Category Archives: Political Commentary

Political Commentary, Social Commentary, Space, Technology and Society

Rationalizing Space Safety Issues

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As I mentioned last night on The Space Show, for my next project at CEI, I’m planning to do an Issue Analysis (similar to the one I did on space real estate) laying out the history of risk and safety regulations, to provide some context for what is happening with both commercial crew (and other human spaceflight) at NASA, and with potential regulations that the FAA-AST may impose when the moratorium ends in 2015 (it will also make the case for extension). Broadly, it will make the case for a flexible approach, and to avoid a one-size-fits-all regime that could stifle, or even prevent the creation of the human spaceflight industry, both because it is too immature to have the sort of rigorous certification system currently in place for modern aviation, and because different people will have different risk tolerances for different experiences and prices. There will also be some philosophy in it about nanny statism, and the fact that our current obsession with safety is a sign that space isn’t societally important (for example, I’ll point out that if it were, we’d be sending volunteers on one-way missions already). It will also become a chapter in a forthcoming book.

The only problem is, I haven’t found a donor for it, and my creditors won’t allow me to do it pro bono, for some reason. So what I’ve done is to initiate a Kickstarter project for it. I’m trying to raise seven grand, which is about what the last one cost, and will give me enough to focus on it for a few weeks without having to frantically write for other publications just to pay bills, and it will allow me to travel to DC for associated meetings and press briefings. Target funding completion is a month from now — no one will be charged until then. Obviously, I’ll appreciate both word spreading and donations. I’m offering an autographed copy of the paper for a ten-dollar donation, but I’d appreciate suggestions for other possible rewards and levels.

Humor, Media Criticism, Political Commentary

Obama’s Glory Was Inevitable

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…says Obama.

He is remarkably unself-aware.

[Update a few minutes later]

It really is a personality disorder:

Examination of the symptoms should give pause. I’m not saying he might be the only politician with this problem or that he’d even be diagnosed with NPD. I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on TV (although I have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express before). However, there are so many examples of similar behavior in his past that it is hard to ignore what is right in front of your eyes. And while he may not personally do everything (this probably being an example) he has a staff which knows their President and does what he would approve. That’s why they’re where they are. They play into the personality and feed it.

They’re riding for a hard fall in November.

Phil Klein says he should get over himself:

Obviously, as president, Obama can use the tools of the White House to advance his goals. But at the same time, all presidents are to some extent guardians of the institution. Sure, a lot of the White House website is naturally going to be used to promote Obama, but there are some areas that should be considered neutral ground — one of them being the history sections. White House presidential biographies are the type of thing that school kids read and they should be able to do so without being bombarded by propaganda for whoever is in power. I’m sure that during the Social Security debate in 2005, if President Bush had updated the biographical page to say that he was trying to preserve FDR’s original vision for Social Security, liberals would have been up in arms. And if Mitt Romney wins in November, I’m sure liberals won’t want him to use the presidential biographies for self-promotion, either.

Obama should get beyond his own narcissism and realize that, win or lose in November, he’s just a temporary part of something that’s bigger than himself.

He can’t. It’s who he is. It’s what he does.

[Update a few minutes later]

Well, this was inevitable: Obama in history.

Business, Economics, Political Commentary

Ten Thousand Commandments

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The latest edition of my CEI colleague Wayne Crews’ project to document the federal regulatory state is out.

Iain Murray summarizes:

  • Estimated regulatory costs, while “off budget,” are equivalent to over 48 percent of the level of federal spending itself.
  • The 2011 Federal Register finished at 81,247 pages, just shy of 2010’s all-time record-high 81,405 pages.
  • Regulatory compliance costs dwarf corporate-income taxes of $198 billion, and exceed individual income taxes and even pre-tax corporate profits.
  • Agencies issued 3,807 final rules in 2011, a 6.5 percent increase over 3,573 in 2010.
  • Of the 4,128 regulations in the works at year-end 2011, 212 were “economically significant,” meaning they generally wield at least $100 million in economic impact.
  • 822 of those 4,128 regulations in the works would affect small businesses.
  • The total number of economically significant rules finalized in 2011 was 79, down slightly from 2010 but up 92.7 percent over five years, and 108 percent over ten years.
  • Recent costly federal agency initiatives include the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule and the Department of Transportation’s Fuel Economy Standards.

We have to rein in Leviathan.