Adapted from testimony before the House Western Caucus.
Cost estimates have come out for the Green New Deal — some say $93 trillion dollars, but the truth is that the plan actually would cost America much more — it would cost our nation everything.
It would cost the ability of individuals to choose the way they travel both for short distances and long. It would force changes on food choices at the dinner table. It would shrink home electricity consumption with likely rationing due to restricted availability. It would change our homes, offices and every building in the country as each received one-sized fits all conservation retrofits. It would end same or next day delivery of most of our purchases as domestic cargo planes would be grounded.
The plan requires a complete federal government takeover of virtually every aspect of the economy, ending individual free market choices. This means that one of the miracles of the market — a seeming endless supply of choices — will be replaced by those products that the federal government policies favor regardless of what anyone else wants.
Out of all of the factors leading to the fall of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin abandoned communism after a visit to Houston, Texas. It wasn’t the Houston Space Center tour which convinced Yeltsin, but instead it was a visit to Randall’s grocery store on an unscheduled visit. The abundance stunned the soon to become first President of the Russian Federation. Yeltsin wrote, “When I saw those shelves crammed with hundreds, thousands of cans, cartons and goods of every possible sort, for the first time I felt quite frankly sick with despair for the Soviet people.” Yeltsin continued, “That such a potentially super-rich country as ours has been brought to a state of such poverty! It is terrible to think of it.”
The modern empty shelves and the citizen revolt in Venezuela shows that government caused poverty is not just a phenomenon of the 20th Century communist central planners, but the natural result of socialism which ends markets and replaces them with top down decision making.
Socialism creates scarcity, ends the incentive and ability for individuals to achieve their dreams, and makes each person dependent upon the government for their very existence. Rather than working for the individual citizens, the Green New Deal government will have the people trapped in a toxic relationship where government bureaucrats determine winners and losers in virtually every situation.
The Green New Deal turns what is supposed to be a relatively benign federal government with individual rights protected against government incursion into an all-powerful federal government overriding not only local and state governments in virtually every decision they make, but also limiting choices to only bureaucratic approved options without regard to individual needs or circumstances.
Here in the United States we have seen multiple examples of green venture socialist investing where private insiders choose projects not based upon their market viability but instead based upon the expectation that either the federal or state government will provide the funding giving the initial investors a soft landing and moving the risks to the public.
One example of this is the Virgin Trains USA (formerly Brightline) higher speed rail project in Florida which just had its $600 million IPO cancelled due to a lack of interest. Instead it is relying on $600 million of tax-free Department of Transportation private activity bonds, which in large part were used to refinance high-yield corporate junk bonds. In addition, it has sought another $2.1 billion of those same bonds, and is seeking a $3.7 billion Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan from the department.
What is clear is that without public, tax-funded backing, the project would not even be attempted because there is no demand. That is just one example.
Socialism is always a failure. It deprives people of freedom, choice, property and opportunity. The Green New Deal is nothing more or less than a new rationale for a failed government system that has always resulted in enslavement and deprivation of the people — and it must be rejected.
This junior high grad must be really sore! I mean, come on!
How can so many people be so willfully ignorant? Cortez, Sanders et al are the leaders of the lemmings. I like to say that the people that follow socialists deserve exactly what they get but, if we do not stop them, we might end up with something we absolutely do not deserve and and 100% anti-America.
Message to “PaulE”: I agree with you re the Millennia and Gen Z voters but, l know for a fact that people that are in OUR United States of America illegally do vote and in astronomical numbers; 2016 Presidential election HRC took CA. apprx 1 million votes.
AMAC, could you please publish the text for this so-called deal? Or give us a link to read it in it’s entirety?
Comment: This country might have a 2nd civil war before any of this crap is taken seriously. Where is McCarthy when you need him?
What I haven’t seen or heard in this discussion – and maybe I just missed it – is the consideration of other countries. Does it matter that not only the US, but virtually all countries would have to adopt many of these measures? If we ban fossil fuels, then not only would we miss out on goods coming in from other areas of the world, but those areas would not be able to receive goods from us. They’d have to adapt to our ridiculous practices and find other ways of shipping and receiving. The “green” plan would make the US an unapproachable island unto itself. No travel, except by foot or little electric vehicles or oxcart…No, it would have to be by foot, because electricity uses fossil fuels, and oxen expel natural gas. They’d be banned, too. As for flying, well that would definitely be an option. The Democrats have enough hot air to fuel all the balloons we’d ever need! BTW, has anybody noticed that only those who constantly blow hot air are the ones who believe in climate change/global warming? Wonder why…
It is SICK today. We as a Nation seem to be going BACKWARDS as the Democratic party and ALL the same Backwards people that SATAN is using to distroy our GREAT. NATION!!!!!
