She’s not wasting time. With just under two weeks left before Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gives the reigns over to her Lt. Governor, Sean Parnell, we see the gloves come off regarding President Obama’s cap and trade tax energy plan. She writes in an op/ed for the Washington Post:
I am deeply concerned about President Obama’s cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage.
American prosperity has always been driven by the steady supply of abundant, affordable energy. Particularly in Alaska, we understand the inherent link between energy and prosperity, energy and opportunity, and energy and security. Consequently, many of us in this huge, energy-rich state recognize that the president’s cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the U.S. economy.
There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn’t lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America’s economy.
Job losses are so certain under this new cap-and-tax plan that it includes a provision accommodating newly unemployed workers from the resulting dried-up energy sector, to the tune of $4.2 billion over eight years. So much for creating jobs.
In addition to immediately increasing unemployment in the energy sector, even more American jobs will be threatened by the rising cost of doing business under the cap-and-tax plan. For example, the cost of farming will certainly increase, driving down farm incomes while driving up grocery prices. The costs of manufacturing, warehousing and transportation will also increase.
The ironic beauty in this plan? Soon, even the most ardent liberal will understand supply-side economics. (read the rest)
Ed Morrissey points out that unfortunately liberals will still likely not admit a problem and because they have a “sky is falling” mentality:
They’re not worried about falling standards of living; most of them think we exploit too many natural resources anyway, and that less energy and less of everything would bring about the kind of harmony they desire — and want to impose on everyone else.
Just when liberals thought they got rid of her… she comes out to slay a giant. Oops.
Update: Art Brodsky at HuffPo believes that she doesn’t have the authority to write an op/ed. It’s pretty funny to see liberals throw a hissy fit about her writing an opinion piece for the Washington Post. What authority do you need to have to write an op/ed? She certainly has a handle on energy policy, and has written about, interviewed about, and have given numerous speeches on energy. I think he’s just jealous because looking around in the lefty blogosphere apparently you don’t need authority to be a liberal blogger either.