The governments roll in the Environment - Cap and Trade

    The solution to our environmental problems is not more government control over the private sector and our lives. Something does need to be done to combat the growing environmental problems and where there is a need the free-market will provide a solution. For starters, we should allow free-market capitalism to act rather than inhibiting it with constant government interventions. We have not seen free-market capitalism in a long time. We have seen crony capitalism and constant government intervention in the markets. For example, the U.S. government should show its commitment to solving our environmental issues by removing itself as part of the problem. The U.S. government currently subsidizes oil companies, textile factories, and other large polluters. The government subsidizing “big oil” while it attempts to legislate cleaner air is classic hypocrisy. When the government has stopped contributing to the problems then it can start to lead by example. Other industries will have the desire to use less resources and become more efficient. This would allow them to offer lower prices to their customers, make more profit, and better compete with others in the same industry. In a true free-market system companies would constantly strive to become more efficient and have a better public image. Today, government subsidized companies have no incentives to become more efficient or have a positive image by not polluting. This is because they know that they have a revenue stream from the government (via the tax-payer) no matter what they do.
    The government’s only job when it comes to protecting the rights of others. If a certain factory was polluting do badly that it was destroying the property or health of others it would be the duty of the government to enforce the appropriate laws. Beyond enforcing the laws the government should not play a role. Placing limits on private industry is not a proper roll of the U.S. government because it is not an enumerated power given by the U.S. Constitution. Any government intervention in the private sector is going to be counterproductive.