The lunacy going on today is partially the fault of the public education system. Never before have I encountered such a rabid group of liberals. Unfortunately, these so-called “educators” have free access and total control over children, most of whom are at a very impressionable age. Where we conservatives need to stand and fight for future generations is in the local schools. Get rid of the majority of hog-wash being taught and get back to math, science, History, and English! The farther the USA school system falls behind other “first World” countries, gets to the root of Socialism, a populace too stupid to realize what is going on.
The “GREEN NO DEAL” OR “THE GREEN SCAM” — Take your pick — this is a disaster for our American free enterprise system.
AOC: This bartender is dumb as a box of rocks. Go away you socialist douche nozzle, and take your anti Semitic friends with you
Rid the United States of Democrats and 95% of OUR PROBLEMS would go away
Apparently, the estimated cost of AOCs “Green New Deal” – $93 TRILLION dollars – amounts to over $592,000.oo dollars per U.S. taxpayer, over and above any other taxes that are owed.
Do the math.
Pray that AOC and her followers somehow discover rational thinking somewhere, sometime and soon, since she and her brain dead followers are obviously escapees from a lunatic asylum.
What I don’t understand is, who are these stupid people who elect idiots like these anyway? If WE let them, they WILL!!!!!! Can you say, how do you like not being free??? Sure, sure you can, if you let them take away your freedom. It is us that keeps America who she is. Not the dumbocraps and politicians. US!
No one questions how stupid AOC is but her followers must be dumber than she is? Our few years (60-90) of screwing up this planet is just a blink compared to the billions of years our planets existence and we give wasteful American’s credit for causing the radically disasterist changes. I doubt our changes mean anything to earth.
Until China, India and other sh*thole counties make drastic changes to their energy exploration, production, delivery and use whatever America does will only make infinitesimal amount of change or difference. Only when the worlds far biggest polluters, regardless of their country will significant changes will be made.
This foolishness won’t fly. Those supporting it need to stop “inhaling” and come back down from their smoky cloud.
These people that want this new green deal is off their rocker. It would certainly ruin this country. Guess they haven’t been watching what is going on in Venezuela.
I pray it does not pass. What has happened to the democrats? They haven’t always been this nutty, I don’t believe.
I fell like I am adaquately informed and see the New Green Deal as going in a TOTALLY WRONG DIRECTION.
There seems to be a large group of people who do not clearly understand the negative impact of such an ideology. I would hope that when individuals are presented with reality that they would oppose the concepts.
I would like to see a sincere public debate, much like a presidential debate, with a moderator to keep discussion in line (no finger pointing or name calling) so that individuals who are not exposed to the consequences of this kind of ideology can see the conservative point of view.
Subject: Yellow Vest movement to kill the “Green New Deal”
The “Yellow Vest” movement in France has attracted world-wide attention and provided a means of protesting taxes on carbon dioxide. Demonstrations in France have gone on for 12 weeks with over 50,000 demonstrators in Paris February 2, 2019.
The Democrat Party is proposing a carbon dioxide tax as a means of making use of coal, oil, and natural gas so expensive that alternative, alleged renewable energy sources of solar, wind, and biofuels like ethanol from corn are competitive alternatives. This drastically increases energy prices that reduce living standards for middle class Americans. The “Green New Deal” is one example proposed by Democrats Bernie Sanders and AOC.
Protests against carbon taxes can be given wide spread publicity by a “Yellow Vest” movement in the United States. Yellow Vests are sold by Home Depot for $10.99 as Safety Vests.
At the end of this letter is a photograph of a Yellow Vest worn by Prof. James H. Rust, policy advisor The Heartland Institute. Prof. Rust used a permanent black marker pen to place the words “NO GREEN NEW DEAL” on the back of the Yellow Vest.
Prof. Rust has worn his Yellow Vest in Atlanta the past week and it has attracted attention. An added feature wearing a Yellow Vest when driving cars is aggressive drivers slow down when they see the Yellow Vest. They may think drivers are part of law enforcement.
Organizations promoting use of American’s vast, inexpensive fossil fuel energy resources might be able to kill the “Green New Deal” by starting a “Yellow Vest” movement in the United States.
The Democrat Party created the “Green New Deal” that would ruin the U. S. economy. It may be prudent to delay the “Yellow Vest” until late 2019 or 2020 so Democrats can promote the Green New Deal as official policy and find it too late to abandon this ruinous policy before the 2020 Presidential Election. The “Yellow Vest” is non-political in appearance; but may provide a highly visible stimulus to crush Democrats in the 2020 election.
