2/11/2009

"Progressives" attacking Cass Sunstein's appointment from the Left

Cass is a true academic in that he is open minded and willing to discuss issues. I might not agree with him, but he is smart and willing to discuss any issue. My guess is that these progressives are unlikely to find anyone who could champion many of their views as well as Cass can. Cass probably agrees with them on a lot more issues than they realize, but they have so little understanding of what cost-benefit involves they think that anyone who is willing to consider both the costs and benefits from regulation is their enemy. Possibly that tells us something about how small they think the benefits from the regulations are. Anyway, here is something today from Bloomberg.

Cass Sunstein, the new president’s choice to oversee rules for everything from global warming to workplace safety, may be a regulatory sheep in wolf’s clothing.

Sunstein’s support for cost-benefit analysis, balancing the costs of proposed federal rules against their benefits, makes him look more like an industry-friendly Bush appointee than a crusader for reining in corporations, some supporters of President Barack Obama say.

As head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Sunstein, a Harvard Law School professor, would be the arbiter of debates on rules for auto safety, environmental protection, union organizing and dozens of other issues. Some critics question his commitment to imposing tougher standards on companies. . . .

Labels: ,

3 Comments:

Blogger Martin G. Schalz said...

Am I losing my mind, or are there those who believe that cost-benefit analysis being applied to regulations is somehow evil?

Fiscal responsibility is somehow an conservative bane upon the taxpayers who deserve an accounting of how well their money is spent, and how effectively it is being used?

As an example, I, and many others can agree that asbestos abatement is money well spent. However, in that pursuit, it is easily possible to waste money by redundant, and or arcane regulations that waste a lot of time and money.

How is it that cost effective regulations lead to saftey and or enviornmental problems?

An idiot can complicate anything, but it requires a very smart person to make it simple, effective, and easy to be understood by anyone. I guess that leaves out Government...

2/11/2009 10:00 PM  
Blogger Lazy Bike Commuter said...

Isn't this also the guy sue us (by proxy) for unfair treatment?

And also wants to apply the fairness doctrine to web sites?

No thank you.

2/12/2009 12:02 AM  
Blogger Martin G. Schalz said...

To Lazy Bike Commuter:

Your post intrigues me. I googled Mr. Sunstein, but I cannot find anything to support your post.

Would you please be so kind as to point me in the right direction so I may make an more informed decision of Mr. Sunstein?

Everything that I have looked at so far is strange, as both ends of the politcal spectrum seem to be attacking him.

Any help that you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.

2/12/2009 3:06 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home