I was thinking about writing a
post containing the list of CEOs of major US corporations who have come out
against Trump’s decision regarding the Paris Climate Accord. I am
overwhelmed. I would make my life easier by writing a list of those
who haven’t.
I cannot let it go unsaid
regarding one of these: Elon Musk. It is really hilarious to
consider that he has no company without the government’s involvement in the
climate.
None of these CEOs is a climate
expert; all of them publicly complain about regulation. You would
think that this combination of characteristics would lead to either at best
cheering the elimination of the horrendous regulatory burdens imposed by yet
another international scheme or at worst shutting up on a topic that they
really don’t know much about.
But, of course, we know better.
Big business loves regulation,
and the more complex the better. Complex regulation kills off the
little guy, the start-up. Complex regulatory requirements drive up
the cost of the product, which drives up revenue and margins.
Big business loves
government-created markets which force consumers to buy products (that only big
business can produce) that they would otherwise not want to buy.
Big business loves government
programs, as big business does not then have to market and sell to millions of
individual consumers but instead to a handful of bureaucrats.
Big business is four-square
against killing this deal. I can offer words of hope to these CEOs:
don’t worry, it isn’t over yet; Trump is looking to a repeal and replace strategy. You
can get an ever better deal if you focus on this.
Albeit, your respite will,
eventually, prove temporary. The economy cannot sustain continued decrease
of the productive (those who provide market-demanded goods) in support of the
increase in the unproductive (those whose primary service is supported,
directly or indirectly, by the government).
As this day approaches, who
will win? Who will have priority? Grandma and
grandpa? The military-industrial complex? Solar panels
and windmills?
As to Elon Musk: one day Tesla
will crash and burn. The best outcome for the company will be to
have its assets acquired by a major automaker, one who can afford to invest in
a money losing technology that may, someday, pay a benefit. The
worst outcome for the company will be that no one cares, as several major
automakers are developing high-performance electric vehicles that will
out-compete Tesla.
I hope I live to see this
day. It will be almost as entertaining as the Trump presidency.
Almost.