MAGA,
James H. Rust, professor (ret. Georgia Tech) and policy advisor The Heartland Institute
It sounds just like the novel Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. The government takes control of everything and with all of their ineptitude, corruption and self serving bureaucracy collapses the economy for the good of the people.
Well stated and accurate.
To bad recent grads are incapable of critical thought and “soak up this nonsense.
We’re in for rough times ahead.
Where are the animal rights folks. Do they want all cows killed also because they fart?
The “Green New Deal” should be called “Total Insanity”. “Total Insanity” will allow the democrat party to dispose of capitalism once and for all – a long time goal of the left. “Total insanity” means democrats no longer have to campaign on jobs, the economy, the budget etc. “Total insanity” ignores the fact that other countries pollute far more than the US. Oh! I forgot! They’re already communist! Best of all, “Total Insanity” allows the democrats to do what they’re known for – wasting money! Wasting money on something that humanity can not control.
AOC and her like are economic illiterates. Combined they could operate a hot dog stand for profit.
The human race seems to be taken in every so often, by the next marketed fad or hypothesis that sounds good! Global warming is the current one that is being indoctrinated and shoved down our throats! We don’t want this socialist pie in the sky crap! Officials are responsible to sit their behind down in Congress and address the nation’s business! Like addressing the ever increasing debt! Like living within our means and paying down our debt! Like coming up with a balanced budget! Like addressing the solvency of Social Security. Medicare and Medicaid! Like addressing the illegal immigration problem! Like limiting the ever increasing government with new programs! Like addressing the school loan problem! If they can’t address these realistic issues, then they are national fiduciary criminals and should get out of office!
as a 8-11 year old growing up in the transition of fidel castro from revolution to socialism to communism, I can say: utopia promises which all wanted (fidel esta es tu casa). Then you see the change of implementing the laws which leads to total communistic control (loss of property, family, religion) then failure because there is no hope of a better life unless one exits cuba. rudy/izzy proud to be American-Cubans since 1972 in west palm beach, fl Cuban legal refugees 1963-1972
Not only should you notice the person holding the sign. Also the ones supporting this when it comes voting time in the future.
My opinion of this dropout from pre-school ,almost all democ rats and all of the rinos is what in the’H”are they thinking,if they are.I am of the opinion that some dork left the gates at the zoo open and this is what happened.I really hope that the real AMERICANS can save AMERICA,if not our country is doomed.
Most of us folks know that we have had a communist threat from the unhappy minority ? If you don’t, you should study. Their is a so-call famous church in Charleston, SC
that’s been a communist stronghold for decades!! Seems their preaching of communist became tax deductible after Eisenhower! I’ll bet there’s much worst came out of the
Charleston church than Odumba’s church. But no one brought up that some of Rev wright friends may have went to church in Charleston…
These people are not very smart, in fact they are really stupid. They know nothing about how this works or the consequences of it. I hope people get enlightened about it.
Enough is enough! I don’t want to pay one more tax dollar than I have too. Here is a question: for all those who will become dependent on my tax dollars can I write them off as personal dependents on my taxes? What a write off that would be. Lets stop this spending madness; it all rides on the backs of the middle class which will flip this bill. We must cultivate a culture of responsibility, hard work and not entitlement.
AOC has proclaimed that she is now the “BOSS” of the Dimocrats. Pelosi has not refuted the statement. The ignorant
are now leading the arrogant, while the pundits are trying to convince us that the Dems have the solutions.
Actually we would be sitting ducks in a wash tub of water. Easy pickin’s as they say. We would have no military to protect us and no money to pay for anything. Our new Emperor would have access to our bank accounts and we would have no means to defend ourselves. These young and overly ambitious, loud mouthed bug eyed, liver lipped, uneducated, foreigners that some idiots voted into power, have NO CLUE as to the outcome of this drama.
Only took a couple months for the democrats to openly push for exactly what communist did to take over Russia. Point by point. Everything the democrats want to do is what the communist did to take over Russia. Their horror lasted 50 years and still goes on. Russia still has the GDP of the financially failed country of Italy – so they are still starving and freezing to death. Their lack of capitalism has greatly enlarged and Russian mob.
Brilliant article – your first sentence says it all. However, seeing this guaranteed loss to most of our freedoms, will we get out and vote in 2020? History proves that we are our worst enemy.
I wish someone would put this SOCIALIST BARTENING WENCH back behind the bar where she belongs !
