
It will take decades for the US to recover, if ever, once sanity returns to the country and elects a Pro-American legislature to straighten things out. I hope it’s not too late already.
Dennis A. Social Circle Ga. on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Obama is just starting his “rule”. We have 4 more years to put up with this mess. our only hope is the 2010 elections, and that is only if the American people wake up and “smell” the taxes that are coming this way.It will not be long till we work 6 or 8 months for the “guvernment” and only part time for ourselves. Guess this is the way to “spread the wealth”. Then that only applies to the “common” flok, not to obama or the the people in the “click”.
Sherrill , NY/ NJ on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Emperor Obama hates this country and is determined to reconfigure it into his kingdom (so that Michelle won’t be embarrassed by it). Why aren’t more people protesting? Why don’t we see people refusing to pay taxes to support these excesses? How will we ever regain the sense of stability? Why isn’t there a call for impeachment?
Eugene Hoffman, Houston, Texas on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Government regulation has indeed ruined the auto industry; along with poor top management decisions regarding unsustainable union demands, and stiff global competition. We must only look at history to become enlightened to the cold hard fact that big government and collectivism are incentive killers that in the short term portray the illusion of equality and “greater good for the many”; but, in the long term are destroyers which always usher in misery, death, and economic demise. Our congress and Senate are at fault, they are the check valves, along with the courts, whose only purpose is to protect individualism, and free enterprise: they have failed us; and now a tyrannic administration has the unchecked power to destroy our constitution, and our great way of life. The Congress and Senate are the voice of the people and they have failed us. We must get a third party in place to protect our individual freedoms and undo the Nationalized banks, transportation, communication, health care, and community armies,(thugs), that are on are horizon. If they gain a strong foothold the republic of the United States of America may cease to exist. I have forgotten about the Government Media Complex, We must turn off the propaganda and begin Newspapers and other forms of media in our communities and REPORT the truth: Who, What, When, Where, and How and let the individual discern why.
Martha Juhola, SW Washington on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Of course no American wants failure of their president. However, it seems that the reason we are so divided is that we are at a critical turning point. Whether it began with Bush, prior to Bush (which it did, it’s all a process) doesn’t matter. What does matter is that we are experiencing a clarity of definition. Centralized Government control of economy, Centralized Government control of healthcare, Centralized Government control of the public media and potential censorship. These are inbedded in Socialism, Marxism and Communism. We can still make choices, don’t buy the cars, don’t accept a medical model that doesn’t give true choice of multiple models, keep fair trade going with reasonable regulation. We, we are the ones who have to speak up stand up and stop the train.
John Ring, Outback, Illinois on April 29th, 2009 at 8:04am said:
Just another in the parade of the ignorant. A daily happening.