The Case

Why We Call It "The Big Con"

Conservative government during the past few years has failed—even some conservatives acknowledge that. But the problem is not just that conservatism has failed to live up to its promise; it is that conservatism cannot live up to its promise

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Conservatism: Flawed By Design

Inherent ideological flaws cripple the ability of conservatives to govern:

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Symptoms of Conservatism

Conservatism’s flaws give rise to inescapable symptoms that tend to benefit a powerful few at the expense of most Americans.

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Isaiah J. Poole's picture

The Truth About Government Waste

By Isaiah J. Poole
October 22, 2008
Footnote: 

"The Truth About Waste in Government," Making Sense 2008, Campaign for America's Future. Posted October 22, 2008.

Conservatives promise to crack down on “earmarks”—federal spending allocated in legislation for a specific project or location. No more "bridges to nowhere." That’s great, but it doesn’t add up to much—$18 billion of a $3 trillion federal budget. Want to root out waste in government? more »

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Tainted Food, Tainted Government

By Isaiah J. Poole
August 15, 2008
Footnote: 

Maing Sense alert, "Tainted Food Threatens All Americans."

Remember the salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 1,200 people this summer? more »

CONservative Spin:

“Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich calls a proposal supported by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats that will set limits on carbon emissions and make polluters pay for exceeding the cap a big energy tax that will do nothing to spur innovation and utilize the creativity of America’s scientists and engineers.”
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PROgressive Response:

By Isaiah J. Poole
April 27th, 2009
Related Topics:

The Environmental Defense Fund debunks Gingrich's claims this way: "The bill is not a tax. Under a cap on carbon, there will be a small increase in energy bills for the average American – and Congress has the tools it needs to protect U.S. consumers. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the cap in the American Clean Energy and Security Act can be met for as little as $98 per household per year – about a dime a day per person. That’s roughly what it costs to brew one pot of coffee in the morning, and substantially less than a pack of chewing gum.

"That’s nothing compared to what will happen to our economy and our pocketbooks if we fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- punishing heat waves, droughts, water shortages, rising sea levels, worldwide food shortages, intense hurricanes and more. Even the military is worried about the national security implications.

"The centerpiece of this bill will make clean energy profitable by capping carbon – and that’s exactly what will give scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs an economic incentive to create new technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We have empirical evidence that cap and trade works. When the formula was applied in the 1990s to lower acid rain pollution from power plants, it worked faster and more cheaply than anyone predicted."