Jesus said, “That Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy.” Jesus also said, That Satan is a LIAR from the beginning and the father of ALL LIES.” AOC and all that buy into her Green New Deal are children of Satan and his useful idiots, like the old saying, “Like father like son and like mother like daughter.” The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. There are two classes of people in this world good and evil, as Jesus explained in Matthew the 13th chapter about the wheat and tares, the wheat children of God, tares children of the wicked one (Satan).
Green New Deal –I can’t believe that anyone in his/her right mind could even seriously consider this idea that has even included a few of her colleagues in Congress and/or anyone offering to support it. Should anyone happen to take this comedy seriously, I believe that on a practical note, it is only fair that suggestions should be offered to replace everything AOC has listed that would be lost; i.e., how about publishing instructions on how to purchase and build a teepee if one should still own a piece of land that once housed structures.
On a positive note, after quickly reviewing all of the ‘replies,’ it is really obvious (thank God) that the First Amendment freedom of speech is alive, well and thriving. It allowed AOC to report and publish a very detailed definition of pure socialism for everyone to see it for what it really is and absent of the BS rhetoric and ‘soft-selling’ so often offered by same/type politicians in DC.
I I wonder if these idiots on the left realize just how many well-trained military people we have in this country that are veterans that would have no problem taking it to them. Most of us know the left is full of nothing but mouth and hot air and don’t have any balls or backbone all I know how to do is talk and act tough but when the tough get going it sure as hell won’t be them.
Please Americans go to China and Russia and live a month and get a taste of the Green and then think of what the dem’s want to do too you.
The climate change model that is being used is a guess at best. The “scientists” use a model that does not include actual temperature numbers from the same location. Out of the 31 models the only one that is close to actual data is the Russian model. In the last 100 years the climate temperature has only increased by .93 degrees. Which is so much less than what the leftists are predicting. This information can be found on the KATO institut’s website.
To remove AOC, someone else has to remove her from by running an effective campaign starting now to stop her from getting re-elected. I just can’t believe that there are that many people who are so “enthralled “ by her actions and verbalization to not notice what evil she is suggesting. New York lost 25,000 jobs blocking Amazon by claiming that Amazon was paid money upfront and now expects that money is immediately available.
She is now getting paid money from various sources but she has been given the secret ability to hide this from auditing but wants transparency upfront from everyone she thinks is her opponent.
According to her thinking it is completely correct by socialism standards for her to receive a higher salary than her staff whom she claims are being paid $52,000 versus her $175,000 congressional salary.
Let her dig her hole of stupidity and see how long she remains an idol when there’s no more “free “ stuff because no one is paying for it.
I remember the first earth day back in 1970. It was a bunch of crap back then and well as now. But, there are plenty of useful idiots that the Dems and Leftist can use. The colleges and universities are cranking-out leftist on overtime pay (of course at the expense of their parents). There isn’t a 4 year college or university that is worth it, well maybe a few but not many. In the early 70s I can remember all the hijacked flights to Havana Cuba. How many of our liberal, socialist democrats and leftist politicians are willing to hijack a commercial airliner to Venezuela?
Maybe the movie stars with their big mouths and smug pusses will be first.
It’s so reassuring to read my fellow conservatives’ comments. I believe there are enough if us to prevent losing our country to socialism but we must take action, stand strong and not be complacent!
There is something seriously wrong in Washington.
How is it, even when out of power, the Dems and Progressives still get a lot of what they want. Then, also, public knowledge of what the members of the Obama administration, including Obama did, which is far more serious than anything Donald Trump is accused of is not being investigated.
Get rid of AOC.
Yes it is a good logical and factual article. The far left and their supporters do not ascribe to logic and facts. What are your specific survival plans when the continued socialism advancement takes complete control?
Democrats need to listen or look up the 9 point earthquake that shook Japan. These weird weather patterns they call global warming, scientist think may have something to do with our planet being knocked 3 degrees of it’s axis. Anyone can look that up and see.
AMEN! Great article! Now someone tell me how to get those who close their minds to the truth (and there are too many of those kind of folks today) to read and accept these facts? I know too many who keep telling me articles like this are now considered “fake news” to them!!! Does our country have to go down the toilet before the kool aid drinkers wake up? It may be too late for then! Once Government enslaves us all, only another revolution will get us our freedom and I don’t want to see a war in my country!!!!
Capitolism is the only system of gov. that the USA ever needs. This nation has been and always will be the envy of all of the other nations. Socialism and Communism never is as good as Our system in the USA.
cortez has no clue about anything she needs to go
Get cortez out of office she has no clue of what’s going on
A wise German man who was an interpreter in England during WWII told me time and again , “The masses are STUPID!” . Once again, he has been proven correct. “The masses really are STUPID”