The Obama Czars and Central Planning (Part 1 of 2)

The Czars and Central Planning

This is part one of a two part writing on how our government our government is moving towards a central planning economic philosophy. Today’s write-up is on about a quarter of President Obama’s “czars.” Based on these descriptions, many of these departments are redundant and filled by closet socialists. On Wednesday, I will discuss what central planning actually is and connect the two together.

Ed Montgomery- Auto Czar

From Wikipedia: “In February 2009, he was named by Obama to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry. On March 30, 2009, Obama appointed Montgomery as Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers. This position will oversee the health of the struggling United States automobile industry as a result of the automotive industry crisis of 2008–2009.”

From a Washington Post article on GM’s possible sale of Opel: “The president's autos task force has regular talks with GM regarding the Opel sale, but the nature of those discussions has not been disclosed.”
CNBC reported that the administration told Fritz Henderson (former GM CEO) to sell the Opel division, to which the GM board disagreed. This division is rumored to be part of the reason for Fritz Henderson’s quick departure last week.
Ron Bloom- Car Czar
From Wikipedia on a speech he gave: “Generally speaking we get the joke. We know that the free market is nonsense.”
He also make positive comments about Chairman Mao in the same speech, which you can see if you Google “Ron Bloom Mao.”
Carol Brower- Energy and Environment Czar
Works on climate change and global warming initiatives, enough said on this one. Her department’s spending is set to go from $8 to $23 billion next year as the administration pushes cap and trade and a climate bill. Good thing is this before the spending freeze.

Green Jobs Czar – Currently Vacant

Currently vacant, but previous position holder Van Jones had ties to various Marxist groups in the 1990s. What’s tough about this position is that I cannot find its actual purpose. Do we really need to be dictating to the private job market where they need to be hiring and not hiring?

Nancy-Ann DeParle- Health Reform Czar

Her only purpose is to oversee health care reform issues. Her and her staff is being paid by our tax dollars to push healthcare reform in the U.S. You would assume a person in this position would be a doctor, and you would be wrong. Mrs. DeParle is a lawyer.

Todd Stern- International Climate Czar

A lawyer whose purpose is to push our global warming agenda on the rest of the world. Chalk up another department being paid to fight global warming.

Kenneth Feinberg- Pay Czar

Another lawyer whose job it is to control pay for those who got government assistance. Under his watch, Fannie and Freddie CEOs were paid a combined $10 million in annual bonuses. Is this an effective use of our tax dollars?

Cass Sunstein

A huge proponent of socialism. A good quote from Wikipedia:
“If government could not intervene effectively, none of the individual rights to which Americans have become accustomed could be reliably protected. [...] This is why the overused distinction between "negative" and "positive" rights makes little sense. Rights to private property, freedom of speech, immunity from police abuse, contractual liberty and free exercise of religion--just as much as rights to Social Security, Medicare and food stamps--are taxpayer-funded and government-managed social services designed to improve collective and individual well-being.”

John Holdren

Another scientist behind the global climate change movement. Somehow his position is not redundant with green czar, international climate czar, and the energy and environment czar. That’s four federal departments dealing with the environment, all thanks to our tax dollars.

Aneesh Chopra

According to President Obama: "As Chief Technology Officer, Chopra's job will be to promote technological innovation to help the country meet its goals such as job creation, reducing health care costs, and protecting the homeland. Together with Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra, their jobs are to make the government more effective, efficient, and transparent."

So this guy is going to encourage job creation with technology, something the private market apparently can’t do on its own. And how many jobs do you think he’s helped create in the past year? Hopefully, it’s enough to justify his paycheck.